What is the Ethiopian Bible, and how does it differ from the Protestant Bible?

The Ethiopian Bible, also known as the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Bible, is the sacred scripture of one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world. It is written primarily in Ge’ez, an ancient Semitic language no longer spoken but still used in liturgy. The Ethiopian Bible is notable for its size and content—it contains more books than the Protestant Bible, and it includes texts that are not found in the canons of Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy. The Ethiopian Bible is used in both the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

One of the most significant differences between the Ethiopian Bible and the Protestant Bible is the number of books. The Protestant Bible contains 66 books—39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. In contrast, the Ethiopian Bible includes 81 books (46 books in the Old Testament and 35 books in the New Testament). Among the additional writings are books such as 1 Enoch, Jubilees, 1—3 Meqabyan (which are different from the 1—2 Maccabees found in Catholic Bibles), and The Book of the Covenant. These texts are considered canonical by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church but are regarded as apocryphal or pseudepigraphal by Protestants.

The Protestant Bible is based on the principle of sola scriptura, emphasizing the authority of Scripture alone. Reformers such as Martin Luther affirmed the 66-book canon based on the Hebrew Bible for the Old Testament and the universally accepted New Testament writings. The Ethiopian canon, however, developed separately, influenced by early Jewish and Christian traditions in the region of Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s early exposure to Christianity—traditionally traced back to the Ethiopian eunuch’s conversion in Acts 8:26–39—allowed for the preservation of certain Jewish-Christian texts that were not widely accepted elsewhere.

From a theological standpoint, the Ethiopian Bible’s inclusion of books like 1 Enoch, with its sensationalistic themes and heavy angelology, is significant. While 1 Enoch is quoted in Jude 1:14–15, it was not included in the Protestant canon because it was not recognized as inspired Scripture by the early church councils. The Protestant position is that the canon is closed and consists only of those books that were universally recognized by the early church as divinely inspired (2 Timothy 3:16–17; Hebrews 1:1–2; Revelation 22:18–19).

Another key difference between those who use the Ethiopian Bible and those who use the Protestant Bible lies in each group’s approach to Scripture. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church places a strong emphasis on tradition alongside Scripture, whereas Protestantism insists that Scripture alone is the final authority in matters of faith and practice. This distinction affects not only the canon but also the interpretation and application of biblical teachings.

In summary, the Ethiopian Bible differs from the Protestant Bible in its canon, language, and theological framework. While the Ethiopian Bible reflects a rich and ancient Christian heritage, the Protestant Bible adheres to a more universally recognized and historically affirmed set of Scriptures, grounded in the belief that God has revealed His Word clearly and sufficiently through the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments (Psalm 119:105; John 17:17; 2 Peter 1:20–21).