The Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony
Home > Apocrypha > The Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony The Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony At a Glance Gospel Genre: (3/5) *** Reliability of Dating: (1/5) * Length of Text: Greek Original Language: Ancient Translations: Modern Translations: English Estimated Range of Dating: 170-200 A.D. Chronological List of Early Christian Writings Discuss this text on the Early Writings forum. Text English Translation of 0212 Greek Reconstruction of 0212 Books Carl H. Kraeling, A Greek Fragment of Tatian's Diatessaron from Dura (Church History 2001) Recommended Books for the Study of Early Christian Writings Information on The Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony The Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony is known only from fragment 0212.
On this fragment, D.C. Parker, D.G.K. Taylor, and M.S. Goodacre state: "It may therefore be concluded that the parchment was produced at some point between the second part of the second century and the building of the embankment [c. 255 CE], and we would prefer a late second century date." (Studies in the Early Text of the Gospels and Acts, pp. 198-199) They analyse the text of 0212 as compared to the text of the Diatessaron and find that they disagree on many points: "We confess to having felt some surprise when five out of the eight items on which a conclusion could be reached proved to be non-Tatianic. The bulk of evidence is strongly against the fragment's being a part of Tatian's Diatessaron." (op.
cit., p. 225) The authors state: "We conclude that 0212 was originally composed in Greek, probably in the latter part of the second century. It is not part of Tatian's Diatessaron, and so it can shed no light on the origins of the Diatessaron. Since there are no quotations from the Gospel passages corresponding to 0212 extant in Justin, it is also impossible to ascertain whether the fragment might be a copt of Justin's Harmony. Again, whether it is part of a complete harmony or, as Plooij suggested, just a section of a passion harmony cannot be determined." (op. cit., p. 228) The authors describe the significance of the find: "First, it provides essential, and scarce, information about the theological identity of the early Christian community at Dura-Europos.
Second, it is an important witness to the text of the canonical Gospels in the second century. Third, it emphasises the need apparently felt in Syria and Mesopotamia in the second and third centuries for a harmonised text of the Gospels, a need that was to lead to the later success, indeed dominance, in the region of Tatian's Diatessaron. Unfortunately, it also raises an uncomfortable question for students of Tatian's text: how can we be certain that witnesses at present described as 'diatessaronic' are not in fact relics of this, or some other, early harmony? The impact on our methodology could be dramatic." (op. cit., p. 228) Some Contemporary Texts Dionysius of Corinth (165-175 A.D.) Lucian of Samosata (165-175 A.D.) Marcus Aurelius (167 A.D.) Diatessaron (170-175 A.D.) Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony (170-200 A.D.) Muratorian Canon (170-200 A.D.) Treatise on the Resurrection (170-200 A.D.) Letter of Peter to Philip (170-220 A.D.) Thought of Norea (170-230 A.D.) Go to the Chronological List of all Early Christian Writings Please buy the CD to support the site, view it without ads, and get bonus stuff!
Early Christian Writings is copyright © Peter Kirby <E-Mail&gt. Follow @mrpeterkirby MLA Style Kirby, Peter. "The Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony." Early Christian Writings. <http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/dura.html>. Gospels Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Letters of Paul Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Letter to the Hebrews General Letters James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation Gospels Gospel of Thomas Egerton Gospel Gospel of Peter Oxyrhynchus 840 Gospel of Mary Epistula Apostolorum Infancy Gospel of James Infancy Gospel of Thomas Acts of Pilate Diatessaron Gospel Fragments Oxyrhynchus 1224 Fayyum Fragment Gospel of the Egyptians Gospel of the Hebrews Gospel of the Ebionites Gospel of the Nazoreans Traditions of Matthias Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony Apostolic Acts Preaching of Peter Acts of Peter Acts of John Acts of Paul Acts of Andrew Acts of Peter and the Twelve Book of Thomas the Contender Acts of Thomas Martyrologies Martyrdom of Polycarp Fifth and Sixth Books of Esra Acts of Carpus, Papylus, and Agathonice Letter from Vienna and Lyons Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs Acts of Apollonius Acts of Perpetua and Felicitas Didache Apocalypse of Peter Didascalia Dialogues with Jesus Sophia of Jesus Christ Secret James Gospel of Mary Dialogue of the Savior Gospel of the Savior Books of Jeu Pistis Sophia Apocalypses 2nd Apocalypse of James Coptic Apocalypse of Paul 1st Apocalypse of James Coptic Apocalypse of Peter Acts Acts of Peter and the Twelve Book of Thomas the Contender Letter of Peter to Philip More Nag Hammadi Apocryphon of John Gospel of Truth Treatise on the Resurrection Gospel of Philip Trimorphic Protennoia Authoritative Teaching Discourse on the Eighth and the Ninth Melchizedek Quoted Authors Basilides Naassene Fragments Valentinus Marcion Epiphanes Ophite Diagrams Gospel of Judas More Quoted Authors Ptolemy Isidore Theodotus Heracleon Apelles Julius Cassianus Apostolic Fathers Didache Epistle of Barnabas First Clement Shepherd of Hermas Ignatius of Antioch Polycarp to the Philippians Second Clement Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus Martyrdom of Polycarp Apologists Aristides Justin Martyr Tatian Minucius Felix Athenagoras of Athens Theophilus of Antioch Quoted Authors Papias Quadratus Aristo of Pella Claudius Apollinaris Melito of Sardis Hegesippus Dionysius of Corinth Rhodon Theophilus of Caesarea More Quoted Authors Bardesanes Maximus of Jerusalem Polycrates of Ephesus Victor I Pantaenus Anonymous Anti-Montanist Serapion of Antioch Apollonius Caius Irenaeus of Lyons Hippolytus of Rome Clement of Alexandria Tertullian Origen Pagan and Jewish Mara bar Serapion Josephus Pliny the Younger Suetonius Tacitus Fronto Lucian of Samosata Marcus Aurelius Galen Celsus Talmud Philostratus Jewish/Christian The Twelve Patriarchs Non-Pagan Sibyllines Odes of Solomon Book of Elchasai Ascension of Isaiah Hypothesized Sources Passion Narrative Sayings Gospel Q Signs Gospel Anti-Marcionite Prologues Muratorian Canon Kerygmata Petrou Inscription of Abercias