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.
• "Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Sermones", Edmund Beck, CSCO vol. 305, etc. Louvain:Secretariat du CorpusSCO (1973). 4 vols. Text in Syriac, with German introductions, translation, etc. Sermons.

Links

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