The Ethiopian canon is divided into 46 books of the Old Testament and 35 books of the New Testament. It is often categorized into two versions: the "narrower" and the "broader" canon, though both typically aim for the symbolic number of 81. Old Testament (46 Books)
The New Testament is also expanded beyond the standard 27-book Western canon. Matthew through Revelation.
The Ethiopian Bible, also known as the Ge'ez Bible, is an ancient Christian scripture that contains 81 books, including the Old and New Testaments, as well as additional apocryphal works. It is considered one of the most ancient and revered biblical collections in the world.
A profound apocalyptic text that heavily influenced early Christian literature, specifically dealing with fallen angels, the cosmos, and the Messiah.
While a single, complete official English PDF is rare, several reputable digital resources and mobile applications provide the full 81-book canon: Mobile Apps (Highly Recommended) : Apps like the Amharic Bible 81 Amharic Orthodox Bible 81-3D Ethiopian Bible 81 Books Pdf Free Download
However, there is a significant problem:
The , also known as the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Bible , is the world's oldest and most complete biblical canon, containing 81 books . Unlike the standard 66-book Protestant Bible or the 73-book Catholic Bible , the Ethiopian tradition preserves ancient texts that were often discarded or ignored by Western traditions.
The Ethiopian New Testament matches the standard 27-book canon used globally but adds eight additional books of church order and apostolic teaching:
While standard Protestant Bibles contain 66 books and Catholic Bibles contain 73, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church recognizes 81 books. This canon is divided into two parts: the Narrow Canon and the Broad Canon. Most modern printings and digital versions reflect the Narrow Canon. The Old Testament (46 Books) The Ethiopian canon is divided into 46 books
While a single "click-to-download" PDF is elusive, you can build the complete 81-book collection for free legally using the following resources:
It contains the oldest complete illustrated Christian manuscript in existence—the Garima Gospels, which carbon dating traces back to between 330 and 650 AD.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and independent developers offer mobile applications containing the Amharic and Ge'ez text of the 81 books, often with parallel English translations for specific books. Share public link
Finding a complete, high-quality English translation of the 81-book Ethiopian Bible for free can be challenging due to its unique translation from Ge'ez. However, there are reputable sources available: 1. Archive.org Matthew through Revelation
Several diaspora ministries and educational websites publish digitized versions of the Amharic and Ge'ez bibles for pastoral and educational use. These resources frequently offer downloadable PDFs of the complete Haile Selassie I Amharic Bible translation, which follows the traditional canon. Avoiding Security Risks Online
for the 81-book English translation. Provide a breakdown of the 35 New Testament books. Compare the Ethiopian OT with the King James Version. Let me know what you'd like to do next! Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
Rules and disclosures regarding church administration and the sacraments.
The primary difference between the Ethiopian Bible and the more familiar Protestant or Catholic Bibles is the inclusion of books like . From a theological standpoint, the Ethiopian Church places a strong emphasis on Holy Tradition alongside Scripture, whereas Protestantism adheres to Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone). The Ethiopian canon was shaped by early Jewish-Christian traditions that thrived in the region, preserving texts that offer significant insights into angelology, cosmology, and Second Temple Judaism.