IN SEARCH OF TATIAN'S DIATESSARON IN THE WEST
Ulrich Schmid
Tatian's Diatessaron2 belongs to the most important texts of early Christian literature. As a Gospel Harmony from second half century it is crucial witness history (fourfold) canon. compilation gospel may well offer deep insights into transmission gospels. And as product somewhat unorthodox thinker, might reveal fingerprints his theological mindset. However, high-reaching expectations are unwarranted, because Diatessaron lost. No copy original composition has been handed down us. We do not even know language Diatessaron. On other hand, some more-or-less distant echoes this document have preserved, especially in Syriac and Arabic. The notable these commentary on by Syrian church father Ephraem (d. 373 CE), an Arabic version Diatessaron, perhaps old eleventh century.3 This surprising given well-known importance Churches dependence large parts Arabic-speaking Christianity Christianity. late fifth work was still reverential use Syriac-speaking parishes, can be gathered Theodoret Cyrrhus' famous report that he himself ordered more than two hundred copies found churches diocese
Vigiliae Christianae