The 'True Story' Of The Abba Gärima Gospels

As it clearly appears, the problems posed and the considerations suggested by the Abba Gärima Gospels are many and manifold. Leaving aside the problem of C 14 radiocarbon dating – on which certainly opinions vary – the possibility remains that painted leaves and text-only leaves could have different stories, which should be ascertained with a proper codicological analysis. On the other hand, philological, linguistic and palaeographical elements still prevent – or cannot prove – an early ante 650 dating for the Ethiopic text of the Gospels of Abba Gärima, which one, however, cannot exclude for the painted leaves. The philological study of the Ethiopic version of the Gospels, moreover, has confirmed what was already known, i.e. that the Ethiopic Bible depends upon a Greek Vorlage, contrary to the earliest superficial interpretations. Everything being taken into account, the Abba Gärima Gospels remain the most ancient Ethiopic manuscripts known so far and an exceptional, not yet sufficiently investigated witness to the cultural life of ancient Ethiopia, and more widely of late antique Christian manuscript culture.