The Diatessaron Ruse
or
How the Hebrew Gospel Was Erased
INTRODUCTION
Tatian, a second-century Christian apologist, is prominent for three things: For a work entitled Oration to the Greeks, for heresy, and for a gospel harmony known as the Diatessaron. While scholars commonly ascribe Tatianic authorship to the latter, a closer look at the evidence renders the claim suspect. Only a disregard of the historical context, its spiritual ramifications, and the emblematic role of Rome would produce such an admission. A few simple considerations suggest that Tatian was the scapegoat who provided a pretext for elegantly quashing the Hebrew Gospel.