The book of Enoch (also known as 1 Enoch) is neither in the Catholic or Protestants Bible. In fact, it’s not part of most biblical canons including Jewish ones (with the exception of some Ethiopian canons). We hear a lot about the book of Enoch, but what exactly do we know about it? Have you personally read the book of Enoch? If you haven’t, then this is for you. I want to take some time and lay out three very good reasons why you should stay away from the book of Enoch today.
Enoch consists of five parts, called books. These books talk about the fall of angels, how the Nephilim (referred to as giants in the Bible) came about, why the great flood had to happen, some astronomy and many other prophecies.
Overall, the main theme in the Book of Enoch is judgment for the wicked and blessings for the righteous.
We are often asked to believe that the Book of Enoch is not relevant to Christianity. That’s nonsense! The truth is, the book of Enoch was quoted by Jesus and apostles. It served as a basis for the writers of both testaments. Yet, because it revealed truths about God that Christians don’t want revealed, it was locked up. The Old Testament itself said there would be a time when people would have no knowledge or concern for God or his Son, or that time when Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us.
Why stay away from the book of Enoch?
If you are a Christian and believe in the Book of Enoch, you might be wondering why you should avoid reading it. Luckily, there are plenty of reasons to do so. First of all, you don’t want to be tempted by the Book of Enoch’s false teachings. While it’s not a Bible book, it contains significant concepts that many Christians are drawn to. For example, the Book of Enoch describes a war between good and evil and the future of the earth. Secondly, the Book of Enoch is often considered a pseudepigrapha – a work that has been dishonestly ascribed to someone else. Hence, avoiding the Book of Enoch may be better than trying to explain it to someone else.
Finally, the Book of Enoch teaches false doctrines. The writers would like the reader to believe that the Sun and Moon were real and that they were sent by God to teach the people of Earth. In fact, they would love nothing more than for us to believe what they say about the universe. But the truth is, the Book of Enoch is a dangerous heresy that undermines Noah’s message of faith.
The Book of Enoch has a reputation for being a paganism. Its false teachings contradict scripture and create additional doctrines. It also contains fables. As such, it is advisable to avoid it at all costs. If you’re looking for a reason to stay away from the Book of Enoch, then read the following explanations:
Enoch was originally accepted by the Christian church, but eventually was excluded from the Bible. Enoch had many authors and was written around 300 BC to 100 AD. In fact, some authors claimed to write the Book of Enoch, though they did not actually write it themselves. Despite this, the Book of Enoch contains the phrase “Son of Man,” which is what the Book of Enoch says it was written about. This phrase alone would make you want to stay away from the Book of Enoch if you believe in the apocalypse.
Jude also mentions Enoch. Jude says that God will “convict” the ungodly at His return. The Book of Enoch also says that people and nations will be judged by Christ. They will have a choice between serving the truth and being ungodly. Zechariah also says that ungodly nations will receive no rain. This proves that Jude’s message is correct and the Book of Enoch is not.
While there are many other biblical books in the Bible, the Book of Enoch is an exception. Unlike the Bible, this text is not part of the canon. In the Ethiopian Bible, there are 81 books – a Book of Enoch is one of them. The Ethiopian church, for example, has 81 books. Genesis 5 tells us that the pre-Flood Patriarchs lived for several centuries. The book also provides the age of each figure when they were next fathered and the age at which they died. Enoch, on the other hand, lived for 365 years, while the other figures are over 700 years old.
Who Was Enoch in the Bible?
There are four different men in the Bible named Enoch (Enoch (Genesis 4:17; 5:18; 25:4; 46:9). However, it should be noted that only the NIV gives the name “Hanok” while other translations use the name Enoch. Hanok in Hebrew translates to Enoch (Genesis 4:17, 5:18). Some translations use a different spelling, such as Hencoch or Hanoch.
Enoch was the great-great-great-great-grandson of Adam. Genesis 5:22–24 says, “After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Enoch was also the great-great-grandfather of Noah.
We can also find more text on Enoch in the Hall of Faith found in Hebrews 11:5: “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: ‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away.’ For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.”
It is interesting to note that most assume being “taken away” is what Enoch is most well-known for—as well as Elijah. Both men were the only two people the Bible references in which they were chosen by God to escape death. Enoch appears to have been given this privilege because he “walked faithfully with God and pleased God. The Bible doesn’t mention the purpose of God taking Enoch to heaven but the most common assumption is that he could serve as one of the two witnesses as part of the End Times. The other witness is assumed to the prophet Elijah.
Jude also mentions Enoch which is a prophecy in Jude 14:14-15. “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: ‘See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’”
Why Was the Book of Enoch Removed?
Just because the Book of Enoch is attributed to Enoch does not mean that it is written by him, inspired by God, or that it should be in the Bible. It is interesting to note that no scholars truly believe the Book of Enoch was actually written by Enoch himself.
Not only is the Book of Enoch considered to be a Pseudepigraphal writing, it is also considered to be an Apocryphal writing. “Apocryphal writings” mean that it should be true and correct, but it is in fact false and often historically inaccurate. When reading Apocryphal texts, they should be treated as fallible historical texts. In contrast, the Bible should be treated as the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God.
You can read a copy of the Book of Enoch here. But please do so with caution and discernment. Jim Hamilton, a Professor of Biblical Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary says “All students of the Bible would do well to acquaint themselves with 1 Enoch, as it provides a fascinating look into the way that the OT was interpreted in the years prior to the birth of Jesus. Especially significant is what appears to be the book’s messianic interpretation of Daniel’s son of man.”
Are There Any Bibles That Have the Book of Enoch?
Outside of the Ethiopian Orthodox church, there are no Bibles nor denominations that believe 1 Enoch is divinely inspired by God. However, Jews include it in the Apocrypha as external texts. The Book of Enoch is also called: The Book of Enoch (or 1 Enoch), The Book of the Secrets of Enoch (or 2 Enoch) and The Hebrew Book of Enoch (or 3 Enoch).
Most believe these books were not divinely inspirited Scripture even though it does contain some facts. Because of the references in other books like Jude and Hebrews, it was various early churches considered 1 Enoch considered the book as a part of Scripture and was canonized in the third century. Later, when the Bible was “canonized” the book of Enoch was removed.
How Was It Decided What Books of Bible Would Be Included?
The term “canon” is used to describe the books of the Bible that are divinely inspired by God. Determining what is divinely inspired was a process that first began by Jewish rabbis and scholars. Even though human beings began this process, it should be noted God ultimately decided what belonged in the Bible. It was a matter of God directing and inspiring not only the writers of the Bible but those who began the process of determining which books belonged in the Bible. This process began with the canon of the Hebrew Scripture.
The first “canon” was the Muratorian canon which was compiled in AD 170 which included all of the New Testament except James, Hebrews, John 3 and 1 and 2 Peter. The first canon was the Muratorian Canon, which was compiled in AD 170.
The Muratorian Canon included all of the New Testament books except Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, and 3 John. In AD 363, the Council of Laodicea considered the Old Testament and 26 books of the New Testament as canonical and to be read in churches. This included nearly everything except Revelations. Later, the Council of Hippo (AD 393) and the Council of Carthage (AD 397) also affirmed all 27 books of the New Testament to be divinely inspired.
To be considered divinely inspired the following principles to determine what was considered to be the authoritative Word of God included:
- Was the author an apostle or have a close connection with an apostle? Was the writer authenticated by miracles or others to confirm the message?
- Does the book reflect the work of the Holy Spirit in terms of high morals and spiritual values? Does the book have the divine capacity to transform lives?
- Was the text consistent with the general doctrine and orthodox teaching?
- Is the text accepted by the body of Christ at large? Was it accepted as God’s Word by the people to whom it was first delivered?
Despite these human principles, it is crucial to remember that God and God alone determined what would be in the Bible. We do know without a doubt, our ways are not God’s ways.
Scripture reminds us:
2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Deuteronomy 4:2 “You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
The human process of collecting these books is flawed, but God in His sovereignty knows what we need to nourish our spirits and provided a spiritual compass through His Word. In other words, God’s Word was inspired and authoritative from its inception–it “stands firm in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89).
Interesting Facts About The Book Of Enoch
The 1st Book of Enoch
#1 The 1st Book of Enoch was discovered in Abyssinia in 1773 by a Scottish explorer named James Bruce.
It is an apocryphal book in the Ethiopic Bible which is typically dated between the 3rd century BC and the 1st century AD.
#2 It was considered sacred by some first followers of Christ, however, it was left out of the Bible and disappeared for centuries until it was rediscovered in 1773.
In 1821, it was translated by Richard Laurence and published in a number of editions.
#3 The 1st book of Enoch has five sections, as follows:
#4 Book of the Watchers (1-36) – the first part of the book is about “The Watchers,” a group of “angels” sent to earth to watch over humans.
200 of those angels committed transgression by having sex with humans, creating a race called the Nephilim.
”When the sons of men had multiplied, in those days, beautiful and comely daughters were born to them. And the watchers, the sons of heaven, saw them and desired them. And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us choose for ourselves wives from the daughters of men, and let us beget children for ourselves.’”
#5 It is said that the “Watchers” taught humans writing, weaponry, reading, sorcery, cosmetics, and meteorology.
This was problematic as it robbed humans of the opportunity to discover the arts by themselves.
”Asael taught men to make swords of iron and weapons and shields and breastplates and every instrument of war. He showed them metals of the earth and how they should work gold to fashion it suitably, and concerning silver, to fashion it for bracelets and ornaments for women.
And he showed them concerning antimony and eye paint and all manner of precious stones and dyes. And the sons of men made them for themselves and for their daughters, and they transgressed and led the holy ones astray. And there was much godlessness on the earth, and they made their ways desolate.”
#6 Book of the Similitudes (37-71) – this section of the book appears to be based on the Book of Watchers, however, it presents a later development of the idea of final judgment and eschatology.
#7 The Book of Similitudes uses the expression “Son of Man” for the eschatological protagonist, who is also called Chosen One, Righteous One, and Messiah, and narrates his sitting on the throne of glory in the final judgment.
#8 Book of the Astronomical Writings (72-82) – this section of the book contains descriptions of the movement of heavenly bodies and of the firmament, as a knowledge revealed to Enoch in his trips to Heaven guided by Uriel.
#9 Book of the Dream Visions (83-90) – this section of the book contains a vision of the history of Israel all the way down to what the majority have interpreted as the Maccabean Revolt.
In addition, this section of the book and later near the end describes the appointment by God of the 70 angels to protect the Israelites from enduring too much harm from the ”beasts and birds.”
#10 According to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the book was written before the Flood.
#11 Book of the Epistle of Enoch (91-107) – this section of the book contains a text called the “Apocalypse of Weeks” that some historians believe in having been written at about 167 B.C.E.
”And Enoch began to recount from the books and said:
‘I was born the seventh in the first week,
While judgment and righteousness still endured.
And after me, there shall arise in the second week great wickedness,
And deceit shall have sprung up;
And in it, there shall be the first end.
And in it a man shall be saved;
And after it is ended unrighteousness shall grow up,
And a law shall be made for the sinners.
And after that in the third week at its close
A man shall be elected as the plant of righteous judgment,
And his posterity shall become the plant of righteousness for evermore.
And after that, in the fourth week, at its close,
Visions of the holy and righteous shall be seen,
And a law for all generations and an enclosure shall be made for them.
And after that, in the fifth week, at its close,
The house of glory and dominion shall be built forever.
And after that in the sixth week, all who live in it shall be blinded,
And the hearts of all of them shall godlessly forsake wisdom.
And in it a man shall ascend;
And at its close, the house of dominion shall be burnt with fire,
And the whole race of the chosen root shall be dispersed.
And after that in the seventh week shall an apostate generation arise,
And many shall be its deeds,
And all its deeds shall be apostate.
And at its close shall be elected
The elect righteous of the eternal plant of righteousness,
To receive sevenfold instruction concerning all His creation.”
The 2nd Book of Enoch
#12 The 2nd Book of Enoch was once present in the Old Slavonic Bible.
It is not included in either the Christian or the Jewish canon.
#13 It is basically an account of Enoch’s travels through the 7 heavens and includes certain revelations given to Enoch and Enoch’s exhortations to his children.
The 3rd Book of Enoch
#14 The 3rd Book of Enoch is a Rabbinic text originally written in Hebrew and is usually dated to the 5th century CE. Some scholars attributed it to the 2nd century.
It is said to write by Rabbi Ishmael, and it was originally written in Hebrew.
The Flat Earth and The Book of Enoch
#15 Some flat-earthers have appealed to the Book of Enoch to support their argument that the Bible teaches that the earth is flat.
Enoch 18:1–5:
”And I saw the storehouses of all the winds, and I saw how with them He has adorned all creation, and I saw the foundations of the Earth.
And I saw the cornerstone of the Earth. And I saw the four winds which support the Earth and the sky.
And I saw how the winds stretch out the height of Heaven, and how they position themselves between Heaven and Earth; they are the Pillars of Heaven.
And I saw the winds which turn the sky and cause the disc of the Sun and all the stars to set.
And I saw the winds on the Earth which support the clouds, and I saw the paths of the Angels. I saw at the end of the Earth; the firmament of Heaven above.”
