Holy Scriptures

Holy Scripture stands as one of the two central pillars of our faith. Our Church teaches that God’s revelation is not limited to the written Bible alone but is also preserved through Sacred Tradition. The Scriptures contain the divinely inspired writings of the Old and New Testaments, faithfully conveying God’s truth in matters of faith and moral life. At the same time, the Word of God is also handed down through Apostolic Tradition, which was entrusted to the Church by the Apostles. Both Scripture and Tradition are honored and upheld with equal reverence.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church maintains a unique biblical canon that differs from those of other Christian traditions. The New Testament consists of thirty-five books, organized into the Gospels, the Acts, the Pauline writings, the Apostolic books, and additional ecclesiastical texts. This total includes eight books known collectively as the Sinodos, which contain ancient church teachings, canons, and instructions.

The Old Testament canon contains forty-six books, arranged within the Law, the historical books, the writings of Solomon, and the Prophets. The Ethiopian Old Testament follows the Septuagint tradition and includes books such as Enoch and Baruch, which reflect the ancient heritage preserved by the Church.