Roots and Cultural Importance of the Ethiopian Biblical Interpretation in Gǝʾǝz (Tǝrgwāme) and Amharic ('Andǝmtā): The Case of the Book of the Pentateuch

This project, funded by the German Research Association from October 2025 for three years (DFG Project number 556146163), aims to investigate the historical development, continuity, and transformation within the Ethiopian commentary tradition from its inception to the present day, with a focus on the commentary of selected topics in the Pentateuch. The goal is to shed light on the historical trajectory, cultural adaptation, and theological development of the Ethiopian commentary tradition, contributing to a deeper understanding of its unique characteristics and its role within the broader context of Christian exegesis. To ensure the feasibility of this research project within the constraints of time and resources, and to serve as a valuable exercise for future mega research project, the scope of the commentary text under investigation have been limited to the Pentateuch. The Pentateuch encompasses a significant portion of the theological, ethical, and historical teachings that captivated the early Fathers; a big corpus which collectively has 187 chapters. Hence, specific topics that have always been of interest to not only the exegete Fathers of the early Church but also to any student of the Bible have been selected. They include the “Hexameron,” which covers “the Six Days of Creation” (Gen. 1 & 2), “the Original Human Sin and Divine Judgement” (Gen. 3), “the Commandments” (Exod. 2:1-17), “Ordination of Priests” (Lev. 8-10), “the Observance of the Passover” (Num. 9:1-14), and “the Bronze Snake” (Num. 21:4-9). These topics were subject to rich textual commentary and also connect to the themes of the New Testament. They will be thoroughly investigated and rigorously compared. Additionally, three of the many early Church Fathers who extensively commented on the Pentateuch and the entire Bible - Ephrem the Syrian (c. 306-373), John Chrysostom (c. 347-407), and Cyril of Alexandria (ca. 376–444) – have been selected. These Fathers’ significant theological contributions to early church scriptural interpretation in general, and the Pentateuch in particular make their commentaries particularly pertinent to this investigation. Not to mention their prominence in ongoing Ethiopian liturgical and theological discussions. This academic endeavor is vital for several reasons: It examines the origin and development of the Ethiopian commentary tradition, preserving and understanding the rich cultural and theological heritage of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tawāḥədo Church. It illuminates the historical processes shaping Ethiopian religious and intellectual traditions, revealing how global theological concepts were localized. This enhances our appreciation of Christian theology's cultural diversity and highlights Ethiopian scholarship's unique contributions. The research will significantly impact theology, religious studies, history, and African studies, filling a scholarly gap and promoting interdisciplinary dialogue. The final output will be a book manuscript ready for publication.