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Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I

Haile Selassie I

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On the Bible

The Revised Amharic Bible

Ethiopia, an island of Christianity, is recorded in history as having received first the
Old Testament, and then the New Testament ealier than most of the countries of the
world. When, in Old Testament times, she received the Law, and when, in New
Testament times, she received the Gospel, she ensured that the Scriptures were
translated into the ancient language of Ge'ez. From those times to this, various books
both spiritual and material profit have periodically been compiled and written in
Ge'ez. We remember with deep gratitude those fathers of old who, as time and
opportunity allowed, worked with much care and labour and have left us books for the
preservation of the Faith and for the increase learning and knowledge.

In former ages, Ge'ez was the language of the country and so, even without an
interpreter, the people had no difficulty in examining and understanding the books;
but just as one age succeeds another, so Amharic, which sprang from Ge'ez, gradually
grew until it became the common speech of the people, taking the place of Ge'ez. At
that time, Ge'ez was understood by the learned people of the Church, but was not
readily understood by the ordinary people. Arising from this, the scholars in their
preaching and work have for centuries been forced in their teaching to interpret from
Ge'ez into Amharic. And these conditions prevailed until Our own times.

Since the time when, by God's goodness, We were chosen to ascend the Throne of
Ethiopia and while We have been leading Our people to progress in learning and
knowledge, We have laboured in every way possible with and eye to their growth in
spiritual and material learning and knowledge. In order to reach this goal, and
realizing that the first necessity was to have the Scriptures translated into Amharic
and printed in bulk, in 1918 when We were still Heir to the Throne and Regent, We
chose from amongst the scholars some to translate the Scriptures and to produce the
translation alongside the Ge'ez. After this, too at Our private expense We had a
printing machine brought from Europe, established a Printing Press, and began to
have books printed. Some of the books which We caused to be printed in Ge'ez and
Amharic at that time, read in churches and homes, have been found profitable to the
establishment of faith and to spiritual strengthening. After that, noting that the mind
of the people continued to grow in understanding, We arranged for a word-for-word
translation into Amharic of the books of the Old and New Testaments. Our scholars
completed the translation and presented it to Us in 1931, and We ordered its printing.
While the book was still in the Press, however, enemy aggression in 1935 halted the
work. Even so, when in exile in London, We gave permission for this same Bible to
be printed by photo-offset, and it was duly issued. By this Book, Our Ethiopian
subjects in exile in many countries held fast to their faith and presented their petitions
to Almighty God as they awaited the restoration of Ethiopia.

When, all honour and praise be to God, We had brought about the liberation of
Ethiopia and had entered Our Empire, realizing that there ought to be a revision from
the original Hebrew and Greek of the existing translation of the Bible, We chose
scholars qualified for the work of Biblical training and on March 6th, 1947 set up a
Bible Committee in Our Palace. The Committee worked with diligence for some five
years, and on April 19th, 1952 presented the translation to Us. We give heartfelt
thanks to all who helped Us in this work.

All the ancient Scriptures were written for Our instruction, in order that through the
encouragement they give Us, we may maintain Our hope with fortitude. Because We
desire that the light which comes from the Scriptures may shine to all, this Bible by
Our command and will has been revised and printed in the Thirty-First year of Our
reign.

                     Haile Selassie I
                                        July 23, 1961

Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I, 1918-1967; Published by:
The Imperial Ethiopian Ministry of Information, Publication and Foreign Languages
Press Department, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 1967, p. 616-618 Speech: July 23, 1961.

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Defender of the Faith

The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc.

Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I

On The Bible

His Imperial Majesty Emperor formally
accepting the title "Defender of the Faith":

...Holy Fathers, We have welcomed the title you have given Us,
Defender of the Faith, with great honour. May Almighty God
grace your name. May God welcome your work. We have
received this title given Us by you Holy Fathers, with religious
reverence. May your prayers help Us in Our effort to fulfil the task
entrusted to Us.

The Revised Amharic Bible

We in Ethiopia have one of the oldest versions of the Bible, but however
old the version may be, in whatever language it may be written, the word remains
one and the same. It transcends all boundaries of empires and all conceptions of
race. It is eternal.

No doubt you all remember reading in the Acts of the Apostles of how Philip
baptised the Ethiopian official. He is the first Ethiopian on record to have followed
Christ, and from that day onwards the Word of God has continued to grow in the
hearts of Ethiopians. And I might say for myself that from early childhood I was
taught to appreciate the Bible and my love for it increases with the passage of
time. All through my troubles I have found it a cause of infinite comfort. "Come
unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" ~ Who
can resist an invitation so full of compassion?

Because of this personal experience in the goodness of the Bible, I was resolved
that all my countrymen should also share its great blessing, and that by reading the
Bible they should find Truth for themselves. Therefore, I caused a new translation
to be made from our ancient language into the language which the old and the
young understood and spoke.

Today man sees all his hopes and aspirations crumbling before him. He is
perplexed and knows not whither he is drifting. But he must realise that the Bible
is his refuge, and the rallying point for all humanity. In it man will find the solution
of his present difficulties and guidance for his future action, and unless he accepts
with clear conscience the Bible and its great Message, he cannot hope for
salvation. For my part I glory in the Bible.

                                                                             Haile Selassie I