The Enchiridion was adapted three different times by Greek Christian writers. The oldest manuscript, Paraphrasis Christiana (Par), dates to the 10th century.[48] Another manuscript, falsely ascribed to Nilus (Nil), dates to the 11th century.[48] A third manuscript, Vaticanus gr. 2231 (Vat), dates to the 14th century.[48] It is not known when the original versions of these manuscripts were first made.[48]
These guides served as a rule and guide for monastic life.[49] The most obvious changes are in the use of proper names: thus the name Socrates is sometimes changed to Paul.[45][49] All three texts follow the Enchiridion quite closely, although the Par manuscript is more heavily modified: adding or omitting words, abridging or expanding passages, and occasionally inventing new passages.[50]
In the 17th century the German monk Matthias Mittner did something similar, compiling a guide on mental tranquillity for the Carthusian Order by taking the first thirty-five of his fifty precepts from the Enchiridion.[51]
