Are The Books Of Enoch Biblical?

On the prolific social media platform known only as X, I reached out to my fellow Christians to gather their thoughts on the Book(s) of Enoch. The first response I received was from Dustin of KingdomUsefulness, a ministry dedicated to equipping the saints with biblical truth and understanding so that we may all be useful to God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ. His reply was intriguing: “Tbh, I just wanna know your thoughts on it haha. I haven’t read it yet.” This curiosity is what has brought us here today.

Tbh I just wanna know your thoughts on it haha. I haven’t read it yet
— KingdomUsefulness (@kingdomuseflnes) July 12, 2024

For those unfamiliar with the Books of Enoch, they are a collection of ancient Jewish texts attributed to Enoch, a figure mentioned in the Book of Genesis. These texts, which include the First Book of Enoch (1 Enoch), the Second Book of Enoch (2 Enoch), and the Third Book of Enoch (3 Enoch), provide a fascinating glimpse into early Jewish mythology. The First Book of Enoch, also known as Ethiopic Enoch, is the most well-known and widely studied of the three, while the Second Book of Enoch, or Slavonic Enoch, is less common. The Third Book of Enoch, often referred to as Hebrew Enoch, is the most obscure of the three and is primarily known through quotations found in other works.

Now that you’re up to speed, let’s address the question that has been on everyone’s mind. Are the Books of Enoch Biblical? To answer this question, we must examine the historical context, authorship, and theological content of these ancient texts.

Books of Enoch Contents

1 Enoch

The First Book of Enoch is a collection of five separate works, including the Book of the Watchers, the Similitudes of Enoch, the Astronomical Book, the Book of Dreams, and the Epistle of Enoch. These works cover a wide range of topics, including the fall of the Watchers (fallen angels), the origin of evil, the coming judgment, and the Messiah.

The Book of the Watchers, a significant part of 1 Enoch, tells a captivating story about the Watchers, a group of angels who descended from heaven to Earth. These celestial beings took mortal women as their wives, which led to the birth of the Nephilim, a race of giants (1 Enoch 6-16). This section of the text not only details the Watchers’ fall from grace but also chronicles Enoch’s journey through the heavens and his visions of future events.

The Similitudes of Enoch, also known as the Parables of Enoch, is a section of 1 Enoch that features a series of parables and visions. This part of the text is particularly notable for its profound influence on early Christian beliefs regarding the Messiah, the resurrection of the righteous, and the final judgment (1 Enoch 37-71). The parables and visions within this section provide a vivid depiction of the coming of the Messiah, detailing his role in the end times and the ultimate fate of the righteous and the wicked. These passages offer a unique perspective on the concept of Gods justice and the role of the Messiah in the eschatological framework.

The Astronomical Book, a part of 1 Enoch, that takes a look into astronomical and cosmological topics, including a detailed analysis of the movements of celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars. This section also provides a comprehensive description of the calendar and how time works (1 Enoch 72-82).

The Book of Dreams and the Epistle of Enoch are the two shorter works of 1 Enoch. The Book of Dreams includes a series of dream visions that reveal the future, providing insights into the destiny of humanity (1 Enoch 83-90). The Epistle of Enoch, on the other hand, is a letter addressed to the “sons of Enoch” that offers moral and ethical guidance, emphasizing the importance of righteousness and the consequences of sin (1 Enoch 91-108).

2 Enoch

The Third Book of Enoch, also known as the Hebrew Enoch, is a work that provides a detailed account of the celestial hierarchy and the role of the archangels in the divine plan. Unlike the First and Second Books of Enoch, which focus on the Watchers and Enoch’s journey through the heavens, the Third Book of Enoch focuses on the nature of God and the structure of the celestial realm.

The book begins with a description of the divine throne room, where God is surrounded by the archangels and the heavenly host. Each of the archangels is given a specific role in the divine plan, with some responsible for the elements of nature, others for the nations of the Earth, and still others for the souls of the righteous (3 Enoch 1-16).

The Third Book of Enoch also includes a number of dialogues between the archangels and God, in which they discuss the nature of the divine and the role of humanity in the divine plan. These dialogues provide insights into the complex relationship between the divine and the human, and the ways in which God interacts with the world (3 Enoch 17-25).

One of the most notable aspects of the Third Book of Enoch is its detailed description of the divine chariot, a vehicle that is said to carry God through the heavens. The chariot is described in great detail, with each part representing a different aspect of the divine (3 Enoch 26-36).

Authorship and Dating

The authorship and dating of the Books of Enoch are subjects of ongoing scholarly debate. The First Book of Enoch is believed to have been written over a long period, with some parts possibly dating back to the third century BC. (VanderKam, Enoch: A Man for All Generations) The book is thought to be a composite work, with different sections written by different authors. (Nickelsburg, 1 Enoch) The Second Book of Enoch and the Third Book of Enoch are also believed to have been written over a long period, with the Second Book possibly dating back to the first century AD and the Third Book to the fifth or sixth century AD.

The authorship of the Books of Enoch is uncertain, and the texts are not attributed to a single author. Instead, they are thought to have been compiled from a variety of sources, including oral traditions, earlier written works, and possibly even fragments of other apocryphal texts according to James C. VanderKam in his book “Enoch: A Man for All Generations”.

Canonization

The process of canonization involves the recognition of certain books as authoritative and inspired by God. The Books of Enoch were not included in the Jewish canon, which was established around the 400-300 BC. This exclusion was likely due to the lack of a clear prophetic voice, as well as the absence of a strong tradition supporting their inclusion (cf. VanderKam, Enoch: A Man for All Generations, pp. 12-13).

The First Book of Enoch was popular among early Christians and was even quoted in the New Testament. (Jude 1:14-15) However, it was not included in the mainstream Christian canon though it is included in the Ethiopian Orthodox cannon. (VanderKam, Enoch: A Man for All Generations) The Second Book of Enoch and the Third Book of Enoch were even less well-known and were not widely circulated among early Christians. (Orlov, The Enoch-Metatron Tradition)

Theological Differences

The Books of Enoch present a number of theological ideas that differ from the teachings found in the canonical Bible. These differences have led many to question the compatibility of the Books of Enoch with the established biblical canon.

One of the most significant differences is the portrayal of God and the heavenly beings. In the canonical Bible, God is portrayed as the creator of the universe, who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. While in the Books of Enoch God is often portrayed as a being who is part of a larger celestial hierarchy, with various archangels and other heavenly beings playing significant roles in the divine plan. This view is more in line with the concept of henotheism, where there are multiple divine beings, but one is considered supreme. This is a significant departure from the monotheistic view of God in the canonical Bible.

Another significant difference is the portrayal of the Watchers and the Nephilim. In the canonical Bible, the Watchers are mentioned only briefly in Genesis 6:1-4, where they are described as “sons of God” who married human women and produced the Nephilim. The term “Nephilim” is often translated as “giants,” but its exact meaning is debated. In 1 Enoch, the Watchers are a group of 200 angels who were assigned to watch over humanity but instead fell in love with human women and had children with them. These children were the Nephilim. The Watchers taught humans forbidden knowledge, including the arts of war and deception. Their actions led to the corruption of humanity and the need for the Great Flood to cleanse the Earth. This narrative is not found in the canonical Bible.

The Books of Enoch also present a more detailed cosmology than the canonical Bible. The Books of Enoch, provides a more comprehensive view of the cosmos, including the structure of the heavens and the role of celestial beings. For instance, the Third Book of Enoch, provides a detailed description of the divine throne room, where God is surrounded by the archangels and the heavenly host. Each of the archangels is given a specific role in the divine plan, with some responsible for the elements of nature, others for the nations of the Earth, and still others for the souls of the righteous. This detailed cosmology is not found in the canonical Bible, which focuses more on the relationship between God and humanity.

Finally, the Books of Enoch include a number of prophecies that are not found in the canonical Bible. These prophecies describe the end times and the coming of the Messiah. For example, the Similitudes of Enoch features a series of parables and visions. This part of the text is particularly notable for its profound influence on early Christian beliefs regarding the Messiah, the resurrection of the righteous, and the final judgment. The parables and visions within this section provide a vivid depiction of the coming of the Messiah, detailing his role in the end times and the ultimate fate of the righteous and the wicked.

Messiah

For me, this is the final nail in the coffin when it comes to the differences between the Books of Enoch and the canonical Bible. The Book of Enoch describes Enoch as the Messiah, not Jesus. This can be found in 1 Enoch 71:13-14, where it states,

"And that angel came to me, and greeted me with his voice, and said to me, ‘You are the Son of Man who was born to righteousness, and righteousness remains over you, and the righteousness of the Head of Days will not leave you.'"
1 Enoch 71:13-14

Above, you can see Dr. A. Nyland’s translation. It is the primary translation I use for the Books of Enoch. In his translation, the angel says to Enoch, “You will be their allotment.” This is in direct contrast to the Biblical account.

This outright rejection of Jesus as the Messiah effectively removes the Books of Enoch from being considered canonical. As mentioned earlier, the process of canonization involves the recognition of certain books as authoritative and inspired by God. If Jesus was not the Messiah in the Books of Enoch, then they cannot be considered part of the biblical canon.

We have numerous reasons to believe that Jesus was not only the prophesied Messiah but also God Himself. To learn more about this, you can read these articles:

These articles provide compelling evidence that Jesus is indeed the Messiah and God in the flesh, as recognized by the canonical Bible.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Books of Enoch offer a fascinating glimpse into early Jewish thought and mythology, providing valuable insights into the religious landscape of their time. However, their exclusion from the biblical canon is due to a number of factors. Below are some resources I used for writing this article.