Overview of the Ethiopian Bible
- The Ethiopian Orthodox Church uses a very large canon of Scripture—one of the largest of any so-called “Christian” tradition.
- It includes 81 books (some versions count even more, depending on the source).
- Their Old Testament contains traditional books, plus several apocryphal and pseudepigraphal texts not found in Jewish, Catholic, or Protestant canons.
- Their New Testament includes all 27 books recognized in most Christian traditions, plus additional books.
Old Testament Contents
In addition to the standard Old Testament books, the Ethiopian Bible includes:
- 1 Enoch
- Jubilees
- 1, 2, 3 Meqabyan (not to be confused with the Catholic 1–2 Maccabees)
- Book of Josippon
- Book of the Covenant
- Book of the Mysteries of Heaven and Earth
- Ascension of Isaiah
These books often contain:
- Erroneous, mythical cosmology (e.g.,
