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[Knowledge]

Re Kebra Negast.

Is that not the book that the Orthodox read at the service? If not please elaborate.

A where you get this from re the book. King James Bible is translation not the original thing.

For your information.

[Eleazar]

Knowledge,

The EOTC reads the same Holy Bible at services as the other Christian churches, although the Ithiopian canon has 81 books instead of the 66 of the King James Bible.  The Kebre Negast is an important historical and religious book to Ethiopians, but it is not considered a part of the Holy Bible itself.

The Kebre Negast records how the Queen of Sheba met King Solomon and a child Menelik was born, thus establishing the Solomonic Dynasty of Ithiopia.

Selassie I held Respect for the Bible, and He ordered the translation of the Bible from Geez to Amharic so that all Ethiopians could overstand the Bible in their own language.    

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Revised Amharic Bible
Sunday, July 23, 1961
 
The Lion of Judah has prevailed
Haile Selassie I, Elect of God
King of Kings of Ethiopia

Ethiopia. an island of Christianity, is recorded in history as having received first the Old Testament, and then the New Testament earlier than most of the countries of the world. When, in Old Testament times, she received the Law, and when, in New Testament times, she received the Gospel, she ensured that the Scriptures were translated into the ancient language of Ge'ez. From those times to this, various books both of spiritual and material profit have periodically been compiled and written in Ge'ez. We remember with deep gratitude those fathers of old who, as time and opportunity allowed, worked with much care and labour and have left us books for the preservation of the Faith and for the increase of learning and knowledge.

In former ages. Ge'ez was the language of the country and so. even without an interpreter, the people had no difficulty in examining and understanding the books; but just as one age succeeds another, so Amharic, Which sprang from Ge'ez, gradually grew until it became the Common speech of the people, taking the place of Ge'ez. At that time. Ge'ez was understood by the learned People of the Church. but was not readily understood by the ordinary people. Arising from this, the scholars in their preaching and work have for centuries been forced in their teaching to interpret from Ge'ez into Amharic. And these conditions prevailed until Our own times.

Since the time when, by God's goodness, We were chosen to ascend the Throne of Ethiopia and while We have been leading Our people to progress in learning and knowledge, We have laboured in every way possible with an eye to their growth in spiritual and material learning and knowledge. In. order to reach this goal, and realizing that the first necessity was to have the Scriptures translated into Amharic and printed in bulk, in 1918 when We were still Heir to the Throne and Regent, We chose from amongst the scholars some to translate the Scriptures and to produce the translation alongside the Ge'ez. After this, too, at Our private expense We had a printing machine brought from Europe, established a Printing Press, and began to have books printed. Some of the books which We caused to be printed in Ge'ez and Amharic at that time, read in churches and homes, have been found profitable to the establishment of faith and to spiritual strengthening. After that, noting that the mind of the people continued to grow in understanding, We arranged for a word-for-word translation into Amharic of the books of the Old and New Testaments. Our scholars completed the translation and presented it to Us in 1931. and We ordered its printing. While the book was still in the Press, however, enemy aggression in 1935 halted the work. Even so, when in exile in London, We gave permission for this same Bible to be printed by photo-offset, and it was duly issued. By this Book. Our Ethiopian subjects in exile in many countries held fast to their faith and presented their petitions to Almighty God as they awaited the restoration of Ethiopia.

When, all honour and praise be to God, We had brought about the liberation of Ethiopia and had entered Our Empire, realizing that there ought to be a revision from the original Hebrew and Greek of the existing translation of the Bible, We chose scholars qualified for the work of Biblical training and on March 6th, 1947 set up a Bible Committee in Our Palace. The Committee worked with diligence for some five years, and on April 19th. 1952 presented the translation to Us. We give heartfelt thanks to all who helped Us in this work. All the ancient Scriptures were written for Our instruction, in order that through the encouragement they give Us, we may maintain Our hope with fortitude. Because We desire that the light which comes from the Scriptures may shine to all, this Bible by Our command and will has been revised and printed in the Thirty-First year of Our reign.
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Bible
 
The Lion of Judah has prevailed
Haile Selassie I, Elect of God
King of Kings of Ethiopia

WE IN ETHIOPIA HAVE ONE OF THE OLDEST VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE, but however old the version may be, in whatever language it might be written, the Word remains one and the same. It transcends all boundaries of empires and all conceptions of race. It is eternal.

No doubt you all remember reading in the Acts of the Apostles of how Philip baptised the Ethiopian official. He is the first Ethiopian on record to have followed Christ, and from that day onwards the Word of God has continued to grow in the hearts of Ethiopians. And I might say for myself that from early childhood I was taught to appreciate the Bible and my love for it increases with the passage of time. All through my troubles I have found it a cause of infinite comfort.

"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" who can resist an invitation so full of compassion?

Because of this personal experience in the goodness of the Bible, I was resolved that all my countrymen should also share its great blessing and that by reading the Bible they should find truth for themselves. Therefore, I caused a new translation to be made from our ancient language into the language which the old and the young understood and spoke.

Today man sees all his hopes and aspirations crumbling before him. He is perplexed and knows not whither he is drifting. But he must realise that the Bible is his refuge, and the rallying point for all humanity. In it man will find the solution of his present difficulties and guidance for his future action, and unless he accepts with clear conscience the Bible and its great Message, he cannot hope for salvation. For my part I glory in the Bible.



Words of Ras TafarI

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[Knowledge]

Greetings Eleazer,

Although this issue started off with Baptism, it now seems to have spilled over into the Bible.

Anyway, I have read your post,which although interesting, does nothing to deflect from my assertion.

Here’s the thing,

You state that the “Itiopian Canon has 81 chapters compared to the 66 chapters  in the King James Version.” That is incorrect.  The Kebra Nagast has 117 Chapters not 81.  Not only does it contain an account of how the Queen of Sheba met Solomon, and about how the Ark of the Covenant came to Ethiopia with Menelik I, but it also contains an account of the conversion of the Ethiopians from the worship of the sun, moon, and stars to that of the "Lord God of Israel.
 
You also seem to ignore the fact that the Kebra Nagast, is at least 700-1000 years old. If you really check the truth you will find the King James Version (KJV) is far more recent,  I have included a chart (of record)  below to further inform de I and any other reader who may be confused with inaccurate and false statements that have been made on the subject.

One Love Still.

A Chronology of the English Bible
listing the events in the history of the English versions of Scripture, and of the place of Scripture in the church and in society.

•  1380. Oxford professor John Wyclif publicly rejects Roman doctrine of transubstantiation, begins translating Latin Vulgate into English.
•  1381. Peasants revolt in England. They seize London, but are soon overcome.
•  1382. Wyclif expelled from his teaching post at Oxford for heresy. Completes translation of Bible with help of his students.
•  1384. Death of Wyclif. His disciples continue to preach against the clergy, copy and sell manuscripts (mostly the Gospels).
•  1388. Wyclif Bible revised by his student John Purvey.
•  1400. Death of Chaucer.
•  1401. English parliament decrees the burning of heretics. Statute is aimed against the followers of Wyclif, called Lollards
•  1408. Arundelian Constitutions enacted by Convocation of bishops at Oxford forbids unauthorized translation, distribution, or public reading of the Scripture.
•  1411. Bonfire of Wyclif's writings at Oxford.
•  1415. John Hus, the radical Bohemian reformer and advocate of Wyclif's anti-clerical teachings, is burned at the stake.
•  1417. Concil of Constance elects Martin V as Pope, and ends Roman Catholic schism.
•  1450. Middle English yields to Early Modern English as the common language of Britain about now.
•  1453. Moslems take Constantinople. Great exodus of Greek scholars from there to Western Europe, bringing with them Greek manuscripts of the Bible.
•  1456. First printed book: Gutenberg Bible, containing the Latin text.
•  1466. Birth of Erasmus.
•  1476. First English book printed by William Caxton (The Recital of the Histories of Troy, translated from French).
•  1478. Caxton prints Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
•  1483. Birth of Martin Luther.
•  1484. Birth of William Tyndale.
•  1485. Henry Tudor becomes king Henry VII of England.
•  1488. Birth of Miles Coverdale. • Hebrew Old Testament first printed by Jews at Soncino, Italy.
•  1489. Birth of Thomas Cranmer.
•  1491. Greek first taught at Oxford University.
•  1496. John Colet gives lectures on Romans at Oxford.
•  1499. Erasmus at Oxford.
•  1500. Birth of John Rogers.
•  1504. Birth of Matthew Parker.
•  1505. Birth of Richard Taverner. • Birth of John Knox. • Luther enters the Augustinian Order.
•  1506. New Cathedral of St. Peter begun in Rome (completed in 1590).
•  1509. Henry VIII becomes king of England. • Birth of John Calvin. • Erasmus professor of Greek at Cambridge University.
•  1510. William Tyndale at Cambridge.
•  1514. Coverdale ordained.
•  1515. Luther begins lectures on Romans at Wittenberg University. • Tyndale gets M.A. degree at Oxford.
•  1516. Erasmus' first Greek New Testament (First printed Greek New Testament).
•  1517. Pope Leo X decrees preaching and sale of indulgences for the benefit of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. • Luther nails his 95 Theses to the church door at Wittenberg on October 31. Reformation era begins.
•  1518. Septuagint printed by Aldus in Italy. • Zwingli begins Reformation in Switzerland.
•  1519. Erasmus' 2nd Greek New Testament • Birth of Theodore Beza.
•  1520. Luther excommunicated. • Tyndale goes home to Gloucester, begins translating.
•  1522. First edition of Luther's German New Testament • Parker at Cambridge. • Complutensian Polyglot (including Septuagint, Vulgate, Hebrew Old Testament) published. • Erasmus' 3rd Greek New Testament • Tyndale goes to London in search of financial help.
•  1524. Tyndale leaves England for Germany. • Peasants revolt in Germany. • William Whittingham born.
•  1525. Tyndale's English New Testament (first printed English text) published in Germany. • Rogers gets B.A. degree at Cambridge.
•  1526. Copies of Tyndale's New Testament enter England, many burned.
•  1527. Erasmus' 4th Greek New Testament
•  1528. Coverdale preaches against the mass, is compelled to leave England.
•  1529. Tyndale and Coverdale work together at Hamburg. • Luther's Small Catechism. • Cranmer commissioned by king Henry to write a treatise justifying his divorce from Catherine.
•  1530. Augsburg Confession.
•  1531. Tyndale's Pentateuch is published. • Zwingli killed in battle.
•  1533. Cranmer made Archbishop of Canterbury, approves Henry's divorce.
•  1534. Tyndale's New Testament and Pentateuch revised. • Henry VIII excommunicated by the Pope, severs English churches from Rome, becomes head of the Church of England without any intention of reforming it. • Cranmer petitions Henry for creation of an authorized English version. • Luther's first complete German Bible. • Anabaptists establish short-lived socialist community at Münster. • Geneva becomes independent Protestant commonwealth.
•  1535. Tyndale's last revised New Testament • Tyndale betrayed to Roman Catholic authorities, charged with heresy and imprisoned. He continues to translate the historical books of the Old Testament • Coverdale's Bible published in England. (first printed English Bible). • Erasmus' 5th edition of the Greek.
•  1536. Tyndale's New Testament reprinted in England. • Tyndale condemned. He commits his manuscript to his friend John Rogers, and is burned at the stake. • Calvin publishes his Institutes of the Christian Religion.
•  1537. "Matthew's Bible" published by John Rogers in Germany, giving Tyndale's translation of the New Testament, Pentateuch, and historical books of the Old Testament • John Calvin preaches in Geneva. • Matthew's and Coverdale's Bibles licensed for unhindered sale in England.
•  1538. Coverdale in Paris editing Great Bible. • English bishops instructed to display largest English Bible in parish churches.
•  1539. Coverdale returns to England. • Great Bible (dedicated to Henry VIII) published and authorized in England. • Taverner's Bible (a revision of Matthew's Bible) published. • English parliament adopts the Act of Six Articles, reaffirming various Roman Catholic teachings. "Lutherans" subjected to persecution.
•  1540. 2nd edition of Great Bible with preface of Cranmer, called Cranmer's Bible. • Coverdale, under pressure as a "Lutheran," leaves England again.
•  1543. English Parliament bans Tyndale's version and all public reading of Bible by laymen.
•  1545. Council of Trent convened.
•  1546. Death of Luther. • Council of Trent decrees that the Latin Vulgate (with Apocryphal books) is authoritative version of Scripture. • Henry VIII bans Coverdale version. • Stephens publishes his first Greek New Testament
•  1547. Death of Henry VIII. • Edward VI becomes king of England. • Parliament repeals the anti-Protestant Act of Six Articles, and removes restrictions on printing and reading of English versions. Cranmer begins Protestant reformation of the Church of England. • Coverdale, Rogers return to England. • John Knox preaches Reformation in Scotland.
•  1549. English Book of Common Prayer compiled by Cranmer. • Stephens' 2nd Greek New Testament
•  1550. Stephens' 3rd Greek New Testament
•  1551. Last edition of Matthew's Bible. • Coverdale appointed bishop of Exeter. • Stephens' 4th Greek New Testament
•  1552. John Knox refuses offer to become an English bishop.
•  1553. "Bloody" Mary Tudor becomes queen of England. • Last edition of Coverdale Bible.
•  1554. Mary reverses the reforms of Edward and enforces Romanism in England. • Knox leaves England for Geneva.
•  1555. John Rogers burned at the stake. • Cranmer burned at the stake. • Coverdale and other leading Protestants flee England for Geneva. • Peace of Augsburg ends wars between Lutherans and Romanists in Germany, legitimizes Lutheranism.
•  1556. Beza's Latin New Testament
•  1557. William Whittingham's English New Testament published in Geneva. English exiles there begin work on English Old Testament
•  1558. Elizabeth becomes queen of England.
•  1559. Elizabeth repudiates Romanism. Act of Supremacy makes her head of Church of England. Romanist bishops expelled. Coverdale and other leading Protestants return to England. Matthew Parker made Archbishop of Canterbury.
•  1560. Geneva Bible with revised New Testament published by Whittingham in Geneva. • Whittingham returns to England. • Knox's Scots Confession ratified by the Scottish parliament.
•  1563. Whittingham made Dean of Durham. • Archbishop Parker and eight of his bishops begin work on the "Bishops' Bible." • Thirty-nine Articles of Religion adopted as doctrinal standard for Church of England. • Heidelberg Catechism published. • Apostolic Constitutions (ancient book of church order and dogma, purporting to be from the apostles) published by the Jesuit Turrianus.
•  1564. Death of John Calvin. • Birth of Shakespeare.
•  1565. Beza's Greek-Latin New Testament
•  1566. Last edition of Tyndale's New Testament
•  1567. Mary Stuart abdicates throne of Scotland, is succeeded by her son James under Protestant regency.
•  1568. Bishops' Bible (dedicated to Elizabeth) published by Archbishop Parker, and authorized for church use.
•  1569. Last edition of Cranmer's Great Bible. • Death of Coverdale.
•  1571. Every bishop and cathedral in England ordered to have Bishops' Bible.
•  1572. Bishops' Bible revised and published with the old Great Bible Psalter. • Antwerp Polyglot published. • Death of John Knox.
•  1575. Death of Taverner and Parker. Parker succeeded as Archbishop of Canterbury by the strongly Calvinistic Edmund Grindal, who actively promotes the Geneva Bible during the next eight years.
•  1578. Martin begins Rheims version of the New Testament (authorized Roman Catholic version, translated from the Vulgate).
•  1579. Geneva Bible reprinted and authorized in Scotland. Every Scotch household of sufficient means is required by law to buy a copy. • Death of Whittingham.
•  1580. Lutheran Formula of Concord.
•  1582. Rheims New Testament (translated from the Latin) published by English Roman Catholics living in France. • Beza's 2nd Greek New Testament
•  1583. Grindal succeeded by John Whitgift as Archbishop of Canterbury.
•  1587. Death of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots.
•  1588. Destruction of Spanish Armada.
•  1589. Beza's 3rd Greek New Testament
•  1592. Sixtine-Clementine Latin Bible.
•  1598. Beza's 4th Greek New Testament
•  1602. Last edition of Bishops' Bible.
•  1603. James I made king of England.
•  1604. English bishops and Puritan leaders meet with King James in the Hampton Court Conference. Revision of Bishops' Bible proposed. King James nominates revision committee of 54 scholars. • First English dictionary published by Robert Cawdry.
•  1605. English Romanists attempt to blow up Parliament in the "Gunpowder plot," arousing great and lasting public indignation against Rome. • Death of Theodore Beza.
•  1607. Work on King James Bible begun.
•  1608. Pilgrim Fathers leave England for Holland.
•  1609. Douay Old Testament (translated from the Latin) published by English Roman Catholics living in France.
•  1611. King James Bible (dedicated to James) published and authorized in England.

[Oskar]

Yes I, instead of worshiping the sun they realized the glory of him who created it. If you take the King James Version and the King James Version Apocrypha you will get close to the 81 books of the Ethiopian translation of the Bible.

My version of the Kebra Nagast have 104 chapters. If you are refering to these books at least try to get the references right. We are all human beings though so mistakes are bound to happen.

[Knowledge]

[My version of the Kebra Nagast have 104 chapters. [b"]If you are refering to these books at least try to get the references right. We are all human beings though so mistakes are bound to happen."[/b]
[/quote]

You state that your version only 104 chapters?? Well it's funny how my my version has 117 Chapters! Maybe you got shorted with your copy. As you quite rightly put it when you stated the following;- "If you are refering to these books at least try to get the references right. We are all human beings though so mistakes are bound to happen."[/b]  I couldn't have put it better myself.

One other thing; your KJV was published in 1611, the Kebra Negast is far older than that.

By the way, I have placed the 117 chapter headings below, so you can compare your version with the full book and see which chapters you have missing in your version.

INTRODUCTION
1. Concerning the Glory of Kings
2. Concerning the Greatness of Kings
3. Concerning the Kingdom of ADAM
4. Concerning Envy
5. Concerning the Kingdom of SETH
6. Concerning the Sin of CAIN
7. Concerning NOAH
8. Concerning the Flood
9. Concerning the Covenant of NOAH
10. Concerning ZION
11. The Unanimous Declaration of the Three Hundred and Eighteen Orthodox Fathers
12. Concerning CANAAN
13. Concerning ABRAHAM
14. Concerning the Covenant of ABRAHAM
15. Concerning ISAAC and JACOB
16. Concerning RÔBÊL (REUBEN)
17. Concerning the Glory of ZION
18. How the Orthodox Fathers and Bishops Agreed
19. How this Book came to be found
20. Concerning the Division of the Earth
21. Concerning the Queen of the South
22. Concerning TÂMRÎN, the Merchant
23. How the Merchant returned to ETHIOPIA
24. How the Queen made ready to set out on her Journey
25. How the Queen came to SOLOMON the King
26. How the King held converse with the Queen
27. Concerning the Labourer
28. How SOLOMON gave Commandments to the Queen
29. Concerning the Three Hundred and Eighteen [Patriarchs]
30. Concerning how King SOLOMON swore to the Queen
31. Concerning the sign which SOLOMON gave the Queen
32. How the Queen brought forth and came to her own Country
33. How the King of ETHIOPIA travelled
34. How the young man arrived in his mother's country
35. How King SOLOMON sent to his son the commander of his army
36. How King SOLOMON held intercourse with his son
37. How SOLOMON asked His Son Questions
38. How the King planned to send away his son with the children of the nobles
39. How they made the Son of SOLOMON King
40. How ZADOK the priest gave commands to DAVID the King
41. Concerning the blessing of Kings
42. Concerning the Ten Commandments
43. How the men of the Army of ISRAEL received [their] orders
44. How it is not a seemly thing to revile the King
45. How those who were sent away wept and made a plan
46. How they made a plan concerning ZION
47. Concerning the offering of AZÂRYÂS (AZARIAH) and the King
48. How they carried away ZION
49. How his Father blessed his Son
50. How they bade farewell to his Father and how the city mourned
51. How he said unto ZADOK the Priest, ''Go and bring the Covering (or, Clothing) which is upon it (i.e., ZION)''
52. How ZADOK the Priest Departed
53. How the Wagon was given to ETHIOPIA
54. How DAVID [the King of ETHIOPIA] Prophesied and Saluted ZION
55. How the People of ETHIOPIA Rejoiced
56. Of the Return of ZADOK the Priest, and the giving of the Gift
57. Concerning the Fall of ZADOK the Priest
58. How SOLOMON Rose up to Slay them
59. How the King Questioned an Egyptian, the Servant of PHARAOH
60. How SOLOMON Lamented for ZION
61. How SOLOMON Returned to JERUSALEM
62. Concerning the answer which SOLOMON made to them
63. How the Nobles of ISRAEL agreed [with the King]
64. How the Daughter of PHARAOH Seduced SOLOMON
65. Concerning the sin of SOLOMON
66. Concerning the prophecy of CHRIST
67. Concerning the lamentation of SOLOMON
68. Concerning MARY, Our Lady of Salvation
69. Concerning the Question of SOLOMON
70. How REHOBOAM reigned
71. Concerning MARY, the daughter of DAVID
72. Concerning the King of RÔMÊ (CONSTANTINOPLE)
73. Concerning the first judgment of ’ADRÂMÎ, King of RÔMÊ
74. Concerning the King of MEDYÂM
75. Concerning the King of BABYLON
76. Concerning lying witnesses
77. Concerning the King of PERSIA
78. Concerning the King of MOAB
79. Concerning the King of AMALEK
80. Concerning the King of the PHILISTINES
81. How the son of SAMSON slew the son of the King of the PHILISTINES
82. Concerning the going down of ABRAHAM into EGYPT
83. Concerning the King of the ISHMAELITES
84. Concerning the King of ETHIOPIA and how he returned to his country
85. Concerning the rejoicing of Queen MÂKĔDÂ
86. How Queen MÂKĔDÂ made her son King
87. How the nobles (or governors) of ETHIOPIA took the oath
88. How he himself related to his mother how they made him King
89. How the Queen talked to the Children of ISRAEL
90. How AZARIAH praised the Queen and her city
91. This is what ye shall eat: the clean and the unclean
92. How they renewed the kingdom of DAVID
93. How the Men of RÔMÊ destroyed the Faith
94. The first war of the King of ETHIOPIA
95. How the honourable estate of the King of ETHIOPIA was universally accepted
96. Concerning the Prophecy about CHRIST
97. Concerning the Murmuring of ISRAEL
98. Concerning the Rod of MOSES and the Rod of AARON
99. Concerning the Two Servants
100. Concerning the Angels who rebelled
101. Concerning Him that existeth in Everything and Everywhere
102. Concerning the Beginning
103. Concerning the Horns of the Altar
104. More concerning the Ark and the Talk of the Wicked
105. Concerning the belief of ABRAHAM
106. A Prophecy concerning the Coming of CHRIST
107. Concerning His entrance into JERUSALEM in Glory
108. Concerning the wickedness of the iniquitous JEWS
109. Concerning His Crucifixion
110. Concerning His Resurrection
111. Concerning His Ascension and His Second Coming
112. How the Prophets foreshadowed Him in their persons
113. Concerning the Chariot and the Vanquisher of the Enemy
114. Concerning the return of ZION
115. Concerning the Judgement of ISRAEL
116. Concerning the Chariot of ETHIOPIA
117. Concerning the King of RÔMÊ and the King of ETHIOPIA

[Oskar]

I can see your chapters have slightly different names besides being a bit more numerous. I got my copy a long time ago and noticed there were some different translations around. Maybe I should check the different works to broaden my knowledge.

[Knowledge]

Re The Kebra Negast;

As you said We are all human beings though so mistakes are bound to happen."[/b]

However, the point I am making was that the Kebra Negast  pre-dates the King James book.
I am also asserting that when Selassie I makes references to the bible he reads from, it is not
a reference to the KJV, but a reference to the older text which may not be so well known. seen.

[Oskar]

him who created the sun is older than any text, that is a given. i'm a human being though so I write some text about it.

[Knowledge]

Yeah right - you do that 

[Oskar]

and you don't? the most high don't entropy nothing, it's just the folly of human beings.