How Many Books Are in the Coptic Orthodox Bible?
The Coptic Orthodox Bible is a unique version of the Bible used by the Coptic Orthodox Church. It includes a larger number of books than the Protestant and Catholic Bibles, with a total of 81 books.
This article provides an overview of how many books are in the Coptic Orthodox Bible, the differences between its canon and others, and why it includes these additional texts.
The Coptic Orthodox Bible consists of 81 books, which includes the books found in both the Old and New Testaments. This canon is similar to that of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and it contains several additional books not found in the Protestant or Catholic Bibles. The additional books, known as the Deuterocanonical or Apocryphal books, are considered scripture by the Coptic Church, though they are not included in the Jewish or Protestant canons.
The breakdown of the Coptic Orthodox Bible includes the following sections:
The Old Testament includes the Deuterocanonical books, which are considered part of the canon in the Coptic and Eastern Orthodox traditions but are not included in most Protestant Bibles.
The Deuterocanonical books refer to a set of writings that are included in the Coptic Orthodox Bible but not in the Protestant canon. These books include texts such as:
In addition, the Coptic Orthodox Bible contains books like Enoch and Jubilees, which are not found in either the Catholic or Protestant Bibles. These books offer a more comprehensive view of biblical history and teachings and are central to Coptic Orthodox tradition.
These additional books are referred to as Deuterocanonical or Apocryphal because they were written in the intertestamental period (the time between the Old and New Testaments). Though not included in the Hebrew or Protestant Bibles, they are regarded as scripture by the Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches.
The Coptic Orthodox Bible differs from other Bibles, such as the Protestant Bible and the Catholic Bible, in terms of the number of books and the inclusion of Deuterocanonical books.
| Tradition | Number of Old Testament Books | Total Number of Bible Books |
|---|---|---|
| Coptic Orthodox | 46 (includes Deuterocanonical books) | 81 (with additional books) |
| Protestant | 39 | 66 |
| Catholic | 46 (includes Deuterocanonical books) | 73 |
As shown, the Coptic Orthodox Bible includes a total of 81 books, with additional books like Enoch, Jubilees, and other texts not found in Catholic or Protestant traditions. These books are considered valuable for the theological teachings and historical narratives they provide.
The Coptic Orthodox Church, similar to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, follows a different canon because of its ancient tradition and close connection to the early Christian Church. The inclusion of books like Enoch and Jubilees stems from their importance in the early Christian and Jewish communities, particularly in Egypt and Ethiopia, where these books were highly regarded.
The differences in the biblical canon reflect the history and geographical development of Christianity. While the Protestant Bible adopted the Hebrew canon for the Old Testament, and the Catholic Church kept the Deuterocanonical books, the Coptic Orthodox Church maintained an even broader canon. This approach allowed for the inclusion of additional writings that were historically significant in the region and held spiritual value for the Coptic community.
The Coptic Orthodox Bible contains a total of 81 books, with many additional books that are not found in Protestant or Catholic Bibles. These books include the Deuterocanonical and Apocryphal texts, as well as writings like Enoch and Jubilees. The unique composition of the Coptic Orthodox Bible reflects the historical and theological traditions of the Coptic Church, offering a richer biblical canon with a broader array of teachings and stories. Understanding the differences between various Bible traditions provides insight into the diverse ways Christianity has developed across the world.
1. How does the Coptic Orthodox Bible differ from the Protestant Bible?
The Coptic Orthodox Bible has 81 books, compared to the 66 books in the Protestant Bible. It includes additional books like Enoch and Jubilees.
2. Why does the Coptic Orthodox Church have more books in the Bible?
The Coptic Church follows an ancient Christian tradition that includes Deuterocanonical and Apocryphal books, which were valued by early Christian communities in Egypt and Ethiopia.
3. What are the Deuterocanonical books?
The Deuterocanonical books are a set of writings included in the Coptic Orthodox and Catholic Bibles but excluded from the Protestant Bible. They include texts like Tobit, Judith, and 1 and 2 Maccabees.
4. Is the Coptic Orthodox Bible the same as the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible?
The Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodox Bibles are very similar, both containing 81 books, though there may be minor variations in the specific texts included.
5. Are the New Testament books the same in the Coptic Orthodox Bible?
Yes, the New Testament in the Coptic Orthodox Bible contains 27 books, which are the same as those found in Protestant and Catholic Bibles.
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