Word play in aramaic and syriac

[Thirdwoe]

I suppose that "Edessian letters" in the time period of 78 AD in and around Edessa would refer to Old Syriac script (which eventually developed into classical Estrangela forms). Something similar to the Birecik inscription and Helene of Adiabene's tomb (although we have no examples of *penned* Syriac scripts [i.e. on parchment or papyrus] until the 3rd century, so that style would be slightly different from those carved forms).

That language, too, is designated "Old Syriac" (not to be directly confused with the Old Syriac Gospels, and as opposed to "Middle Syriac" starting around the 3rd Century and the "Classical Syriac" of the Peshitta).

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Thanks for the response Steve,

Q: If it wasn?t the Aramaic of the Peshitta New Testament, as seen in the Manuscripts, such as the Yonan and the Khabouris, then why does Mar Elia III, who was Patriarch of the Church of the East from 1176-1190 A.D. in one of his Homilies, give witness to an ?old Edessian Gospel? which he saw sitting on the Altar of Mar Sawrisho in the city of Baghdad, where he states that it was better than any of the new copies with no missing letters, and which bore the date of 78 A.D., (?year 389 of the Greeks?) handwritten by Mar Akhai companion of Mar Mari, the disciple of Mar Adai (Thaddeus) the Apostle?

?Better than any new copies????

Copies of what? The Aramaic New Testament in the 12th century, which he was familiar with? This ?Edessian Gospel? was used in a Church in Baghdad 1,100 years after it was given to the Church of Edessa in 78 A.D. by companions of the Apostles.

Look at the thread called ?Earliest known date attached to four Gospels? where all this is discussed in detail.

Shlama,
Chuck