@ogb said
yes, your friend is correct..there are more "books" in the Ethiopian bible than King James..
Thank you for that. I didn't even realise that there was an Ethiopian bible ! I'll take a look at that.
Going back to the original question I think it probably to do with power and control. My friend often comments "who gave them the right to decide what was in the bible?" A moot question.
I don't think that Rome was too keen on the bible becoming something that the commoner could access, particularly thanks to the invention of the printing press, which ultimately meant that the teachings of Rome could be challenged.
I was initially raised in a Catholic environment, and it was no fun. They seemed to revel in the idea that the priesthood could damn a person who stepped out of line to an eternity in a burning fiery torment. Quite a control mechanism if you can convince the less well read of the certainty of this prospect. Once you stop believing in that, and a whole lot of other questionable stuff, you actually become free.
Maybe there is more stuff in those removed books that could further erode their authority?