What Is the Ethiopian Canon?
The Ethiopian Canon is the biblical canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church — the oldest continuously practicing Christian church in the world. It contains 88 books, making it the most comprehensive biblical canon of any Christian tradition.
While Protestant Bibles contain 66 books and Catholic Bibles contain 73, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church preserves 88 books — including ancient texts that were considered scripture by early Christians but were later excluded from Western canons during the Reformation.
How Many Books Does It Contain?
The 22 additional books in the Ethiopian canon include texts that were widely used in early Christianity, found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, and quoted in the New Testament — but were later excluded from Western canons.
Unique Texts in the Ethiopian Canon
The Book of Enoch
Quoted directly in the New Testament (Jude 1:14–15), the complete text of 1 Enoch survives only in the Ethiopian tradition. It is an apocalyptic masterpiece of ancient Jewish thought that shaped early Christian theology profoundly.
The Book of Jubilees
A detailed retelling of Genesis and Exodus, found among the Dead Sea Scrolls but complete only in Ethiopic. Essential for understanding Second Temple Judaism and the world Jesus entered.
The Books of Meqabyan
Entirely unique to the Ethiopian tradition — three books with no parallels in any other ancient literature, reflecting indigenous Ethiopian theological thought and spirituality.
Why Study the Ethiopian Canon?
- Understand texts quoted in the New Testament that most Christians have never read
- Access the complete theological tradition of the world's oldest Christian church
- Discover ancient texts that were considered scripture by early Christians
- Gain context for the Dead Sea Scrolls and Second Temple Judaism
- Explore a living tradition that predates most Western denominations by centuries
How to Get Started
The Ethiopian Canon series is available in 7 volumes on Amazon. Volume 1A is the ideal starting point — or visit the Start Here page to find the right entry point for your background and goals.