Freethought & Rationalism Archive

andrewcriddle · 08-03-2012, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephan huller

Indeed look at how utterly complex that patchwork appears in the whole section (red Matthew, blue Mark, bold Luke):

And while Jesus was going in the way, there came near to him a young man of the rulers, and fell on his knees, and asked him, and said, Good Teacher, what is it that I must do that I may have eternal life? Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good, while there is none good but the one, even God? Thou knowest the commandments. If thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments. The young man said unto him, Which of the commandments? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt not commit adultery [Luke adds 'thou shalt not murder] Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shall not do injury, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Love thy neighbour as thyself. That young man said unto him,All these have I kept from my youth: what then is it that I lack? And Jesus looked intently at him, and loved him, and said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, what thou lackest is one thing: go away and sell everything that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and take thy cross, and follow me. And that young man frowned at this word, and went away feeling sad; for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw his sadness, he looked towards his disciples, and said unto them, How hard it is for them that have possessions to enter the kingdom of God!

SECTION XXIX.

29 1 Verily I say unto you, It is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of 2 heaven. And I say unto you also, that it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of 3 a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And the disciples were wondering at these sayings. And Jesus answered and said unto them again, My children, how hard it is for those that rely on their possessions to enter the 4 kingdom of God! And those that were listening wondered more, and said amongst 5 themselves, being agitated, Who, thinkest thou, can be saved? And Jesus looked at them intently, and said unto them, With men this is not possible, but with God it is. 6 Arabic, it is possible for God to do everything. Simon Cephas said unto him, Lo, we have left everything, and followed thee; what is it, thinkest thou, that we 7 shall have? Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, Ye that have followed me, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also 8 shall sit on twelve thrones, and shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Verily I say unto you, No man leaveth houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or kinsfolk, or lands, because of the kingdom of God, or for my 9 sake, and the sake of my gospel, who shall not obtain many times as much in this time, and in the world to come inherit eternal life: and now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecution; 11 and in the world to come everlasting life. Many that are first shall be last, and that are last shall be first.

The Arabic Diatessaron may have been assimilated to the Peshitta here. On the basis of the Old Syriac I suspect that the beginning of section XXIX originally read

Quote:

Verily I say unto you, It is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And I say unto you also, that it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Andrew Criddle

stephan huller · 08-04-2012, 12:57 AM

I am not sure I understand what you are suggesting. What is the basis for this assumption? What's the rationale?

andrewcriddle · 08-05-2012, 06:30 AM

Hi Stephan

First of all:

Quote:

Verily I say unto you, It is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And I say unto you also, that it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

in the Arabic Diatessaron corresponds to Matthew 19:23-24.

The text basically agrees here with the Peshitta with the TR and with NA. However the Old Syriac for Matthew 19:24 reads kingdom of heaven not kingdom of God. (This agrees with the Vulgate and some secondary Greek witnesses.)

Since the Old Syriac is textually closely linked to the original Diatessaron and since the Arabic Diatessaron has largely been assimilated to the Peshitta, I suspect that Tatian's Diatessaron read

Quote:

Verily I say unto you, It is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And I say unto you also, that it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Andrew Criddle

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08-04-2012, 12:57 AM	#12
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	I am not sure I understand what you are suggesting. What is the basis for this assumption? What's the rationale?

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