What books are included in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church's broader canon beyond the Protestant and Catholic canons?
Executive summary
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church traditionally counts an 81‑book canon (46 Old Testament, 35 New Testament) but scholars and local practice distinguish a “narrow” and a “broader” list sometimes summarized as up to 88 books; the broader set adds church‑order and covenant texts such as the Ethiopic Didascalia, Sinodos, Ethiopic Clement, Jubilees, 1 Enoch, 1–3 Meqabyan and 4 Baruch [1] [2] [3] [4]. Sources disagree on which books are always included and note that some “broader” items are liturgical/disciplinary works rather than canonical scripture in other traditions [2] [5].
1. The official count and the split between “narrow” and “broader” canon
The Church itself and major ecumenical profiles report an 81‑book canon — usually rendered as 46 Old Testament and 35 New Testament books — which the Ethiopian Church treats as its standard canon [1] [6]. Academic and church historians, however, identify two practical collections: a narrower canonical corpus (commonly cited as 81 books) and a broader tradition that adds further books and ecclesiastical texts; the broader grouping is sometimes summarized as reaching up to 88 books [2] [4].
2. Books found in Ethiopian canon but not in most Protestant or Catholic canons
Several ancient writings accepted in Ethiopian practice are absent from Protestant and most Catholic canons. Repeatedly mentioned across sources are 1 Enoch and Jubilees, the distinctive Ethiopian Meqabyan texts (1, 2 and 3 Meqabyan — not the same as the Western Maccabees), and additional Jeremiah/Baruch materials including 4 Baruch and the Letter of Jeremiah [1] [5] [7] [8]. These works are treated as scriptural in Ethiopian liturgical and textual tradition [1].
3. The “broader” additions: liturgical and church‑order texts
Beyond apocalyptic and historical books, the broader canon cited by several editors and researchers includes church‑order and covenant manuals that other churches classify as ecclesiastical literature rather than biblical scripture. Examples named in secondary compilations are the Sinodos, Ethiopic Didascalia (Didesqelya) and Ethiopic Clement; these are described as church‑order collections and appear in broader Ethiopian lists [3] [5] [9]. Some modern compilations marketed as “88‑book” Bibles fold these into a single “biblical” collection, which academic sources treat cautiously [9] [10].
4. Where sources disagree and why the list is messy
Scholars emphasize the lack of a single, fixed public list: the Church historically counted 81 books but the exact contents and boundaries of the canon have been “obscure” and variable in manuscripts and practice [2] [11]. Popular publishers and online sellers sometimes advertise 88‑book editions or “complete” Ethiopian Bibles; specialist projects (Ethiopian Orthodox Bible Project) caution that many English editions are incomplete or misleading because not all Ethiopian canonical books have reliable modern translations [12] [9]. ResearchGate and academic essays underline scholarly uncertainty and the differing criteria used to name a book “canonical” versus “liturgical” [2] [11].
5. What this means for readers and researchers
If you are comparing canons, expect three clear differences: the inclusion of early Jewish apocalyptic works (Enoch, Jubilees) as canonical in Ethiopian tradition [1] [7]; unique historical/apocryphal works such as the three Meqabyan books and 4 Baruch [5] [1]; and a category of church‑order writings (Sinodos, Ethiopic Didascalia, Ethiopic Clement) that appear in broader Ethiopian collections though they are not treated as scripture in most Western traditions [3] [5]. Translational availability and reputable editions vary; specialist projects warn readers about spurious “complete” Bibles sold online [12].
6. Hidden agendas and publication pitfalls to watch for
Publishers and sellers sometimes present expanded or “88‑book” editions as the definitive Ethiopian canon; some of those volumes mix canonical, apocryphal and ecclesiastical texts without clear scholarly backing [9] [13]. The Ethiopian Orthodox Bible Project explicitly warns against fake or incomplete English compilations and urges reliance on verified translations [12]. Academic authors warn that national, liturgical and legal sources (for example the Fetha Negest) played roles in how Ethiopian lists were formed, so some expansions reflect ecclesiastical practice rather than formal conciliar definition [3] [14].
Available sources do not mention a single universally accepted checklist for the broader canon; lists differ by manuscript tradition, liturgical use and modern editorial choices [2] [11]. If you want a working list for study, begin with the Ethiopian Church’s own lists (46 OT/35 NT = 81) and then consult specialized translations and the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible Project for the Sinodos, Didascalia, Ethiopic Clement, Meqabyan, Enoch and Jubilees where available [1] [12] [3].