RPG Adults
TATIAN OF ADIABEN
MONDAY, DECEMBER 14
John 16:5-16
John 20:30-31
“But these are written,
that ye might believe that
Jesus is the Christ…”
TATIAN OF ADIABENE
Of Syrian descent, Tatian of Adiabene was also known as Tatian the Syrian or Tatian the Assyrian (Greek: Tatianos). He was a Christian writer and theologian of the second century AD whose most influential work was the “Diatessaron,” a “harmony” of the four New Testament Gospels woven into a single narrative of Christ’s life. Ephrem the Syrian referred to it as the “Evangelion da Mehallete” (“The Gospel of the Mixed”), and for centuries it was the primary Gospel text used in Assyria, especially during the third and fourth centuries AD.
Tatian also wrote “Address to the Greeks,” a defence of Christianity that condemned paganism as empty, and praised the reasonableness and antiquity of the faith. Even Eusebius commended his discussions of Moses and Jewish law, which gave his work credibility despite his later controversies.
Yet, Tatian’s legacy is mixed. His association with the Encratites, a heretical sect in Syria, and his tendency to elevate his Diatessaron above the inspired four Gospels, proved problematic. While harmonising the Gospels can help believers grasp the life of Christ more fully, replacing the inspired text with human synthesis is dangerous. The Syrian church eventually recognised this, and by the fifth century, the bishop of Edessa ordered the Diatessaron replaced with the original four Gospels.
Tatian’s story reminds us that even influential contributions must be tested against the Word of God. His work shows both the value of intellectual effort and the peril of relying too much on human wisdom. As believers, we must remain humble, seeking counsel and depending on the Spirit of God to guide us into His truth.
THOUGHT: Am I relying on my own wisdom instead of humbly submitting to God’s Word?
PRAYER: Father, grant me humility to seek the counsel of others and to listen with a teachable spirit. Keep me from pride and error, and let Thy Spirit guide me always by Thy Word, that I may walk faithfully and not fall.