Greek vs. Aramaic

[Paul Younan]

Shlama Akhi Yuri,

You got all the time you need my man - you know where to find me. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/wink1.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s -->

Actually, most Diatessaronic scholars don't think that the Latin and Arabic Diatessarons are the most trustworthy translations. It's true that the Latin Fulda Diatessaron is our oldest complete copy though...

So the "scholarly consensus" about Mar Aphrahat quoting the Diatesseron is based on some pretty crappy evidence, eh? <!-- s:eh: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/eh.gif" alt=":eh:" title="Eh" /><!-- s:eh: -->

As far as I know, what they have of Ephrem at the CAL website is incomplete. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/sad.gif" alt="" title="Sad" /><!-- s -->

An email to the webmaster should tell us whether or not the manuscript is completely up. It is my belief that the manuscript evidence is fragmentary - otherwise, why would they have started with Chapter 2 on CAL?

I'll let you know what they say. If so - McCarthy is re-constructing from some other version, perhaps the Armenian - in which case you might as well throw the evidence out of your nearest window. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/rolleyes.gif" alt="" title="Roll Eyes" /><!-- s -->

I ask you how it is possible for Ephraem to be quoting Old Scratch in his commentary on the Diatesseron <!-- s:whatthat: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/whatsthat.gif" alt=":whatthat:" title="Whats That" /><!-- s:whatthat: --> - and I get no answer. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/huh.gif" alt="" title="Huh" /><!-- s -->

Well, now this is a really difficult question...

What I'm planning to do pretty soon is to write some sort of a general FAQ about the Diatessaron, a sort of a brief and basic intro. I've already written some of it, so please give me a bit of time. Then we can come back to this issue.

Akhi Yuri - my only intention in bringing all of this up is so that the readers can rest assured that this "scholarly consensus" you talk about is based on non-scientific assumptions and theories that are impossible to prove.

I think from your statement above, people can "get my drift."

I ask you how Mar Aphrahat the Persian could be quoting Old Scratch when the word order is completely different, and I get no answer.

There's a change there from the active voice into the passive voice, not a big deal... The meaning is still the same.

The point is that these are homilies and hymns - there is every reason to believe that they are not direct quotes of anything, like I originally said - Mar Aphrahat is simply PARAPHRASING - a very common thing to do in the ancient world - do the TARGUMS come to mind? <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s -->

When someone makes poetry, and is quoting something else, then it sometimes become necessary to add a syllable or two, a word or two, a sentence or two - so that your "diction", "assonance" and/or "rhyme" are complete.

When you are dealing with hymns or homilies - you better be real careful what you call a direct quote and what you call a "paraphrase" or a "poet's gloss." <!-- s:lookround: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/lookround.gif" alt=":lookround:" title="Look Round" /><!-- s:lookround: -->

And then you give me "scholarly" references to his quoting the Diatesseron. So which one is it, Yuri? Is Mar Aphrahat quoting the Diatesseron or is he quoting Old Scratch? I get no answer from you! You are being very slippery! <!-- sly: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/sly.gif" alt="ly:" title="Sly" /><!-- sly: -->

OK, I promise to come back to this issue after I write that Diatessaron FAQ.

Fair enough - I'll be waiting patiently.

About your statement regarding the Egyptian Greek texts - we can definitely find common ground in slaying the Greek dragon - if you wish to slay it, that is.

Frankly, you sound as if you only want to cut its toenails. I'm not into cosmetics - I am an Assyrian - and we are a very brutal people, remember? I want to cut out is entrails and roast them for dinner.

If that sounds like your forte, then this website will be a very enjoyable resource for you. <!-- s:bigups: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/bigups.gif" alt=":bigups:" title="Big Ups" /><!-- s:bigups: -->