The Ethiopian Bible is considered one of the most important biblical collections in the world, with a history dating back to the 1st century AD. It is believed that the Bible was introduced to Ethiopia by Matthew the Apostle, one of Jesus' twelve apostles, who is said to have preached in the region. Over the centuries, the Ethiopian Bible has been translated, copied, and preserved by Ethiopian scholars, who have ensured its accuracy and integrity.
The (or the Orthodox Tewahedo biblical canon) is the largest and most extensive biblical canon in Christendom, consisting of 81 books . It is primarily preserved by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and is written in Ge'ez , an ancient Semitic liturgical language. I. Structure of the 81-Book Canon
: Hosts bilingual (Ethiopic Ge'ez and English) versions, such as the , and scholarly compilations like the Grand Bible
The Ethiopian Bible's uniqueness stems from Ethiopia's early adoption of Christianity in the 4th century, predating many of the major church councils that standardized Western canons. Because of its geographic isolation, the Ethiopian Church preserved a broader range of ancient writings that it viewed as inseparable from apostolic tradition. Scholars value these texts—especially Ge'ez manuscripts
Disclaimer: The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church holds the Ge’ez language as sacred. While digital PDFs are useful for study, they do not replace the liturgical reading within the Church community. Always respect the living tradition of the Ethiopian faithful.
