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Thomas and Tatian: The Relationship Between the Gospel of Thomas and the Diatessaron (Academia Biblica (Society of Biblical Literature) (Paper))
Thomas and Tatian The Relationship Between the Gospel of Thomas and the Diatessaron - Academia Biblica Society of Biblical Literature - Paper Author:Nicholas Perrin The relationship between the Coptic Gospel of Thomas and the synoptic gospels has been a matter of long-standing debate. Some maintain that the sayings of Jesus in Thomas reflect a line of transmission independent of the synoptic tradition; others contend that the Coptic collection is finally a reworking of the Greek synoptic gospels. This book ... more »proposes a third possibility: namely, that the Gospel of Thomas depends on a second-century Syriac gospel harmony, Tatian?s Diatessaron, written in 175 C.E. Following a linguistic analysis of Thomas, the author argues that the Coptic collection is actually a translation of a unified Syriac text which at places followed the wording and sequence of the Diatessaron. The book argues for a late second-century C.E. dating of Thomas, rules out Thomas as a meaningful source for Historical Jesus research, and suggests possible links between Thomas and other mystical literature of the ancient near east.« less