Tatian the Syrian

Tatian was an important but controversial Christian writer of the second century, living approximately AD 120–180. His background Tatian tells us that he was born “in the land of the Assyrians.” The exact location is uncertain. Therefore, we should not confidently claim that he was born in Edessa. “Assyria” may refer broadly to the Syrian-Mesopotamian East. Tatian, Address to the Greeks 42 He was apparently raised in a pagan environment and received a Greek education. While searching through different religions and philosophies, he encountered the Hebrew Scriptures and became convinced that biblical revelation was older and wiser than Greek philosophy. His relationship with Justin Martyr Tatian traveled to Rome, where he became a student of Justin Martyr, one of Christianity’s most important early apologists. Justin attempted to show that whatever was true in Greek philosophy ultimately came from the divine Logos. Tatian was much more confrontational. He believed that Greek culture had become proud, morally corrupt, and falsely presented itself as the source of human wisdom. Address to the Greeks Tatian’s surviving apologetic work is called Λόγος πρὸς Ἕλληνας — Address to the Greeks. In it, he: Defends Christianity against pagan criticism. Argues that Moses and biblical revelation were older than Greek philosophy. Rejects pagan mythology and idolatry. Presents God as the Creator of everything. Describes the Logos as proceeding from God without dividing or diminishing God. Teaches that immortality is not naturally possessed by the soul but is received through union with God. The Diatessaron Tatian’s greatest contribution was the Diatessaron, composed around AD 170. The Greek title διὰ τεσσάρων — dia tessarōn means “through four” or “from four.” Tatian combined Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John into one continuous account of the life of Jesus. In Syriac tradition it became known as: ܐܘܢܓܠܝܘܢ ܕܡܚܠܛܐ Ewangeliyōn da-Meḥalleṭē “The Gospel of the Mixed” or “The Combined Gospel.” Instead of reading four separate Gospel accounts, many Syriac-speaking Christians heard the story of Christ as one unified narrative. It exercised enormous influence in the Syrian churches, and Ephrem the Syrian later wrote a commentary on it. Beth Mardutho’s Syriac biographical entry Why did Tatian become controversial? After Justin’s martyrdom, Tatian appears to have returned eastward and adopted an extremely rigorous ascetic position. Irenaeus associated him with the Encratites, from Greek ἐγκρατής, meaning “self-controlled” or “continent.” They reportedly rejected: Marriage Sexual relations Meat Wine, including its use in the Eucharist Ascetic discipline was respected in early Christianity, especially in the East. Tatian’s difficulty was not simply that he practiced strict discipline; he apparently transformed personal discipline into a universal theological requirement. His importance Tatian should be studied as both a foundational and complicated pioneer. His greatest contribution was bringing the four Gospels together and helping transmit their message into the Syriac Christian world. His greatest weakness was allowing his hostility toward Greek culture and his extreme asceticism to carry him beyond the Church’s accepted teaching. He demonstrates an important historical principle: a Christian writer may make an extraordinary contribution without every part of his theology being accepted. Tatian’s later errors do not erase the immense historical influence of the Diatessaron.