Video Summary - Is the Ethiopian Bible Trustworthy? (from The Narrow Path)

Main ideas / concepts discussed

The caller asks whether the “Ethiopian Bible” is real/credible and whether it is older than the King James Version (KJV).
Steve explains that Ethiopia’s biblical tradition is often traced to very early Christianity (claimed as first century).
He suggests that what is commonly called the “Ethiopian Bible” in English is likely an English translation of older Bible texts, originally translated into Coptic (a language tied to early North Africa, including regions such as Egypt and Ethiopia).
He emphasizes that differences between Bible editions are mainly about:
- Which books are included (the canon), and
- Whether those books are considered inspired.

The KJV was produced in the 17th century, which makes it much newer than the tradition associated with early Ethiopian Christianity.

Early centuries of Christianity produced translations such as:
- Latin and Syriac (mentioned as early translations in the first few centuries)
- Coptic, referenced as an early translation connected to North Africa (including Egypt and Ethiopia)
Greek became more widespread after Alexander the Great, leading to translations of Hebrew scriptures into Greek, including the Septuagint.

Steve states that the Coptic Bible (which he associates with Ethiopian Bibles) is reported to include apocryphal books not typically found in many Protestant or Catholic Bibles.

Catholic Bibles include seven additional Old Testament books not usually included in many Protestant Bibles.
The explanation given is that those books are considered not to be written by inspired prophets/inspired writers.
They are described as being placed around the intertestamental period (after Malachi and before Christ), with authors not claiming inspiration.

Steve says he has been told the Coptic Bible includes the Book of Enoch.
He claims:
- Protestants reject Enoch for similar reasons as other apocryphal works—namely, it is not written by an inspired author and is attributed incorrectly to Enoch.
- Enoch is said to have appeared in the intertestamental period and was originally in Greek.
He concludes that Enoch lacks credibility as an inspired biblical book.

Steve affirms it is not a different religion from Christianity.
He states that it contains the Christian Bible, but it may include additional books beyond the Western Protestant canon.

No formal step-by-step method is provided, but the discussion implies criteria for assessing canonicity:

Whether a book is attributed to an inspired/inspired-by-God author
Whether it fits within the recognized biblical prophetic framework (contrasted with intertestamental writings)
Whether its authorship is correctly attributed (contrasted with alleged false attributions)