Tatian the Assyrian > Quotes

“I was led to put my faith in these [Scriptures] by the unpretending cast of the language, the inartifical character of the writers, the foreknowledge displayed of future events, the excellent quality of the precepts, and the declaration of the government of the universe as centered on one Being. And my soul being taught of God, I discern that the former class of [pagan] writings lead to condemnation, but that these [Scriptures] put an end to the slavery that is in the world.”
― Tatian the Assyrian, Tatian's Address To The Greeks

“Your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.”
― Tatian the Assyrian, The Diatessaron

“For the heavenly Logos, a spirit emanating from the Father and a Logos from the Logos-power, in imitation of the Father who begot Him made man an image of immortality, so that, as incorruption is with God, in like manner, man, sharing in a part of God, might have the immortal principle also. The Logos, too, before the creation of men, was the Framer of angels. And each of these two orders of creatures was made free to act as it pleased, not having the nature of good, which again is with God alone, but is brought to perfection in men through their freedom of choice, in order that the bad man may be justlypunished, having become depraved through his own fault, but the just man be deservedly praised for his virtuous deeds, since in the exercise of his free choice he refrained from transgressing the will of God. Such is the constitution of things in reference to angels and men. And the power of the Logos, having in itself a faculty to foresee future events, not as fated, but as taking place by the choice of free agents, foretold from time to time the issues of things to come; it also became a forbidder of wickedness by means of prohibitions, and the encomiast of those who remained good. And, when men attached themselves to one who was more subtle than the rest, having regard to his being the first-born, and declared him to be God, though he was resisting the law of God, then the power of the Logos excluded the beginner of the folly and his adherents from all fellowship with Himself. And so he who was made in the likeness of God, since the more powerful spirit is separated from him, becomes mortal; but that first-begotten one through his transgression and ignorance becomes a demon; and they who imitated him, that is his illusions, have become a host of demons, and through their freedom of choice have been given up to their own infatuation.”
― Tatian the Assyrian, Tatian's Address To The Greeks

“13 Judge not, that you be not judged: condemn not, that you be not condemned: 14 forgive, and it shall be forgiven you: release, and you shall be released: give, that you may be given unto; with good measure, abundant, full, they shall thrust into your 15 bosoms.”
― Tatian the Assyrian, The Diatessaron

“Which is better, that it should be said to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven you, or that it should be said 20 to him, Arise, and take your bed, and walk?”
― Tatian the Assyrian, The Diatessaron

“Neither let your minds be perplexed in this: all these things the nations of the world seek; and your Father which is in heaven knows 11 your need of all these things.”
― Tatian the Assyrian, The Diatessaron

“I do not wish to be a ruler. I do not strive for wealth. I refuse offices of military command.”
― Tatian

“And if you inquire for the good of your brethren only, what more have 21 ye done than others? is not this the conduct of the publicans also?”
― Tatian the Assyrian, The Diatessaron

“If you had known this: I love mercy, 45 not sacrifice, you would not have condemned those on whom is no blame.”
― Tatian the Assyrian, The Diatessaron