Ephrem

Works

Commentary on the Diatessaron

Ephraem’s commentary on the Diatessaron survives in a Syriac manuscript, (which preserves about three quarters of the commentary), and two Armenian MSS, both dated AD 1195. G. Mösinger made a Latin translation of the Armenian Ephraemic commentary (Evangelii concordantis expositio [Venice: Libraria P. P. Mechitaristarum in Monasterio S. Lazari, 1876]) based on the two Armenian MSS and J.-B. Aucher’s 1841 Latin translation. There are also various Syriac fragments in later Syriac writers.

Bibliography

Commentary on the Diatessaron

• For Syriac and Armenian recensions (fourth cent.) of Ephraem’s commentary see L. Leloir, Saint Éphrem, Commentaire de l’Évangile concordant, texte syriaque (Chester Beatty Monographs 8; Dublin: Hodges Figgis, 1963); id., Saint Éphrem, Commentaire de l’Évangile concordant, version armenienne (CSCO 137, 145; Louvain: Imprimerie Orientaliste, 1954); and J. Rendel Harris, Fragments of the Commentary of Ephrem Syrus upon the Diatessaron (London: J. Clay, 1895). A Syriac Ms. was found: L. Leloir, Saint Éphrem Commentaire de l'Évangile concordant texte syriaque (manuscrit Chester Beatty 709) (CBM 8; Dublin, 1963). A further single folio was published by P. Ortiz Valdivieso, “Un nuevo fragmento siríaco del Commentario de san Efrén al Diatésaron (PPalau Rib. 2),” Studia papyrologica 5 (1966) 7-17. Between 1984 and 1986 forty-one folios of Ephraem’s commentary were acquired by the Chester Beatty Library; see L. Leloir, "Le commentaire d’Éphrem sur le Diatessaron. Quarante et un folios retrouvés," RB 94 (1987) 481-518. K.J. Cathcart, 'The Biblical and Other Early Christian Manuscripts of the Chester Beatty Library', Back to the Sources (FS D. Ryan; ed. K.J. Cathcart & J.F. Healey; Dublin, 1989) 137ff. Cathcart estimates that less than 30 leaves remain undiscovered.

• English: Saint Ephrem's Commentary on Tatian's Diatessaron: An English Translation of Chester Beatty Syriac MS 709 with Introduction and Notes Translated with introduction and notes by Carmel McCarthy. Oxford University Press (1994) 392 pages; halftone frontispiece; ISBN. 0-19-922163-4. Series: Journal of Semitic Studies Supplement, 2. Available from Amazon

Other

• "Des heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen de virginitate", tr. Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 223-224, Scriptores Syri t. 94-95. Louvain : Secrétariat du CorpusSCO, 1962 (1962) 2 vols. Syriac and German; introd. in German. Hymns on Virginity.
• "Des heiligen Ephraem des syrers Carmina Nisibena", ed. Edmund Beck, CSCO. Scriptores Syri v.218-219, 240-241, t.92-93, 102-103. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1961). 4 vols. Text in Syriac; introduction and translation in German. Contents: vols 92/3. Carmen I-XXXIV. vols. 102-3. Carmen XXXV-LXXVII. Hymns on Nisibis.
• "Nachträge zu Ephraem Syrus", ed. Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 363-364. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1975). 2 vols. ISBN 2801700134; 2801700142 (version) Text in Syriac with translation and introductory material in German. Hymns and Sermons.
• "Des heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Sermo de Domino Nostro", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 270-271. Louvain: Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1966) 2 vols. Text in Syriac, with German introductions, translation, etc.
• "Sermones in Hebdomadam Sanctam", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 412-413, Scriptores Syri t. 181-182. Louvain:Corpussco (1979). 2 vols. ISBN 2801701181; 280170119X (trans.) Text in Syriac with translation, prefatory matter and notes in German. Sermons in Holy Week
• "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen de paradiso und contra Julianum", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 174-175. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1957) 2 vols. Text in Syriac; introduction and translation in German. Hymns on Paradise; Hymns against Julian.
• "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen de ecclesia", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 198-199. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1960) 2 vols. Text in Syriac; introduction and translation in German. Hymns on the church.
• "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen de ieiunio", Edmund Beck, CSCO. Scriptores Syri t. 106-107. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1964) 2 vols. Text in Syriac, with German introductions, translation, etc. Hymns on fasting.
• "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen auf Abraham Kidunaya und Julianos Saba", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 322-323. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1972) 2 vols. Text in Syriac, with German introductions, translation, etc. Hymns on the hermits Abraham of Kidun and Julian Sabas (ca. 300).
• "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Paschahymen : de azymis, de crucifixione, de resurrectione", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 248-249. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1964) 2 vols. Text in Syriac, with German introdutions, translation, etc. Easter hymns: de azymis, de crucifixione, de resurrectione.
• "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Sermones de fide", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 212-213. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1961) 2 vols. Text in Syriac, with German introductions, translation, etc. Sermons on the faith.

Links

Peter M. Head, "Tatian's Christology and its Influence on the Composition of the Diatessaron", Tyndale Bulletin 43.1 (1992) 121-37.