The Coptic Old Testament is an ancient collection of scriptures that form part of the Holy Bible for the Coptic Orthodox Church. The Coptic Orthodox Church, based in Egypt, is one of the earliest Christian communities in the world. The Old Testament was translated into the Coptic language from earlier texts, primarily Hebrew and Greek.
This translation is not just a religious text but a vital piece of Christian history, showcasing how early Egyptian Christians preserved their faith through language.
The Coptic Old Testament has its roots in the Septuagint—a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible that was widely used during the early Christian era. The Septuagint itself was produced between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, and it was the version of the Old Testament that many early Christians, including the Copts, relied upon.
The Coptic translation of the Old Testament began in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. As Christianity spread through Egypt, Greek was a common language, but the Copts began translating the Greek texts into Coptic, their native language. This was an essential step in making the Bible accessible to the Egyptian Christian population, many of whom spoke Coptic rather than Greek.
The Coptic Old Testament includes books found in the Septuagint, along with additional texts considered important by the Coptic Church. These translations helped preserve the early Christian heritage of Egypt and ensured that the message of the Old Testament could be passed down through generations.
One interesting feature of the Coptic Old Testament is that it exists in different dialects of the Coptic language. There are several Coptic dialects, including Sahidic and Bohairic, each associated with different regions of Egypt.
While the Sahidic dialect was the more dominant dialect in the early translations of the Old Testament, over time, the Bohairic dialect took precedence as the liturgical language of the Coptic Church.
The Septuagint played a significant role in shaping the content of the Coptic Old Testament. Since the Septuagint was the primary source text, the Coptic Old Testament closely follows its structure and content. The Septuagint itself was translated from Hebrew, but certain books were included that are not found in the Hebrew Bible, such as the Deuterocanonical books (also known as the Apocrypha). These books, including Tobit, Judith, and 1 Maccabees, are part of the Coptic Old Testament.
The use of the Septuagint also reflects the broader Christian context in which the Coptic Church emerged. In the early centuries of Christianity, many Greek-speaking Christians adopted the Septuagint as their preferred version of the Old Testament. This tradition carried over into the Coptic Orthodox Church, which has preserved many aspects of early Christian thought and practice.
The Coptic canon of the Old Testament contains more books than the Protestant Old Testament but fewer than the Catholic Old Testament. The Coptic Old Testament includes the books that are part of the Septuagint but not found in the Hebrew Bible, such as Baruch, Wisdom of Solomon, and Sirach (Ecclesiasticus).
The books of the Old Testament in the Coptic canon include:
This inclusion of extra books demonstrates the Coptic Church’s broader biblical tradition, rooted in the Septuagint, and differs from the smaller canon found in Protestant Bibles.
For the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Old Testament is deeply significant, as it reflects God’s covenant with humanity before the coming of Christ. The prophecies found in the Old Testament are seen as a preparation for the New Testament and the arrival of the Messiah. The Coptic Old Testament continues to be an integral part of the Church’s liturgy, prayers, and teachings.
The Coptic Old Testament also plays a vital role in preserving the Coptic language, which, although no longer widely spoken, remains an essential part of the religious life of the Coptic Church. The translation of the Old Testament into Coptic has helped ensure that this ancient language survives, even as it has faded from everyday use.
The Coptic Old Testament is a historical and spiritual cornerstone for the Coptic Orthodox Church. Rooted in the Septuagint and translated into the Coptic language in the early centuries of Christianity, it has played a crucial role in shaping the faith of the Coptic community. Its inclusion of the Deuterocanonical books reflects the broader biblical tradition of the early Church, and its translation into different Coptic dialects highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of early Christian Egypt.
Despite its ancient origins, the Coptic Old Testament remains a living text within the Coptic Orthodox Church, used in worship and religious practice to this day. It not only preserves the faith of early Christians but also helps maintain the Coptic language and the rich heritage of one of the world’s oldest Christian communities.
1. Why is the Coptic Old Testament based on the Septuagint?
The Septuagint was the most widely used version of the Old Testament during the early Christian era, and the Coptic Church adopted it for their translations.
2. What are the Deuterocanonical books in the Coptic Old Testament?
The Deuterocanonical books include Tobit, Judith, Baruch, and 1 and 2 Maccabees, which are part of the Coptic canon but not found in Protestant Bibles.
3. How many books are in the Coptic Old Testament?
The Coptic Old Testament contains more books than Protestant Bibles, as it includes the Deuterocanonical books.
4. What dialects of Coptic is the Old Testament available in?
The Coptic Old Testament is available in several dialects, including Sahidic and Bohairic.
5. Why is the Coptic Old Testament important today?
The Coptic Old Testament remains essential for Coptic liturgy, preserving both the religious teachings and the Coptic language in modern worship.
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