The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church possesses a rich biblical tradition, distinct in its canon from many other Christian denominations. The Orthodox Tewahedo biblical canon is a version of the Christian Bible used in the two Oriental Orthodox Churches of the Ethiopian and Eritrean traditions: the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
This article delves into the unique aspects of the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible, its canon, and the ongoing efforts to make it accessible to a wider audience through English translations.
The Sacred Scriptures are the written word of God who is the author of the Old and New Testaments containing nothing but perfect truth in faith and morals. The word of God is not contained in the Bible alone, it is to be found in tradition as well. But God’s word is not contained only in them, there is an unwritten word of God also, which we call apostolic tradition.
The Unique Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible
At 81 books, it is the largest and most diverse biblical canon in traditional Christendom. The canon of the Ethiopic Bible differs both in the Old and New Testament from that of any other churches. As a whole, books written in the Geez language and on parchment are numerous. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has 46 books of the Old Testament and 35 books of the New Testament that will bring the total of canonized books of the Bible to 81.
Western scholars have classified the books of the canon into two categories - the narrower canon, which consists mostly of books familiar to the West, and the broader canon, which includes nine additional books. It is not known to exist at this time as one published compilation.
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The Orthodox Tewahedo narrower Old Testament canon contains the entire established Hebrew protocanon. Moreover, with the exception of the first two books of Maccabees, the Orthodox Tewahedo canon also contains the entire Catholic deuterocanon. In addition to this, the Orthodox Tewahedo Old Testament includes the Prayer of Manasseh, 3 Ezra, and 4 Ezra, which also appear in the canons of other Christian traditions.
The books of Lamentations, Jeremiah, and Baruch, as well as the Letter of Jeremiah and 4 Baruch, are all considered canonical by the Orthodox Tewahedo churches. Additionally, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Books of Ethiopian Maccabees are also part of the canon; while they share a common name they are completely different from the books of Maccabees that are known or have been canonized in other traditions.
The Ethiopic version of the Old and New Testament was made from the Septuagint. It includes the book of Enoch, Baruch, and the third and fourth Esdras. In the international Bible studies there are certain books belonging to the class usually designated pseudepigraphic. The whole Christendom and whole-learned world owes a debt of gratitude to the church of Ethiopia for the preservation of those documents. Among these books is the book of Enoch which throws so much light on Jewish thought on various points during the centuries immediately preceding the Christian era.
The book of Jubilee (Kufale, i.e. Division) otherwise known as the Little Genesis has also been preserved entire only in the Ethiopic version. The preservation of yet one more book in its entity, namely, the Ascension of Isaiah, is to be remembered to the credit of the Ethiopic Church.
The canons, regulations of Christian instruction and worship of the Ethiopian Church, are contained in the Sinodos and Didascalia, two compilations of ancient church canons, dating from the second period of Ethiopic literature. The Sinodos, classed as part of Ethiopic New Testament, is composed of various elements: Constitutions of Apostles, the Statutes of the Apostles, the Canons of the Apostles, the canons of Various councils-Nicaea, Gangra, Sardica, Antioch, New-Caesarca, Aneyra, Laodienea - and various theological and pastoml treatises. Eight books make up the Sinodos. Sinodos is the Corpus juris Ecclesiastic of the Church.
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The Ethiopic Didascalia, or Didesqelya, is a book of Church order in 43 chapters, distinct from the Didascalia Apostolorum, but similar to books I-VII of the Apostolic Constitutions, where it most likely originates. The broader canon seems to have been created by Ethiopian scholars commenting on the Fetha Negest law code, which says that the canon contains 81 books, but only lists 73.
The Didascalia a document well known in the Christian Church originally composed in Greek probably in the middle of the third century, a discourse on Church life and society. The whole work was afterwards, somewhere in the fourth century, incorporated in the Apostolic Constitutions. It has Latin, Arabic and Syriac versions, which differ among themselves and from the Ethiopic version with regard to the subject matter.
Briefly the contents of the document are: Questions of morality, the duty of studying the Scriptures and observance of the Seventh Commandment, mutual duties of husband and wife, offices and duties of Christian ministers; the duties of widows; the method of baptism, laymen not to baptize; vows of virginity; the duties of the faithful towards the martyrs; observance of Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy week and method of calculating the date of Easter; warning against heresy; respect to be shown to the faithful departed; prayers to be used on specified and unspecified occasions.
In the past, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church had not much opportunity to expand and propagate the above, noted doctrine and orders of the church inside and outside the nation; this is because of the different circumstances prevailing in the surroundings of the country. Because of the advent of European Colonialism upon its neighboring African countries and the great monetary support that other religious groups received to convert Africans. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church had no other choice but to defend on and preserve all here Christian legacy. Henceforth, she was unable to raise her apostolic voice louder among her African brothers and sisters.
But books, which should be considered for higher education and could be prepared carefully in order to suit modern thinking, are the following:
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- An exposition of the dialogue ascribed to St.
- Works of St.
- The exegesis of the letter to the Hebrews by St.
- The pastoral work of St.
- Hymn books, mostly by St.
- Biography and works of St.
- Biography and works of St.
- Biography and works of St.
- Biography and works of St.
- On the Miracles of St.
There are very many grammatical books written by different people and found at different places in the world. The above noted are but a very few examples from among the different books numbered by the thousands that the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church has.
Table of Key Books in the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible
| Category | Books | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Old Testament | Protocanon | Books found in the Hebrew Bible |
| Old Testament | Deuterocanon | Books found in the Catholic Old Testament |
| Old Testament | Prayer of Manasseh, 3 Ezra, 4 Ezra | Also found in other Christian traditions |
| Old Testament | Lamentations, Jeremiah, Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, 4 Baruch | Considered canonical |
| Old Testament | 1st, 2nd and 3rd Books of Ethiopian Maccabees | Unique to the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible |
| Additional Texts | Book of Enoch, Book of Jubilees, Ascension of Isaiah | Preserved in their entirety in the Ethiopic version |
English Translations and Accessibility
This a list of all the books of the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible already in English. (We are not including books found in most Bibles and in most Catholic and Orthodox Bibles in this list, just the ones distinct to the Ethiopian (and Eritrean) Orthodox Canons) Some are available for free online, some are in in print form as well, and some are just in print for sale. Again, if you read our above link, there is no single Bible in English that has all of the books in one volume. Some of the books haven’t been translated yet into English.
ETHIOPIAN BIBLE IN ENGLISH COMPLETE: Full Apocrypha and Deuterocanonicals Including Enoch, Jubilees, Meqabyan (I-II-III), Tobit, Judith, Bel and the Dragon,Explore the Sacred. Embrace the Heritage. Unveil a Faith That Transcends Time. From the ancient highlands of Ethiopia to the spiritual depths of its 81-book canon, Ethiopian Bible in English Complete (LARGE PRINT): Full Apocrypha and Deuterocanonicals Including Enoch, Jubilees, Meqabyan (I-II-III), Tobit, Judith, Bel and the Dragon, and the Lost Writings opens a gateway to a rich biblical tradition preserved by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. With expert translations and a large print format, this definitive edition invites you to delve into sacred texts long hidden from the Western world, offering a seamless journey into faith without the burden of deciphering complex histories.
Why This Bible Stands Out- Complete 81-Book Canon - Includes rare texts like Enoch, Jubilees, and Meqabyan I-III, alongside Tobit, Judith, and Bel and the Dragon, all in accessible large print.- Tap & Go QR Code Bonus - Unlock The Gnostic Gospels digitally with a scannable QR code, featuring the Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Mary, and more-perfect for extending your spiritual exploration.- Cultural & Spiritual Insights - Insider context on Ethiopia's Ge'ez heritage, with guidance for understanding its unique scriptures and traditions.- Study-Ready Features - Clear typography and layout designed for readability, ideal for personal study or group reflection.- Historical Depth - Traces the preservation of these texts through centuries, offering wisdom for every season of faith.- Safety in Scholarship - Expert translations ensure accuracy, with notes to navigate theological nuances confidently.
The free online translations of Meqabyan I-III are done in an Iyaric style and can be difficult to read however the ones currently published in English are not in the Iyaric style. Although we are very grateful to have translations of Meqabyan I - III in English the print and PDF versions unfortunately do not include the verse numbers or page numbers. Mr. Curtin has a better translation of Meqabyan 1, and also Meqabyan 2, he has not done 3 unfortunately. We recommend getting it as well however. We do not necessarily agree with all of the notes but they can often provide helpful background information.
4 Baruch is unfortunately not available for purchase as a single volume, it is however included in “The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha Vol. 2” Edited by James H. Charlesworth available through our store. There is not a complete text of Josippon in English based on the Ethiopian version. This book contains a very small section of Ethiopian Josippon in English, while the rest of it is not part of the EOTC canon.
Ethiopic Clement should not be confused with the First Epistle of Clement, which is found in the writings of the Apostolic Fathers and is a completely different book. The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament Vol. I - Vol. II R. H. This free translation includes some of the books which form part of the EOTC Bible canon. This title is also available through our store. The Pseudepigrapha Volumes 1 and 2 by James Charlesworth. It contains some of the books of the EOTC Bible, along with copious scholarly notes.
A surprising number of people write to us saying “I will wait until I can get a single volume with ALL of the books.” We disagree with this idea and here is why; The more translations the better, for comparison purposes, for serious study, and to gain insight by in some cases comparing translations from different manuscripts and sometimes languages. We encourage you to download, buy, and read all of these books if you can do so. In the future, we hope to have a single volume in English with all of the books, but it will be a massive volume. In the meantime, we will release them in separate volumes first.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Bible now with all of the books in Ge’ez manages to put them all into one volume, but the trade-off is very tiny print. Remember all the English editions claiming to be the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible are frauds. Yes, all of them! Most were poorly done by disreputable self-publishers. They not only lack many of the books, include books not in the EOTC canon, but they are full of typos on top of it. In some cases large sections of books are even missing. The print also tends to be extremely small and barely readable, order to pack more books into a single volume and to save money on printing.
Complete Ethiopian Bible in English - Original Version - 88 BooksThe Complete Ethiopian Bible in English - Original Ethiopian Orthodox Bible Translation by Edward Jones - 88 Sacred Books including Old Testament, New Testament, Enoch, Jubilees & Meqabyan ➡️ Audio, Video, and Digital Versions Included!⭐️ OVER 10,000 COPIES SOLD ⭐️ BUY THE ORIGINAL VERSION WRITTEN BY BIBLICAL SCHOLARSBy buying the original version of the Complete Ethiopian Bible in English, you receive➡️ the only authentic and faithful translation of the ancient Ethiopian Orthodox canon by the biblical scholar Edward Jones, in print.➡️ Plus digital books and Apocrypha curated and explained by Edward Jones himself to deepen your understanding of the Ethiopian Bible and enhance your spiritual journey.
The Original Ethiopian Bible offers a unique perspective on spirituality and biblical history, compiling 88 sacred books, including Enoch, Jubilees, and Meqabyan. Uncover the full richness of God's Word with the Original Ethiopian Bible - now faithfully translated into clear, beautiful English. This Ethiopian Bible is an authentic and faithful translation of the original texts with language that is natural, clear, and emotionally resonant. Unlike older, formal translations that can feel distant or confusing, this edition flows smoothly and is engaging to read.
If you would like to support the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible Project, please consider a donation, do not forget to follow our site so that we can continue to keep you posted with new developments concerning the EOTC canon, EOTC canon books in English and our project.
