Bible Canon Comparison Chart (Old Testament and New Testament)
A comparison chart of Bible canons from various Eastern Chalcedonian and Non-Chalcedonian traditions, including Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, and Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The spreadsheet lists the order and names of Old Testament books in different translations, highlighting non-canonical books in red text for reference. It aims to provide a comprehensive resource for understanding the variations in biblical canons across different Christian denominations.
Content article
The Bible Canon Comparison Chart provides a detailed examination of the Old Testament and New Testament across various Christian traditions, covering multiple canonical texts.
In the Eastern Chalcedonian tradition, the Old Testament begins with Genesis, which is known as "ΓΕΝΕΣΙΣ" in Greek and "Бытие" in Russian, followed by Exodus, "ΕΞΟΔΟΣ" in Greek and "Исход" in Russian. This pattern continues through the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, which are consistently named across these traditions. For instance, Leviticus is referred to as "ΛΕΥΙΤΙΚΟΝ" in Greek and "Левит" in Russian, while Deuteronomy is "ΔΕΥΤΕΡΟΝΟΜΙΟΝ" and "Второзаконие," respectively.
As we move to the book of Joshua, it is called "ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΝΑΥΗ" in Greek and "Книга Иисуса Навина" in Russian. Judges, Ruth, and the books of Samuel are similarly aligned in naming conventions, with 1 Samuel known as "ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Α" or "1 Kingdoms" in Greek and "Первая книга Царств" in Russian. However, the names diverge with 1 Kings, which is "ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Γ" in Greek and "Третья книга Царств" in Russian, and 2 Kings, "ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Δ" or "Четвертая книга Царств."
The Eastern Non-Chalcedonian traditions, such as the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church, also present variations. For example, in the Armenian tradition, Genesis is "ԾՆՆԴՈՑ," while Exodus is "ԵԼՔ." The Coptic Orthodox Church refers to Genesis as "تكوين" and Exodus as "خروج."
Notably, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church includes additional texts like the Prayer of Manasseh, which is not universally accepted in other traditions. This church recognizes "1 Esdras" as "ΕΣΔΡΑΣ Α," while 2 Esdras is "ΕΣΔΡΑΣ Β" in Greek and "Вторая книга Ездры" in Russian. The Ethiopian tradition also includes texts like the 3 Maccabees and 4 Maccabees, which are not found in many other canons.
The Psalms are another area of interest, with the Eastern Chalcedonian tradition listing them as "ΨΑΛΜΟΙ," while the Russian Orthodox Church refers to them as "Псалтирь." The variations continue with books like Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, which are recognized across traditions but may have differing translations or chapter counts.
In the prophetic books, Hosea is "ΩΣΗΕ" in Greek and "Книга пророка Осии" in Russian, while Amos is "ΑΜΩΣ" and "Книга пророка Амоса." The names remain consistent through Micah, Joel, and Obadiah, though the chapter counts and specific translations can vary by tradition.
The New Testament, while not directly detailed in the provided content, would similarly reflect the differences in canonical acceptance and naming conventions across these traditions, emphasizing the rich diversity within Christian scriptural texts.
This comparison highlights the intricate tapestry of biblical texts recognized by different Christian communities, showcasing both commonalities and unique distinctions that define their respective canons.