Canon and the Ancient Christian Bible — Ancient Translations

The Diatessaron and Early Syriac Gospels

c. AD 170-250
A Visit With Jesus

Syriac-speaking Christians received the Gospels through Tatian's harmony and through translations preserving the four separate accounts.

Full Account

Tatian combined material from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John into a continuous Gospel harmony called the Diatessaron. It became influential in Syriac Christianity while demonstrating knowledge of all four canonical Gospels.

Old Syriac manuscripts preserve separate Gospel translations and show that the fourfold form also circulated. The relationship among these traditions remains a subject of study.

Historical Significance

Early Syriac Gospel traditions carried the story of Jesus eastward and provide important witnesses to second- and third-century Gospel texts.

People, Places and Sources