The History of the Arabic Diatessaron

This study re-examines the reception history of the Arabic translation of the Diatessaron through a close analysis of its previously unstudied manuscripts and paratexts. By doing so, it unearths new layers of tradition and identifies individuals associated with the Diatessaron's transmission. The research reveals that the first manuscript (A), previously considered singular, is in fact two distinct manuscripts bound together, containing evidence of editorial revisions. Similarly, the second manuscript (B) is linked to a specific scribe, offering insights into the style of the Egyptian recension. Furthermore, by comparing the Antiochian and Egyptian recensions, this shows that the Antiochian text was originally closer to the Egyptian version before undergoing modifications, which reveals how the Egyptian recension faithfully maintained ibn aṭ-Ṭayyib's edition. Finally, the study identifies two layers of Peshittization in the transmission history of the Arabic Diatessaron: one in Antioch and the other, which is the major one, in later European editions. By unraveling these layers, the study significantly reduces the number of readings considered Peshittaic and highlights the Diatessaron's influence on the Peshitta itself. This challenges the prevailing view of the Arabic Diatessaron as a Peshitta in the Diatessaron layout, inviting future scholarship to engage with the Arabic Diatessaron on the manuscript level to gain adeeper understanding of its value for reconstructing Tatian's harmony.