Abstract
This study analyzes a fragmentary Coptic Psalms testimonia collection (CPT), published by Charles W. Hedrick in 2006. The text lists approximately 30 events from Jesus’ life; each event is paired with a Psalms quotation understood as a prophetic witness (testimonium) to that event. The collection is creedally structured, focusing on Jesus’ birth, his passion and death, and his resurrection, ascension, and heavenly enthronement. This study situates each of the CPT’s events and testimonia in the context of early Christian testimonia literature, noting especially close connections with catechetical works such as Rufinus’ Commentary on the Apostolic Creed. Of special interest is the CPT’s quotation of Christian additions to Ps 96:10 (“on the wood”) and to Ps 51:7 (“by the blood of the wood”). Its likely life-setting is the catechesis of fifth-century Egyptian monasticism.
A STUDY IN THE HISTORY OF EGYPTIAN MONASTICISM
