DIATESSARON Meaning and
Definition
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The term "Diatessaron" refers to a significant piece of ancient Christian literature that specifically refers to a harmony of the four Gospels found in the New Testament of the Bible. The word itself is of Greek origin, and its literal translation means "through the four."
The Diatessaron is a single narrative text that combines and blends the events, teachings, and stories from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John into one cohesive account. It was compiled in the second century by Tatian, a prominent early Christian writer and theologian. Tatian aimed to create a unified Gospel that would eliminate perceived inconsistencies and discrepancies among the four canonical Gospels.
This harmonized Gospel, the Diatessaron, became widely popular in certain regions and communities of early Christianity, including the East Syriac-speaking churches. Although the original Greek version has been lost, it was translated into multiple languages, and some fragments and translations have survived.
The significance of the Diatessaron lies in its attempt to present a comprehensive and consistent narrative of the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus Christ, drawing from the diverse accounts in the four Gospels. Its compilation reflects early attempts by Christians to synthesize and harmonize different perspectives on the life and mission of Jesus, providing insight into the evolving practices and interpretations of the early Christian movement.
Common Misspellings for DIATESSARON
- siatessaron
- xiatessaron
- ciatessaron
- fiatessaron
- riatessaron
- eiatessaron
- duatessaron
- djatessaron
- dkatessaron
- doatessaron
- d9atessaron
- d8atessaron
- diztessaron
- distessaron
- diwtessaron
- diqtessaron
- diaressaron
- diafessaron
- diagessaron
Etymology of DIATESSARON
The word Diatessaron is derived from two Greek words: dia meaning through or across and tessares meaning four. In the context of the word, tessares refers to the four canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The Diatessaron is a harmony or synthesis of these four Gospels into a single narrative, created by Tatian, a second-century Christian writer. Thus, the word Diatessaron literally means through the four (Gospels).
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