diathessziára

Diatessziára is a term that appears in historical discussions concerning early Christian literature. It refers to a specific compilation or harmony of the four Gospels, typically attributed to Tatian, an early Christian apologist and theologian. Tatian, who lived in the 2nd century CE, created a text known as the Diatessaron, which aimed to blend the narratives of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John into a single, continuous account of Jesus' life and ministry.

The Diatessaron was influential in some early Christian communities, particularly in the Syriac-speaking churches, where it was widely used for a considerable period. It presented a unified Gospel story, omitting perceived redundancies and harmonizing apparent discrepancies between the individual canonical Gospels. The precise nature of Tatian's source material and the exact composition of the Diatessaron have been subjects of scholarly debate due to the loss of the original text.

While the Diatessaron was popular in certain regions, it was eventually superseded by the acceptance of the four independent canonical Gospels in most parts of Christendom. The reasons for its decline are complex and may include theological considerations, the growing authority of the separate Gospel texts, and liturgical practices. Despite its eventual marginalization, the Diatessaron provides valuable insight into early Christian textual criticism and the development of the biblical canon.