The Ethiopian Bible: Complete 88 Books with Apocryphal Texts – Illustrated...
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From the Book of Jubilees 21:10: "Now, I reveal to you a mystery: there will be many sins in the future generation, and they will not live according to the commandments of God, but will turn away to go to ruin; they will defile the marriage, and commit adultery, and will corrupt themselves on the earth."
Embark on a mystical journey through one of Christianity’s oldest and most enigmatic holy scriptures with "The Ethiopian Bible: Complete 88 Books with Apocryphal Texts" an extraordinary work that stands out in the panorama of Holy Scriptures.
This unique version of the Bible, preserved and revered in the tradition of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, offers a complete collection of 88 books, including numerous apocryphal texts not found in the standard biblical canon of other Christian denominations. This Bible is not just a religious text; it is a bridge to an ancient spiritual heritage rooted in the heart of Africa.
The Ethiopian Bible was written in Ge'ez, an ancient language that continues to be used as a liturgical language in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Its composition reflects a deeply spiritual and historical intent: to preserve a faith that, according to tradition, was directly brought to Ethiopia by the Ethiopian eunuch converted by the Apostle Philip, as narrated in the Acts of the Apostles. This direct link to the dawn of Christianity gives the Ethiopian Bible a unique authenticity and continuity of faith.
Unlike Western Bibles, which typically include 66 books, the Ethiopian Bible comprises texts such as the Book of Enoch, the Book of Jubilees, and the Book of Baruch, in addition to an expanded version of the Books of Maccabees. These apocryphal texts, often excluded from the biblical canon after various ecumenical councils in the early centuries of Christianity, offer a broader and more varied view of Judaic-Christian tradition. They contain narratives, doctrines, and prophecies that challenge conventional narratives, enriching the understanding of biblical themes with new perspectives and teachings.
Apocryphal texts were written for various reasons: some to fill narrative gaps in the "official" Bible, others to elaborate on theological or ethical details. These texts often explore themes like cosmology, angelology, and eschatology in ways that find no space in canonical books, offering alternative and sometimes controversial interpretations of traditional biblical stories. Their exclusion from the biblical canon was the result of theological and political decisions aimed at standardizing Christian doctrine, but this exclusion has also shrouded these texts in a veil of mystery and allure, heightening their appeal to those seeking a deeper or different understanding of the origins and evolutions of Christian thought.
Enoch 15:3-4: "I made you holy and spiritual, living eternal spirits. But you were not meant to take wives nor was death for you, and now you have committed great sin."
"The Ethiopian Bible: Complete 88 Books with Apocryphal Texts" is not simply an alternative edition of the scriptures; it is a testament to the diversity and richness of the Christian tradition, challenging readers to explore beyond the bounds of the canonical. It offers scholars, believers, and the curious a unique window into a world of faith that has preserved its integrity and peculiarities through the centuries, keeping alive texts that in other traditions have been forgotten or overlooked.
Opening this Bible is to immerse oneself in a universe of faith and history where each book carries the weight of centuries of spiritual meditation and debate.
Enoch 6:4: "The giants, born from spirit and flesh, shall be called evil spirits upon the earth, and on the earth shall be their dwelling."