The History of The Book of 1 Enoch

If you follow us on Facebook, then you have no doubt heard me speaking of the book of Enoch. Since then, I have received many questions varying from its authenticity to more in depth curiosity to its historical value in the Christian religion. I understand the hesitancy in many people when it comes to the book of Enoch, especially within the times we are living. So I am going to try and answer all your questions, as I did do my research and comparing of scriptures and incidences from the books of the Bible.

Before we go any further, it is important to note that there are also books called Enoch 2 and Enoch 3. But because of the character of expression and the way words were used, along with several other factors, it is not believed that it is the same Enoch that wrote Enoch 1. There are also some inconsistencies with biblical texts in Enoch 2 & 3, that are not found in Enoch 1. Therefore, it is widely believed that 2 & 3 were written by the Enoch that came down from the lineage of Esau. For this topic we will solely be discussing Enoch 1, which claims it was written by the father of Lamech, who was also the grandfather of Noah and the seventh from Adam.

First lets look at how and why Enoch disappeared in the first place. Many lack the understanding how in the times when theologians were examining all of the historical texts that yes, they were looking for accuracy in events, dates, kings, places, etc.; but they were also looking for texts which did not stray too far from their all ready deeply personal held beliefs. We have seen this all through time with the different generations of people twisting scriptures and creating new religions, which some of these religions also disregard certain passages, books, or as we are seeing a trend today, a lot of people are disregarding everything that Paul the apostle wrote in the New Testament. Why? They will tell you it is because they do not believe it, therefore, its not true.

One of the big things that got Enoch declared a fake was that Enoch had many visions that some believed pointed to the consummation of the age in conjunction with Christ's second coming, which was the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. For this reason, it was first rejected by theologian, Hilary and was then lost to western Christianity for over millennia. Many today, with the new evidence believes that interpretation was wrong.

Enoch was rediscovered in 1773 by a Scottish explorer named James Bruce. He had followed rumors he had heard about this book of Enoch into Ethiopia where the Christians had not only viewed Enoch as canonical but it was also a part of their biblical texts. Bruce secured three copies and brought them back to Europe and Britain. In 1821 Richard Lawrence published the first English translation of Enoch, which was published again in 1912 by R.H. Charles.

The majority of scholars used to believe that Enoch was written after the book of Jude and heavily borrowed from it. However, after texts of Enoch was found in the cave of Qumran among what is widely known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, scholars had to re-examine the evidence.

Amazingly, before the texts at Qumran, Enoch had been found in earlier Greek translations. Then in cave 4 at Qumran, it was discovered in Aramaic. From dating the texts, it means that the oldest translation of Enoch is in Aramaic, then Greek, and followed by Geez (an Ethiopian language). Because of this new discovery, Enoch predates Jude and Peter, and is now believed that Jude and Peter are the ones who borrowed from Enoch and not Enoch from them. And thus, if they borrowed from it, then they too, read it.

As technology has increased and more and more evidence comes to light, there are a growing number of not only scholars, but of western Christians who are joining the thousands of believers before us that have believed and read Enoch for centuries. Enoch is what is known as an apocalyptic book, this does not mean false, it means the telling of the destruction of the end. By definition, the book of Revelation is also apocalyptic.

When we evaluate the journey of the book of Enoch and then we read the begining paragraph of the very first chapter, it seems very fitting in these times that we are living that it is slowly making its way back into the hands of Christians all over the world. For we read, "The words of the blessing of Enoch, with which he blesses the elect and righteous, who will be living in the day of tribulation, when all the wicked and godless people will be removed from the earth."

Enoch Agrees With Biblical Scripture

For the sake of the reader, I will give only some of the many similarities between the scriptures in the biblical texts and in Enoch. It is these similarities, along with the new evidence that dates Enoch as being much older than originally thought that has the majority of scholars today believing that some of the Biblical scriptures were in fact quoting Enoch, instead of Enoch that was quoting the biblical scriptures. It is further believed that Enoch was shown Christ, and that it is he whom he had referred to as the "Elect One" & "Son of Man".

Enoch 1:9, "And behold he comes with 10,000 of His holy ones to execute judgment on all, and to destroy all the ungodly; and to convict all flesh of all the works of their ungodliness which they have ungodly committed, and of all the things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."

Jude 1:14-15, "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of theses, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with 10,000 of His saints, to execute judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."

Enoch 94:8, "Woe to you, you rich, for you have trusted in your riches, and from your riches shall you depart, because you have not remembered the Most High in the days of your riches.

Luke 6:24, "Woe unto you that are rich! For you have received your consolation."

Enoch 38:2, "Where will there be a dwelling for sinners, and where will there be a resting place for those who have denied the Lord of Spirits? It had been good for them if they had never been born.

Matthew 26:24, "Woe unto that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born."

Enoch also prophecies in a few places like Enoch 71:12-17 about Christ, which are very similar to such prophecies in biblical texts about a coming Messiah. He also seen some of the visions that John the Revelator seen of the end times. Likewise, he gives more in depth information about some things that the Bible only mentions without a lot of context, such as when the angels came down and procreated with man on earth creating a hybrid of giants in Genesis 6.

Though this encounter is briefly mentioned throughout the scriptures, Enoch tells of how they not only messed with the DNA of men on the earth but of every living creature on the land, in the air, and of the sea. There are similarities between what Enoch describes of the leaders of the fallen angels who did these atrocities and the Greek gods of mythology. Which lead many who have read Enoch to believe that its not Greek mythology but fact. One such instance is how Greek mythology claims that their gods were locked inside a prison named Tartus or as some have it Tartarus. Enoch says that they were locked away in Tarsus. When you look the two up, its the same name but different language variations. It is no secret that the fallen angels were considered "gods" among the men of flesh and blood, but who would have such power over them that they could lock them away in a prison? How about the one who created them?

We can also see among the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John how some just say an event happened and some give more in depth detail of the event, while others don't even mention the event. Enoch says of the flood that it will happen because of the giants who were consuming men and the cries of their blood that had risen unto God's throne. We can read in many historical accounts, especially the native Indians, how there were giants in their days and how they would consume men. There have been burial sites of giants uncovered right where the natives said that their ancestors had taken these hybrids down, only for these grave sites to be surrounded by military presence and then disappear.

Enoch even tells us that because these giants were not of God's creation but of the angels who left their heavenly places to procreate with the women of the earth; And now because these giants were neither of flesh and blood or of the angelic beings, when they die, their souls will wonder the earth until the end as "evil spirits". Both the biblical account and Enoch's account said that the angels seen how beautiful the women were and lusted for them. If we read in 1 Corinthians 11:10, Paul says that women should cover their heads because of the angels. So what had happened before the flood was still pretty fresh in the minds of those in Paul's days.

What I Have Gained From Enoch

Personally, Enoch has opened my eyes to a better understanding of the spiritual realm and to grasp what Ephesians 6:10-24 meant by we are in a spiritual battle. I know who and what these "evil spirits" are and by what means they are now upon the earth, Enoch 15:8-12. In times past, I had never fully grasped the concept of two different species which God had created, coming together and creating a new species or why God became so angry. I only knew that the angels disobeyed. But through the deeper explanation of Enoch, I now know that the angels were destroying all of God's work upon the earth via DNA alterations and these hybrids were consuming those which he created in His image. I understand that because the angels were eternal beings that it was never God's intention for them to procreate but since man was of flesh and blood, that procreation was necessary for there to be people to care for and sustain all the work of God's hands, Enoch 15:5-7. And this is what Christ meant when he said that when man dies, he will not be married because he will be like the angels, hence, an eternal being (Matthew 22:30).

In Ending....

I hope this helps those who have had questions about the book of Enoch or why I use it alongside the biblical scriptures in some instances. And I do understand those who are hesitant about it, as I was very skeptical myself until I did some research about where it came from. I have read from the few scholars that are against it and listen to many who are for it, I have prayed about it, and examined it for myself. And I am all for everyone doing the same. Scripture says that we must all work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). But keep in mind also that scripture says that we need no man to teach us anything, for the Holy Spirit will teach us all things, 1 John 2:27.

In these days that we are living in, there is so much deceit among us that is pulling us in every direction but towards what is Holy, righteous, pure, and true. There is a lot of false teachings out there and wolves in sheep's clothing. So pray for eyes to see and ears to hear, so that you will know and understand, not what I seek to inform you of or what the world says is true or even what your preacher teaches from the pulpit, but the truth that God wants to reveal to you. For as scripture also says, "Let every man be a liar and God be true", Romans 3:4. It is my prayer for all of you that you seek Him first in all things and let our Father guide you.