Work dossier · summary and historical context
The Geʿez version of Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, titled መልእክተ፡ ጳውሎስ፡ ኀበ፡ ሰብአ፡ ገላትያ፡፡, is a translation of the canonical New Testament letter into Classical Ethiopic. It forms part of the broader Ethiopic Pauline corpus used in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The translation likely originated from Greek or Syriac sources, possibly via Arabic intermediaries, and its date remains uncertain, ranging from the Aksumite period (4th–7th c.) to later medieval transmission. The text includes chapter divisions typical of the EOTC printed Bible and exhibits syntactical and rhetorical features characteristic of Geʿez homiletic style. This edition (betmas) lacks a critical apparatus and does not document variant readings from other Geʿez manuscripts.
This Geʿez version of Galatians is a key witness to the reception of Pauline literature in the Ethiopian Christian tradition, illustrating how the epistle was adapted for liturgical and doctrinal use. Its translation history sheds light on the complex textual transmission of the Bible in the Horn of Africa, involving Greek, Syriac, and Arabic intermediaries. The text's rhetorical features and structural divisions offer insights into Ethiopian exegetical practices and the development of the Geʿez biblical canon.
The Geʿez version of Galatians was produced within the Ethiopian Christian tradition, which traces its origins to the 4th-century conversion of the Aksumite kingdom under King Ezana. The translation of biblical books into Geʿez likely began during the Aksumite period (4th–7th c.), when the Ethiopian church was closely connected to the wider Christian world, particularly through the Patriarchate of Alexandria. However, the exact date of this translation is unknown; it may have been revised or transmitted through later medieval monastic scriptoria. The Geʿez Pauline corpus, including Galatians, was used liturgically and catechetically in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The translation process probably involved Greek or Syriac Vorlagen, with Arabic serving as an intermediary in some cases, reflecting the multilingual environment of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea trade networks. The text's transmission is complicated by the lack of early manuscripts; most surviving Geʿez biblical codices date from the 13th century or later. The Geʿez version of Galatians follows the canonical Greek text but includes structural divisions (chapters) not present in the original, typical of the EOTC printed Bible. The passage's conditional curse formulas and first-person narrative of Paul's movements (including a journey to Arabia) reflect both the translator's interpretive choices and the rhetorical conventions of Geʿez homilies.
Apparatus · what the pipeline recorded
| Coptic | Rendering | Count | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| no glossary terms recorded | |||