Finding a single, legitimate, free PDF of the complete Ethiopian Bible in English is difficult for two reasons:
The number of books in the Ethiopian Bible varies depending on the tradition and manuscript. While you are searching for "88," the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church canon is most commonly cited as containing 81 to 84 books in its broader canon, though some narrower lists cite different numbers.
The "88" figure usually includes the standard Old and New Testaments plus a significant collection of Deuterocanonical and Pseudepigraphal books that are considered canonical only in Ethiopia.
Key Books Unique to the Ethiopian Canon:
Books like The Ascension of Isaiah (included in some Ethiopian lists) describe a prophet seeing the Trinity and the descent of the Beloved through the seven heavens—a stunningly Christian vision from a supposedly "Jewish" text. Ethiopian Bible 88 Books In English Pdf Download -
Quote from Jude 1:14-15 (KJV): "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these..." Without the Ethiopian Bible, this verse remains a mystery.
Unlike 1 & 2 Maccabees in the Catholic Bible (which focus on Judah the Maccabee), the Ethiopian Meqabyan books feature heroes named Meqabis and focus on moral teachings. These are unique to Ethiopia.
These are the core texts that most people are looking for.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is one of the oldest Christian denominations in the world, dating back to the 4th century AD when Frumentius converted King Ezana of Aksum. Because of its isolation (geographically surrounded by Islamic empires and African traditional religions), the Ethiopian Church developed independently from the Roman and Byzantine councils that standardized the Western Bible. Finding a single, legitimate, free PDF of the
While the Council of Laodicea (c. 364 AD) and Athanasius’ Easter letter (367 AD) shaped the 66-book canon for most churches, Ethiopia never received those memos—literally. Instead, they preserved books that were widely read in the early Church but later excluded elsewhere.
Q: Is the Ethiopian Bible 88 books the same as the Catholic Bible?
No. The Catholic Bible has 73 total books (46 OT, 27 NT). Ethiopian adds Enoch, Jubilees, Meqabyan, and more.
Q: Does the Ethiopian Bible include the New Testament?
Yes. All 27 standard NT books are present, plus 8 extra (e.g., Sinodos, Covenant).
Q: Can I buy a printed English copy of the 88 books?
Yes. Search "The Complete Ethiopian Bible in English" on Amazon. Expect heavy, two-volume sets costing $80–$150. These are usually self-published compilations. Quote from Jude 1:14-15 (KJV): "And Enoch also,
Q: Is the Ethiopian Bible the oldest Bible?
The oldest complete illustrated Christian Bible is the Ethiopian Garima Gospels (c. 500 AD). However, the canon of 88 books was finalized much later, around the 14th-15th century.
Last updated: October 2024. This article is for informational purposes. Always respect copyright laws; most English translations of rare Ethiopian books are in the public domain (pre-1928). Official church publications remain under copyright.
The search term "Ethiopian Bible 88 Books In English Pdf Download" refers to a specific interest in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church canon, which is distinct from the standard Protestant (66 books) or Catholic (73 books) canons.
Here is a breakdown of the contents of such a Bible, why the book count varies, and reliable sources where you can access these texts.