In East Africa, a special Christian church exists called the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Its holy book is very old and also bigger than most other Bibles. Consequently, this makes us ask: when was the Ethiopian Bible written?
There is not one easy answer because the story took a very long time to unfold. It includes apostles, kings, and monks. Furthermore, these people worked hard to save the holy texts.
This article will tell you this great story. First, we will look at clues about the Bible’s past. Then, we will see how Christianity came to Ethiopia and learn how people translated the holy books. We will also see the special books in this Bible, like the Book of Enoch. Ultimately, we want to give a clear answer about when was the Ethiopian Bible written.
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What Are the Ancient Origins That Impacted When the Ethiopian Bible Was Written?
To know when people wrote the Bible, we first need to see how Christianity got to Ethiopia. The story starts very early, showing that Ethiopia has one of the oldest Christian groups in the world.
Who Was the First Convert and How Does This Relate to When Was the Ethiopian Bible Written?
The New Testament tells us about the first Ethiopian to believe. The story is in the Book of Acts, where an important man from Ethiopia was reading a holy book. Since he worked for the queen, he was very influential. On his journey, the apostle Philip met him. Philip then told him the good news about Jesus. As a result, the man believed, and Philip baptized him. This happened in the 1st century A.D. Afterward, he took his new faith back home.
How Did the Kingdom of Aksum Become a Christian Nation?
A few hundred years later, Christianity became the main religion. This happened in the Kingdom of Aksum after a man named Frumentius survived a shipwreck. People took him to the king’s court, where he taught the young prince, Ezana, about Jesus. When Ezana became king, he made Christianity the religion of the land around A.D. 330. As a result, the people needed the Bible in their own language.
When Was the Ethiopian Bible First Translated into Ge’ez?
The country was now Christian, so the people needed to read the Bible. Thus, a long process of translation began. The goal was to change the Greek texts into the local language, Ge’ez. Therefore, asking when was the Ethiopian Bible written is about this translation work.
What Was the First Step in Creating the Ge’ez Language Bible?
The first Bible books were in Hebrew and Greek. For this reason, the Ethiopian people needed the Bible in their own language. The work to translate the Bible began in the 4th century. Translators rendered the holy books into a language called Ge’ez. At first, the work was slow, as small groups worked on different books. This period, from the 4th to 5th century, was the start of the Ethiopian Bible.
How Did the Nine Saints Influence the Bible Translation?
The work got a big push in the late 5th century when a group called the Nine Saints came to Ethiopia. These men were monks from other lands, like Syria, who were running from trouble in their own countries. The church in Ethiopia welcomed them. Because these men were very smart and holy, they did a lot for the church. For instance, they started schools and churches. Most of all, they helped translate the Bible, making the work faster and better. Their efforts helped make the Ethiopian Bible strong.
What Makes the Canon Different and How Does It Relate to When Was the Ethiopian Bible Written?
The Ethiopian Bible is special for two reasons. It is very old, and it is very big. It has more books than other Bibles. The list of holy books is called a canon. This makes it a great source of old religious books.
Why Is the Ethiopian Bible Canon Larger Than Others?
The Ethiopian Church has a “broader canon,” which means it has more books. For comparison, the Protestant Bible has 66 books, and the Catholic Bible has 73 books. The Ethiopian Bible, however, has up to 81 books. The church did not create the list of holy books. This large collection shows us what books people liked in the old days. You can learn more at Encyclopedia.com.
What Unique Books Are Found Only in the Ethiopian Bible?
The best part of the Ethiopian Bible is its extra books. These consist of old Jewish texts that other Bibles do not have. The church in Ethiopia saved them. The age of these books is a key clue for people who ask when was the Ethiopian Bible written.
- The Book of Enoch: This is the best-known extra book. It tells about angels and the end of the world. A book in the New Testament even uses words from Enoch. People liked it long ago, but only the Ethiopian church saved the full book. You can learn more at Early Jewish Writings.
- The Book of Jubilees: This book retells the stories of Genesis. It puts them in groups of 49 years. People also knew this book in the past, but only Ethiopia saved the full text.
- The Books of Meqabyan: These three books are not the same as the Maccabees in the Catholic Bible. Instead, they tell stories about faith and dying for what you believe.
What Do Ancient Manuscripts Tell Us About the Ethiopian Bible?
The proof for the Bible’s age is not just in stories. We can see it in the old copies of the book. These copies have lasted for many years. Indeed, some are the oldest Christian books in the world.
What Do the Garima Gospels Tell Us About When Was the Ethiopian Bible Written?
For years, people thought the oldest Ethiopian books were from the Middle Ages, but a new find changed that. In a church in Ethiopia, there are two old books that people call the Garima Gospels. While many thought they were from A.D. 1100, new tests show they are much older. Scribes made the books between A.D. 330 and 650. This may make them the oldest Christian gospel books with pictures in the world. These books prove that people were making the Ethiopian Bible very early. The Ethiopian Heritage Fund helps to keep these books safe.
How Did Monasteries Preserve the Ancient Ethiopian Bibles?
It is amazing these old books still exist. Ethiopia had many wars, but dedicated monks kept the Bibles safe. People built churches high in the mountains. These churches were like forts for faith and study. Monks spent their lives copying the holy books by hand because they felt it was a holy job. Because they cared so much, they did not lose the old Bible. Instead, they passed it down for all to see.
What Is the Final Timeline for When Was the Ethiopian Bible Written?
After looking at all the proof, we can now give a clear answer. The story of when was the Ethiopian Bible written is about a long process.
Why Was Writing the Ethiopian Bible a Long-Term Process?
No one made the Ethiopian Bible in one day. The process took many years.
- First Step (4th-5th Centuries): The work started when the country became Christian. At that point, people began to translate the Bible into Ge’ez.
- Next Step (5th-7th Centuries): Then, the Nine Saints helped a lot. They made the translation work move faster. Scribes were making good books at this time.
- Last Step (14th-17th Centuries): Finally, church leaders finalized the list of holy books. They agreed on which books to include, which took a long time.
What is the Conclusive Answer to When Was the Ethiopian Bible Written?
So, the best answer is this: The work began in the 4th century A.D. Translators did most of it by the 7th century. However, church leaders decided on the final list of books much later. This makes the Ethiopian Bible very old and very complete. It is a real treasure for the world, and it shows the strong faith of the Ethiopian people.
FAQ – When Was the Ethiopian Bible Written
When was the Ethiopian Bible finalized and what does this timeline signify?
The Ethiopian Bible’s translation and canon were finalized between the 4th and 17th centuries, signifying a long process of development and preservation that spans over a millennium.
What are some of the ancient manuscripts that indicate when the Ethiopian Bible was written?
Ancient manuscripts such as the Garima Gospels, dating from A.D. 330 to 650, are some of the oldest copies that show the Ethiopian Bible was written early in Christian history.
Why is the Ethiopian Bible considered larger and different from other Christian Bibles?
The Ethiopian Bible has a broader canon with up to 81 books, including unique texts like the Book of Enoch, Jubilee, and Meqabyan, which are not found in other Christian Bibles.
Who were the Nine Saints and what role did they play in the Ethiopian Bible’s history?
The Nine Saints were monks from other lands who arrived in Ethiopia in the late 5th century, helping to accelerate the translation of the Bible and strengthen the Ethiopian Christian Church.
When did the translation of the Ethiopian Bible into Ge’ez begin?
The translation of the Ethiopian Bible into Ge’ez began in the 4th century, with work gradually progressing through the 4th and 5th centuries.
