Canon varies by church; Ethiopian uses the broadest canon (81 books)
The biblical canon differs among Oriental Orthodox member churches. The Armenian, Syriac, Coptic, and Malankara churches use canons broadly similar to those of other ancient Christian traditions, including the deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament. The Syriac Orthodox tradition historically used the Peshitta as its primary biblical text.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church uses by far the broadest biblical canon of any Christian body—81 books—including texts such as 1 Enoch (Henok), Jubilees (Kufale), and other books not accepted in other traditions. The Eritrean Orthodox Church follows a similar canon. This diversity within the Oriental Orthodox family reflects the historical development of canon in different ecclesiastical contexts. All member churches regard the books of the New Testament (with minor variations regarding the Book of Revelation, which the Syriac tradition has historically treated with some reserve) as the normative apostolic witness.
Key Distinctions
- Ot canon:
- LXX-based; includes deuterocanonical books; varies by church (Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian differ)
- Deuterocanonical status:
- canonical; exact enumeration varies by tradition
- Additional scripture:
- none
- Canon open:
- closed
Scripture References
- 1 Enoch 1:9 (quoted in Jude 14-15)
Sources
- Armenian Apostolic Church, Book of Canon Law
- Canons of the Syriac Orthodox Synod of Beth-Lapat (484)
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Constitution (2003)