The secrets of angels, and how they interbred with humans... and strange prophecies
[The] Word of blessing of Henok [Enoch], wherewith he blessed the chosen and righteous who would be alive in the day of tribulation for the removal of all wrongdoers and backsliders.- Enoch 1:1 (Ethiopian)
The Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: "I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever." And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation. These things were all written in the Book of Enoch, and are to be testified of in due time. - D&C 107:55-57
IntroAnd Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage." - Jude 1:14-16 quoting Enoch 60:8
It is very hard to know where to begin with the Book of Enoch. Enoch is like another alternative mini-Bible, a library rather than a single book, apparently with multiple authors. It is the most massive Apocryphal book I've tried to review so far, and it's one of the most popular to be quoted on here, along with 2 Esdras. This is ironic, since Enoch himself gets very little mention in the standard Biblical canon.
The closest thing in the western canon to Enoch is perhaps Ezekiel and his wild visions. There are also flavours of Genesis in much of the work - although the author often has a very different view - and its apocalypticism mirrors the likes of Daniel and Revelation. The later sections with their emphasis on Metatron have influenced the Zohar and works of Kabbalistic literature, although most Jews abandoned it. It is also said that Idris in the Koran is a reference to Enoch, although that is contested; nonetheless it appears the earliest Muslims knew about Enoch, perhaps via the Ethiopians.
It is often said that Enoch has been "removed from the Bible". There are several reasons for that I think, but here's my basic thoughts:
* It is a substantial work, meaning that few copies of it probably existed in the remote past.
* Because of its angelology, I think that it was seen as a potential gateway to occultism, and trying to contact spiritual beings.
* There is a lot of very obscure imagery in its prophecies. While Daniel gets away with this, many other books haven't. Revelation only narrowly made it into the Bible.
* In the book, evil and sufferring is seen as much as the result of demons as human action and the fall. Obv. this is an oversimplification, and the Bible itself is divided on this.
Some sources say that the Sadducees removed the book, as they preferred form and ritual to mysticism. Either way, it became something of an underground book, at first popular (as evidenced in Qumran etc), but then circulated between Christians and Jews.
If you disagree with any of this, feel free to comment below. The show Ancient Aliens has also tried to claim that the Book of Enoch was removed because it talks about extraterrestrial beings and is the earliest account of an alien abduction. Furthermore, they link the Angels and the Nephilim up with the Anunnaki. I do not agree with this!
Why read the Book of Enoch? Simply because it is one of the most interesting pieces of Apocrypha out there. If you have the time, you will get a very different flavour of ancient Judaism, one that opposed much of what we tend to think of in the Old Testament. It is noticeable that many of the sinners in the Book of Enoch are the wealthy and the powerful.
Canonicity
Enoch is part of the Ethiopian Tewahedo (Native Church) canon, along with Jubilees. The only other churches to use it are the Eritrean Tewahedo (which is an offshoot of the Ethiopian) The Copts have used it historically, and there are sections found elsewhere.
The Ethiopian version appears to be a translation of the Greek translation of either Hebrew, Aramaic or both. Fragments of the text in Greek, Latin and Aramaic have been found, and appear to corroborate some of the Ethiopian version. The former chief editor of the Dead Sea Scrolls editorial team, John Strugnell, has claimed that a complete scroll of Enoch in Aramaic is somewhere in private hands. A mediaeval version exists in Church Slavonic.
Many early church fathers also admired Enoch including Justin Martyr, Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria. Wikipedia claims that:
Enoch is quoted in the Book of Jude, although there is argument about whether the version Jude had was the same as our current expanded version. Joseph Smith also refers to Enoch's book coming forth in D&C 107 - which it did in the late 18th and 19th centuries.The Book of Moses, first published in the 1830s, is part of the scriptural canon of the LDS Church and has a section which claims to contain extracts from the "original" Book of Enoch. This section has many similarities to 1 Enoch and other Enoch texts, including 2 Enoch, 3 Enoch, and The Book of Giants. The Enoch section of the Book of Moses is believed by the Church to contain extracts from "the ministry, teachings, and visions of Enoch", though it does not contain the entire Book of Enoch itself. The LDS Church considers the portions of the other texts which match its Enoch excerpts to be inspired, while not rejecting but withholding judgment on the remainder.
NameAccording to Joseph B. Lumpkin, who edited a recent transliteration of the book, the Book Enoch is referenced more than one hundred times in the New Testament alone, more than the Psalms:
There are over one hundred comments in the New Testament which find precedence in the book of Enoch… Of all the books quoted, paraphrased, or referred to in the Bible, the book of Enoch has influenced the writers of the Bible as few others have. Even more extensively than in the Old Testament, the writers of the New Testament were frequently influenced by… Enoch.
One problem with this book is that it has several names:
* Enoch
* 1 Enoch or Enoch A - this is confusing as the book seems to have been compiled from several other works. Sometimes 1 Enoch is also used to refer to the first section of this book, and at other times the entire work.
* Maṣḥafa Hēnok or the Book of Henok (the Ethiopian name)
* Ethiopian Enoch, since the best version of this book comes from there.
There are other books of Enoch around, I may deal with them later.
Audiobook
THE BOOK OF THE WATCHERS | Book of Enoch Part 1 (54 minutes)
Enoch has fame, and perhaps notoreity, for its obscure content. It expands on Genesis, and the stories of the angels in it, naming them sometimes for the first known instance. It has prophecies in it, which may be relevant to our times. It also discusses some of the ancient mysteries of history. In this history, the angels teach humans how to create technology and the arts, much like Prometheus in classical legend... echoed in the Lucifer idea.
Some people believe that Enoch was supposed to be an alternative or a replacement of the Torah, while others think it was a compliment to it. It is thought that some of the writers were very hostile towards both Pharisees and Rabbinical style Judaism and the Saducees. Some have claim that the entire work is anti-Mosaic, and indeed the book does not even refer to Moses' visits to Sinai, an odd omission. Some of the other things missing from Enoch include the sabbath, kosher law etc. Enoch 89 has been seen as an attack on the Second Temple. Like Jubilees it also prefers a solar calendar.
Notably Enoch contains tours of Heaven and Hell. Its Heaven contains walls of flame and bright light, something some people would associate more with Hell! Enoch takes two major tours, in 17-19 and 21-36 of these realms.
It describes a pre-existing messiah who will enact judgement upon all mankind, and will create a messianic kingdom.
The book consists of five quite distinct major sections. The changes of pace, style and content between these sections is quite abrupt, suggesting different authors. Many people people suggest that the "Watchers" represents the earliest work, maybe along with the parables. There is dispute as to whether all the apocalypses are by the same author as well.
* The Book of the Watchers (Enoch 1–36)
* The Book of Parables of Enoch (Enoch 37–71) (also called the Similitudes of Enoch) - these do not tend to be like the parables of the New Testament, but apocalyptic visions.
* The Astronomical Book (Enoch 72–82) (also called the Book of the Heavenly Luminaries or Book of Luminaries)
* The Book of Dream Visions (1 Enoch 83–90) (also called the Book of Dreams)
* The Epistle of Enoch (Enoch 91–108)
The sections here are taken from Wikipedia again.
The Watchers
The Watchers being of course the angels and the fallen angels. Just as Adam was supposed to watch the garden, these beings were set to watch the Earth. This may be the oldest section. Enoch (or the narrator) describes various realms and beings.
1–5. Parable of Enoch on the Future Lot of the Wicked and the Righteous.
6-11. The Fall of the Angels: the Demoralization of Mankind: the Intercession of the Angels on behalf of Mankind. The Dooms pronounced by God on the Angels of the Messianic Kingdom.
12–16. Dream-Vision of Enoch: his Intercession for Azazel and the fallen angels: and his Announcement of their first and final Doom.
17–36. Enoch's Journeys through the Earth and Sheol: Enoch also traveled through a portal shaped as a triangle to heaven[citation needed].
17–19. The First Journey.
20. Names and Functions of the Seven Archangels.
21. Preliminary and final Place of Punishment of the fallen Angels (stars).
22. Sheol or the Underworld.
23. The fire that deals with the Luminaries of Heaven.
24–25. The Seven Mountains in the North-West and the Tree of Life.
26. Jerusalem and the Mountains, Ravines, and Streams.
27. The Purpose of the Accursed Valley.
28–33. Further Journey to the East.
34–35. Enoch's Journey to the North.
36. The Journey to the South.
Parables of Enoch
Not really parables in the conventional sense. See note above. It is notable that in this section, the phrase "Son of Man" is used repeatedly, which echoes Jesus' use of it in the Gospels, and him being referred to as such in Revelation etc.
37. Superscription and Introduction
38–44. The First Parable.
38. The Coming Judgement of the Wicked.
39. The Abode of the Righteous and the Elect One: the Praises of the Blessed.
40. The Four Archangels.
41.1–2. Anticipation of Judgement
41.3–9. Astronomical Secrets.
42. The Dwelling-places of Wisdom and of Unrighteousness.
43–44. Astronomical Secrets.
45–57. The Second Parable.
45. The Lot of the Apostates: the New Heaven and the New Earth.
46. The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man.
47. The Prayer of the Righteous for Vengeance and their Joy at its coming.
48. The Fount of Righteousness: the Son of Man - the Stay of the Righteous: Judgement of the Kings and the Mighty.
49. The Power and Wisdom of the Elect One.
50. The Glorification and Victory of the Righteous: the Repentance of the Gentiles.
51. The Resurrection of the Dead, and the Separation by the Judge of the Righteous and the Wicked.
52. The Six Metal Mountains and the Elect One.
53–54.6. The Valley of Judgement: the Angels of Punishment: the Communities of the Elect One.
54.7.–55.2. Noachic Fragment on the first World Judgement.
55.3.–56.4. Final Judgement of Azazel, the Watchers and their children.
56.5–8. Last Struggle of the Heathen Powers against Israel.
57. The Return from the Dispersion.
58–69. The Third Parable.
58. The Blessedness of the Saints.
59. The Lights and the Thunder.
60. Quaking of the Heaven: Behemoth and Leviathan: the Elements.
61. Angels go off to measure Paradise: the Judgement of the Righteous by the Elect One: the Praise of the Elect One and of God.
62. Judgement of the Kings and the Mighty: Blessedness of the Righteous.
63. The unavailing Repentance of the Kings and the Mighty.
64. Vision of the Fallen Angels in the Place of Punishment.
65. Enoch foretells to Noah the Deluge and his own Preservation.
66. The Angels of the Waters bidden to hold them in Check.
67. God's Promise to Noah: Places of Punishment of the Angels and of the Kings.
68. Michael and Raphael astonished at the Severity of the Judgement.
69. The Names and Functions of the (fallen Angels and) Satans: the secret Oath.
70–71. Concluding Appendices
70. The Final Translation of Enoch.
71. Two earlier Visions of Enoch.
Book of Luminaries
This is an astronomical/astrological text. Chapter 80 is interesting in regard to "climate change" and other environmental problems.
72. The Sun
73. The Moon and its Phases
74. The Lunar Year
76. The Twelve Winds and their Portals
77. The Four Quarters of the World: the Seven Mountains, the Seven Rivers, Seven Great Islands
78. The Sun and Moon: the Waxing and Waning of the Moon
79–80.1. Recapitulation of several of the Laws
80.2–8. Perversion of Nature and the heavenly Bodies due to the Sin of Men
81. The Heavenly Tablets and the Mission of Enoch
82. Charge given to Enoch: the four Intercalary days: the Stars which lead the Seasons and the Months
Book of Dreams
This includes the famous "Animal Apocalypse" (85-90), I'll try and write some more on this below, and also the Apocalypse of Weeks (93, 91). It is said that this part dates to the period of the Maccabees.
83–84. First Dream Vision on the Deluge.
85–90. Second Dream Vision of Enoch: the History of the World to the Founding of the Messianic Kingdom.
86. The Fall of the Angels and the Demoralization of Mankind.
87. The Advent of the Seven Archangels.
88. The Punishment of the Fallen Angels by the Archangels.
89.1–9. The Deluge and the Deliverance of Noah.
89.10–27. From the Death of Noah to The Exodus.
89.28–40. Israel in the Desert, the Giving of the Law, the Entrance into Canaan.
89.41–50. From the Time of the Judges to the Building of the Temple.
89.51–67. The Two Kingdoms of Israel and Judah to the Destruction of Jerusalem.
89.68–71. First Period of the Angelic Rulers – from the Destruction of Jerusalem to the Return from Captivity.
89.72–77. Second Period – from the Time of Cyrus to that of Alexander the Great.
90.1–5. Third Period – from Alexander the Great to the Graeco-Syrian Domination.
90.6–12. Fourth Period Graeco-Syrian Domination to the Maccabean Revolt (debated).
90.13–19. The last Assault of the Gentiles on the Jews (where vv. 13–15 and 16–18 are doublets).
90.20–27. Judgement of the Fallen Angels, the Shepherds, and the Apostates.
90.28–42. The New Jerusalem, the Conversion of the surviving Gentiles, the Resurrection of the Righteous, the Messiah. Enoch awakes and weeps.
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This is part of my ongoing series on Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical works:
1 Esdras inc. audiobook link
viewtopic.php?p=1343974
2 Esdras (the most relevant book in the Apocrypha?) inc. audiobook link
viewtopic.php?p=1344302
1 Maccabees
viewtopic.php?t=69454
2 Maccabees
viewtopic.php?t=69468
3 Maccabees
viewtopic.php?t=69496
4 Maccabees
viewtopic.php?t=69515
Book of Baruch and the Epistle of Jeremy/Jeremiah
viewtopic.php?t=69433
Book of Tobit inc. audiobook link
viewtopic.php?p=1341501
Apocryphal additions to Esther inc. audiobook link
viewtopic.php?p=1343414
Bel and the Dragon (quoted in full, KJV; inc audiobook link)
viewtopic.php?t=69261
Prayer of Azarias and Hymn of the Three Children (quoted in full KJV, inc. audiobook link)
viewtopic.php?p=1341611
Book of Judith and the Book of Mormon, inc. audiobook link
viewtopic.php?t=69402
Book of Susanna inc. audiobook link
viewtopic.php?t=69386
Wisdom of Solomon
viewtopic.php?t=69469
Book of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus
viewtopic.php?t=69412
Prayer of Mannases (aka Mannaseh; quoted in full KJV, inc. audiobook link)
viewtopic.php?t=69263
Psalm 151 (quoted in full, NRSV)
viewtopic.php?t=63875
Epistle to the Laodiceans (NT, quoted in full Wycliffe's translation, )
viewtopic.php?t=64025
The Book of Odes - this is an Eastern Orthodox work of limited interest, but included for the sake of completeness.
viewtopic.php?t=69470
Outside the Western and Eastern Orthodox Canon...
The Ethiopian canon. This includes brief info on the books of Sinodos, Ethiopian Clement, Ethiopian Covenant, and Didascalia as well as a list of other works in the canon.
viewtopic.php?t=69540
Book of Jubilees (Apocrypha) aka the Little Genesis or Leptogenesis - Cain, Moses, Enoch, Nephilim
viewtopic.php?t=69548
3 Corinthians (Armenian canon)
viewtopic.php?t=69567
And also
Antilegomena: the books which barely made it into the Bible - Revelation, the Song of Solomon, Jude, Esther etc.
viewtopic.php?t=69609