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Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary Portland Seminary

2010

Tatian

Kent Yinger

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best symbolizes a renewed Catholicism, whereby epic Works becomes the mode of the Church Militant. Tatian "left a great many books" (Eusebius HE iv.29), of which only one, Oration to the Greeks, is extant. Bibliography 1. Oration to the Greeks [A6yo<; Itpo<; "EAA.riva<;] For Tasso's original texts, see Opere, edited by Bruno Maier The date and place of this Greek composition are dis­ in five volumes (Milan, 1964). The Gerusalemme liberata puted: (a) in Rome between 150-172, or (b) outside of was first published in 1581, and today several translations Rome following Justin's martyrdom (172-180). The text are worth consulting: Jerusalem Delivered, an English is preserved in three Greek manuscripts dating from prose version translated by Ralph Nash (Detroit, 1987); the eleventh to twelfth centuries; critical Greek editions Jerusalem Delivered, an edition in verse by Anthony M. have been produced by Whittaker (1982) and Marcovich Esolen (Baltimore, 2000); and various editions of the still (1995), and numerous English translations are available vigorous Renaissance English version by Edward Fairfax. (Whittaker, 1982). For Tasso's literary criticism, see Genesis of Tasso's Narra­ Tatian's writing has been termed sprightly, intemperate, tive Theory by Lawrence Rhu. Various editions and studies vigorous, satirical, and "a showpiece of Asianic rhetoric" of Tasso's Aminta are also available. Three collections of (Edwards, "Tatian:' ABD 6.335). The use of the Greek opta­ proceedings from recent congresses on Tasso (two in 1996, tive mood, rare in his day, along with rhetorical questions, one in 2000) reflect well the present state of criticism. antitheses, and chiasms, gives the work a literary flavor. The The most useful studies include: Oration consists of forty-two chapters (under twenty pages Ardissino, Erminia. Aspra tragedia: poesia e sacra in Torquato in Ryland's ANF translation) and is a sharp attack on Greek Tasso. Florence: L. S. Olschki, 1996. culture, especially its art, philosophy, and literature, even Benfell, V Stanley. "Tasso's God: Narrative Authority in the arguing that the Greeks had borrowed from Moses. Gerusalemme Liberata." Modern Philology 97, no. 2 (1999): 173-194. You Greeks are the sort of people whose words are fluent, Brand, C. P. Torquato Tasso. Cambridge: Cambridge University but whose ideas are bizarre. (14.1) Press, 1965. So it is clear ... that Moses is older than heroes, cities, Giampieri, Giampiero. Battesimo di Clorinda: eras e religiosita in demons. We should believe one who has priority in time in Torquato Tasso. Fucecchio: Edizioni dell'Erba, 1995. preference to Greeks who learned his doctrines at second Lewis, C. S. "Tasso:' Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Litera­ hand. (40.1) ture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1966. 111-120. Looney, Dennis. Compromising the Classics: Romance Epic Nar­ Whereas many patristic writers sought some recon­ rative in the Italian Renaissance. Detroit: Wayne State Univer­ ciliation between Hellenistic and Christian philosophy, sity Press, 1996. Tatian sees here a battle line. The Oration is also impor­ Quint, David. Epic and Empire: Politics and Generic Form from tant for revealing many details of ancient culture, such as Virgil to Milton. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1993. sculpture. Zatti, Sergio. Ombra del Tasso: epica e romanzo nel Cinquecento. 2. Diatessaron [Gk. To ota -rwcrapwv £uayyD.. 1ov ("the Milan: Mondadori, 1996. gospel through four")] --. The Quest for Epic: From Ariosto to Tasso. Ed. Dennis Looney. Trans. Dally Hill with Dennis Looney. Toronto: Uni­ Although Tatian is best known for this harmony of the versity of Toronto Press, 1996. four gospels, no manuscript of the entire text in its original -BRETT FOSTER language (Greek or Syriac) has survived. Only one small Greek fragment of fourteen lines from the mid-second century has been uncovered. The Diatessaron was the preferred form of the gospels in the Syrian church until TATIAN (120-180/190). Best known for his harmony of Bishop Rabbula of (411-435) ordered its replace­ the four gospels (Diatessaron), Tatian is usually remem­ ment by the four gospels of the Syriac . Our lack bered in the Western Church (but not in all portions of of manuscript evidence is due largely to Bishop Theodoret the Eastern Church) as a Christian apologist turned here­ of Cyrus (423-457), whose visit to Syria in the fifth cen­ tic. He was born in Assyria (or Syria) ca. 120 CE and came tury resulted in the destruction of all two hundred known to Rome, where he adopted the Christian way through manuscripts of the Diatessaron. Nevertheless, it continued reading "barbarian writings" (Jewish Scripture, Or 29:1). to be disseminated as far as China to the east and Eng­ There he became a student of Justin Martyr, after whose land (or Iceland) to the west. John Hus apparently utilized death (ca. 163-167) he returned to his birthplace in 172 it shortly prior to the time of the Reformation. No new CE. Almost nothing is known of his later life in Syria instances of this genre (harmonia evangelica) occurred (d. ca. 180-190). until the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries, when many John Tauler 587

were produced. In modern times the gospel synopsis has The following writings of Tatian are mentioned in largely replaced the harmony. ancient sources, but no manuscripts have been discovered. Modern reconstructions and translations of the Dia­ 3. On Animals: Mentioned in Oration 15.2, it apparently tessaron are based on translations in other languages seeks to show that fallen humanity is not superior to the (Arabic, , Armenian, Dutch), translations of these animals. translations (Old German, Latin), a commentary on the 4. On Demons: Mentioned in Oration 16; contents Diatessaron by Ephraem the Syrian (d. 373), and scattered unknown. comments by other authors. 5. On Perfection According to the Savior: Mentioned The Diatessaron is important for reconstructing the with fragmentary citation by Clem. Alex. Miscellanies original text and versions, as well as for iii.81, it interprets the antiascetic 1Cor7:3-6 in an Encrat­ understanding the development of the New Testament ite direction. canon. It also gives insight into the character of early 6. Problems: Mentioned by Tatian's former pupil, Christianity, particularly ascetic tendencies in Syria as Rhodo, according to Eusebius (HE iv.13), apparently to illustrated by the following. explain problematic passages in scripture. 7. Against Those Who Have Discussed Divine Things (?): • Rather than "the women who had followed" Jesus Mentioned in Oration 40 as a future work (completed?). from Galilee (Matt 27:55), the Diatessaron speaks of 8. Chronicon (?): Mentioned by Rufinus (Church His­ "the wives of those who had followed" him, perhaps tory vi.11), but may have been confused with the chrono­ to avoid slander over Jesus traveling with unmarried logical chapters of the Oration. women. • Joseph is not called "Mary's husband" (Matt 1:16) Bibliography but simply "a just man:' Hogg, H. W., trans. "The Diatessaron of Tatian:' 33-138. The • Anna, the prophetess, was married not seven years Ante-Nicene Fathers: writings of the fathers down to A.D. 325, (Luke 2:36), but seven days. Vol. 9. 4th ed. Allan Menzies, ed. Peabody, MA: Hendrick­ • The allegation that Jesus was a "glutton and son, 2004. winebibber" (Matt 11:19) is omitted. Hunt, Emily J. Christianity in the Second Century: The Case of Tatian. New York: Routledge, 2003. Although some evidence may suggest Tatian's use Petersen, William L. Tatian's Diatessaron: Its Creation, Dis­ of a fifth source (e.g., Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of the semination, Significance, and History in Scholarship. Vigiliae Hebrews), the Diatessaron presents a highly skillful inter­ Christianae Supp. 25. Leiden: Brill, 1994. weaving of the four canonical gospels, eliminating dupli­ Ryland, J. E., trans. "Tatian's Address to the Greeks:' 59-83. The cations and contradictions and harmonizing parallels. Ante-Nicene Fathers: writings of the fathers down to A.D. 325, The Diatessaron quotes approximately 75 percent of the Vol. 2. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds. Pea­ total verses in the gospels and omits the remaining 25 per­ body, MA: Hendrickson, 2004. Whittaker, Molly. Tatian, ORATIO AD GRAECOS and Frag­ cent. Or, put another way, it retains ments. Oxford Early Christian Texts. Oxford: Clarendon,, • 96 percent ofJohn 1982. • 76 percent of Matthew -KENT L. YINGER • 66 percent of Luke • 50 percent of Mark JOHN TAULER (ca. 1300-1361). John (or Johannes) An excerpt illustrates this skillful interweaving. Tauler was born around 1300 in Strasbourg, a flourish­ and in that hour one of them hasted, and took a sponge, ing medieval city with a population of about twenty thou­ and filled it with that vinegar, and fastened it on a reed sand. Little is known about Tauler's family and early life; he (Matt 27:48), and brought it near his mouth (John 19:29) appears to have come from a well-to-do background, and it to give him a drink (Matt 27:48, Mark 15:36). And when is known that he had at least one sibling, a sister who was a Jesus had taken that vinegar, he said, Everything is finished Dominican nun and who was present at his death in 1361 (John 19:30). But the rest said, Let be, that we may see at the Dominican nunnery in Undis. Tauler's life spanned whether Elijah cometh to save him (Matt 27:49). And Jesus said, My Father, forgive them; for they know not what they a turbulent time in Europe, marked by upheaval caused by do (Luke 23:34). And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, the Avignon papacy, as well as the destruction of multiple and said, My Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit outbreaks of the plague. Tauler was influenced by the great­ (Luke 23:46). He said that, and bowed his head, and gave est of the late medieval German mystics, Meister Eckhart, up his spirit (John 19:30). and it seems likely, although it cannot be known for sure,