Ephrem the Syrian
4th century · AD 373 · Syriac & Oriental · 790 passages
A deacon and poet who taught Scripture in hymns, rich with imagery drawn from paradise, light, and the Eucharist.
Background on Ephrem the Syrian
In his own words on Joshua
- Joshua 12:1-24
Whoever believes in me will also do the works which I do, and will do even greater ones. And where is this word which he said, "The disciple is not greater than his master" [illustrated]? For example, Moses killed only three kings, but Joshua killed thirty. [Moses] persevered in prayer, made supplication, but did not enter [the promised land]. It was Joshua rather who entered and shared out the inheritance. Likewise, Samuel was greater than Eli, and Elisha received a double portion of his master's spirit after his ascension, like the Lord our Savior, for his disciples effected twice through their signs.
COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 19.8
- Joshua 17:13
After Ham had been cursed through his one son, [Noah] blessed Shem and Japheth and said, "May God increase Japheth and may he dwell in the tent of Shem, and let Canaan be their slave." Japheth increased and became powerful in his inheritance in the north and in the west. And God dwelt in the tent of Abraham, the descendent of Shem, and Canaan became their slave when in the days of Joshua son of Nun, the Israelites destroyed the dwelling-places of [Canaan] and pressed their leaders into bondage.
ON GENESIS 7.4
Quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations of the fathers — Aquinas's Catena Aurea, the Ante-Nicene and Nicene & Post-Nicene Fathers, and related editions. Each quotation links to its source.