ENOCH, BOOKS OF-Three so-called pseudepigraphical works that were supposedly written by or under the influence of the antediluvian patriarch Enoch, who was taken up to heaven by the Lord, an event described in the Book of Genesis (5:24); pseudepigraphical writings are those that are noncanonical (meaning not accepted into the body of biblical books) and were composed in a style intending to resemble or appear as authentic biblical literature, often assuming the title of some personage known to the audience. In the case of the Books of Enoch, the actual writers or compilers chose a figure who was the source of many legends and tales, the most notable being his transformation by God into the truly powerful angel Metatron. While decidedly uncanonical, the three books remain fascinating and colorful reading, as well as treasures of detail and fanciful images concerning angels.
1 ENOCH-Known also as the Ethiopic Book of Enoch from the fact
that the only surviving complete manuscript of it is in Ethiopic, this is the
oldest of the three Enoch books, dating to the
mid-second century B.C.,
although it actually comprises various sections, each dated differently: "The
Book of Noah"; "Similitudes"; "The Dream Visions"; "Apocalypse of the Weeks";
and "The Book of the Heavenly Luminaries." Aside from material on Gehenna and
heaven and the nature of evil, the text is full of stories and accounts of
angels. The writers cover the fall of angels, the names of the archangels, and
the fire of the luminaries of heaven. The reader thus encounters such angelic
personages as Raguel, Uriel, Gabriel, Raphael, Michael, and Saraqael, Shemiaza
and Azazel.
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The book seems to be a composite of works by different writers. Some sections may have their origin with Enoch, but others do not. The Book of Noah for instance is written in the " I " style. Christian teachers sometimes like to wipe this book from the table with a single phrase from Col 2;18; Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. Col 2;18 comfortably discarding any explanation of Gen 6; the sons of God marrying the daughters of Man, or 1 and 2 Peter, about fallen angels being locked in an underground prison, and Hebr 11; 5; about Enoch being taken up by God without seeing death. This warning in Colossians 2 sooner deals with the abundance of apocalyptic imitators dating from the two centuries B.C. then with the first Book of Enoch. The Book Daniel dates from the same time and the first or Ethiopian Book of Enoch was considered important enough by the apostle Judas to quote from it; And to these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Jude 1;14 And behold! He comes with ten thousand Holy Ones; to execute judgment upon them and to destroy the impious, and to contend with all flesh concerning everything that the sinners and the impious have done and wrought against Him. 1Enoch1.9 These Jewish apocalyptical writings apparently were common knowledge in Jesus' days. Also quoted in Jude (9) is the Assumption of Moses. |
2 ENOCH-Known also as the Slavonic Book of Enoch because the only
extant version is a Slavonic translation of the Greek original text, this
specific edition dates to the
seventh century A. D., although it is based on a
much older Jewish text of the
first century. A.D. While similar in some ways to
the first book of Enoch and perhaps using it as a source, the Slavonic Enoch
details Enoch's journey through the seven heavens, the life of Enoch's
successors, especially Methuselah, and then gives a forecast of the Great Flood
that encompassed the world in later generations. There are descriptions of
angels residing in the heavens.
3 ENOCH-Also called the Hebrew Apocalypse of Enoch, this is a
Jewish writing dating probably to the
second century A.D. It was supposedly
written by the noted Rabbi Ishmael, a brilliant scholar of Palestine during the
early second century A.D. He reputes to recount his journey to heaven, where he
beheld the very throne of God, along with the hosts of angels. His information
was granted to him by the archangel Metatron, the onetime patriarch Enoch. This
work remains perhaps the single greatest compendium of angelic lore, including a
comprehensive assemblage of angels, archangels, and holy creatures, such as the
watchers and holy ones. Ref.Heart7;
angels