Fragments of the Commentary of Ephrem the Syrian on the Diatessaron

process of translation or the course of tradition, so that portions of Ephrem may be found in Isho'dad and elsewhere (either expressly named or recognized by their pronounced Ephremitic flavour) which we are unable to place in their proper connexion in the Commentary, or which we can only place there with much hesitation. For passages of this kind a good margin must be left.

Enough has probably been said to shew the importance of the new Commentary. Attention had already been drawn to it by two American scholars, first by Dr Isaac H. Hall, who has the credit of opening the mine, and then by Prof. Gottheil, who had used some of the direct references to the Diatessaron, which are contained in it.

Dr Hall’s article will be found in the Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. XI., 1891, Pt II, pp. 153—1551, and Prof. Gottheil’s in the same periodical, Vol. XII., 1892, Pt 1, pp. 68—71. It is to these notices that I am indebted for my knowledge of Isho'dad and his Commentary, and for the suggestions of its bearing upon the Diatessaron and associated questions. That it is really the work of Isho'dad may be seen:

(i) from the statement of the Nestorian bibliographer ‘Ebed-yeshu or ‘Abd-isho‘ (†1318), who tells us that Isho'dad composed inter alia among other things an exposition of the New Testament;

(ii) from the headings and subscriptions of the manuscript, which tell us clearly that this is the book spoken of by ‘Abd-isho‘. Thus the Cambridge copy on f. 13 r. says:

‘By the help of the Lord Jesus Christ we begin to write the Light of the New Testament, which the lover of learning Mar Isho'dad of Merv2, bishop of Ḥedatha3 in Assyria, toiled over and collected from the writings of the interpreters and teachers of the holy Church. Our Lord, help me, and save me, and make me wise by the grace of thy mercy. Amen.’

On the last leaf we read as follows:

‘Here is ended by the help of him who created this world [cod. adds ‘the maker’] this book of the Light of the Gospel which is full of light which was made by the holy governor Mar Isho'dad the blessed, bishop of the district of Assyria....’

It will be noticed that there is some confusion in the titles

1 It passed to Germany through a notice of Dr Nestle.

2 Cod. d-Maru.

3 Cod. d-Hedhatha.