All Doves:

The late J.R. Church of "Prophecy In The News" several years ago ran a multi-part series on the Book of Enoch on his weekly television program that aired on the "Sky Angel" network.  The entire program was later sold as a 4-DVD set for $29.95.  The magazine 'Prophecy In the News' ran the text of this Psuedepigraphal writing in a multi-issue feature.   I copied the series and put it in sheet protector pages in a 3-ring notebook for closer scrutiny. I periodically go back and refresh my understanding of this document that seems to be the rage at a number of web sites.  I'm not easily persuaded and recommend discernment.

I can't say it any plainer but it is severely flawed with problems that cannot be reconciled.  While many seem captivated by the book, one web site shows a video with over a half-million viewings on You Tube.  My study of the Book of Enoch does not offer much credence to anyone that thinks this document is of any value whatsoever.

The name "Enoch" only appears 12X in 11 verses, and 9X of those are found in Genesis.  Thus, we only have three references to the name "Enoch" in the New Testament, in Luke 3:37; Hebrews 11:5; and Jude 1:14.  The key point here to remember is that just because the name "Enoch" is in the Bible, it does not prove it is God-breathed and ought to be considered as "Canonical".  As I share many of the discrepancies with the book itself, one will be able to obviously see why it has not been included in the "Canon" of Scripture.

In various Bible Dictionaries, it is classified as part of the Pseudepigrapha; which is a collection of Jewish books containing various forms of literature, that use the names of Biblical people in Israel's history.  The real authors are unknown, and the addition of Biblical names are used to add a sense of authority to the writings but authenticity is dubious at best.  The name "Pseudepigrapha" means "False Writings".   That should serve as a key when the name of "Enoch" is mentioned outside of the 12X it is noted in the Bible.

In addition to using a pseudonym, the first chapter of the book of Enoch also makes use of a famous statement made by the real Enoch who lived millennia before the oldest known copies of the book of Enoch even came to light.

A similar (but not exact) question of Enoch exists in the small New Testament book of Jude to doubt that the real Enoch of Genesis 5 spoke these words and that they have been passed on by tradition.  However, the commonality of Jude 14-15 with 1st Enoch 1:9 does not make the rest of the Pseudepigraphaal book of Enoch "God-inspired" any more than Paul's brief quotation of Aratus -(Acts 17:28) and Epimenides -(Titus 1:12) would sanctify the entirety of those author's words.

If you hold the book of "Enoch" up to the "Scriptures cannot be broken" test of John 10:35, we will find a major conflict discrepancy.  A major theme in 1st Enoch is sinful angels taking human wives -(1st Enoch 6:2; 7:1; 12:4; 106:14, etc.); this is in direct contradiction of the words of Jesus Christ, who created "all things ..... visible and invisible", and knows how they function -(Colossians 1:16 compared with Hebrews 4:13).  In Matthew 22:21-30, Jesus said, "you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.  They neither marry or are given in marriage... like the angels..."  Reference also Mark 12:24-25; and Luke 20:34-36).  This rebuttal by the Lord Himself pertaining to a major theme of Enoch indicates that was and is God clearly refutes these stories in the book of Enoch as to its being truthful, or God-inspired Scripture.  That said, the issue is dead in the water as far as Bible-believing Christians are concerned.  But for the low information folks, their ignorance [lack of knowledge] will never be satisfied to drop the subject.  So, furthermore, it would equate the Enochic stories as empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Jesus Christ as the Apostle Paul states. -(Colossians 2:8).

This unhealthy fascination with and exaltation of angels throughout the book stand as stark contrast to the message of Colossians 2:18-19; and Revelation 19:10, etc.).  The stories of Enoch's ascent into heaven (1st Enoch 71:1, 5) contradicts Jesus Christ's words in John 3:13, and the tale of an actively conscious afterlife of Enoch and others prior to the Resurrection -(1st Enoch 70:3-4; 65:2-5; 22:7-13) are in conflict with Biblical Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; Job 13:14; Hebrews 11:13, 39-40; 1st Thessalonians 4:14-16, etc).  Even Burger King could not top these "whoppers".

A simple example of an Enochian fallacy that very few would sincerely assert as an indisputable, God-inspired fact is the description of Noah as a newborn baby in which "His form and appearance are not like the form of human beings - and his eyes are like the rays of the Sun... which makes the whole house bright.  And he stood up from the hands of the midwife and he opened his mouth and praised the Lord of Eternity"  -(Enoch 106:10-11, 18; 107:3).

Hebrews 13:9 tells us, "Do not be carried away about with various strange doctrines, for it is good that he heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them".   The reason why the Early Church Fathers and the KJV Bible translators rejected the book of Enoch as not being inspired of God, wasn't to hide the truth; but, because it isn't the truth!  The book of Enoch is a fraud, an imposter, and right out of the pit of hell.

When you read in Enoch 1:9 that an angel named "Phanuel" is "set over the repentance unto hope of those who inherit eternal life" you know darn well its a fraud, a lie of "whopper" proportion.  The truth is that Satan is a murderous thief, who's sole purpose of existence now is to take as many of God's children to hell, by killing, stealing, and destroying -(John 10:10).  Satan hates the Word of God because it is his greatest enemy in this world.  Therefore Satan seeks to destroy the Bible, and if he cannot destroy the Bible, then he tries to corrupt the Bible by changing it -(Romans 1:25; 2nd Peter 3:16).  Satan did precisely this when he used the Romanist-friendly Anglican leaders Westcott and Hort to rewrite the New Testament, by using fraudulent manuscripts of Gnostic traditions.  If Satan cannot destroy or corrupt the Bible, then he tries to introduce "new" so-called "lost books" of the Bible to confuse people.  Such become distractions from the real thing, the KJV Bible.

Without a doubt, the "whopper" of "whoppers" is the primary claim of the book of Enoch is that fallen angels had sex with human women and produced 450-feet tall giants upon the Earth.  Even this teaching is ridiculous, unscriptural and has no solid evidence to support it, be it Biblically or scientifically). 

In Enoch 69:6 it claims that a demon named Gadreel led Eve astray and introduced weaponry to mankind.  How utterly ridiculous, its absurdity does not need being dignified, but the Bible tells us in Ezekiel 28:13, that the serpent which deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden was Satan.  Even Steve Quayle would find it hard to digest these "whoppers"!

Enoch 1:9 says, "And behold!  He cometh with ten thousand of holy ones to execute judgment upon 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 hard things which ungodly sinners [have spoken] against him."

There is no doubt this is very similar to Jude 1:14-15.  The question is Why?  There is a conundrum here.  Was Jude quoting the book of Enoch?  If so, does this mean the book of Enoch should be considered Scripture?  Were the book of Enoch and Jude both quoting from an earlier text (i.e., the actual account of Enoch?  Was the author of the book of Enoch actually quoting from Jude to make their book look more credible?

What we don't know is when the book of Enoch was written, who the author was, or what Jude was quoting.  There is a consensus of older and even contemporary Bible scholars that the Biblical Enoch was not the author, but, rather someone who lived closer to the time of Jesus Christ, or possibly even after, based on some of the references.  Whatever you read out of the book of Enoch, the issue on Enoch is the question, Is this Holy Spirit inspired word of God?  This is where we can confidently say "no".  If it were Scripture, we would expect it to be free of false doctrine.  What we find instead is that false doctrine is one of the most prevalent themes in the entire book.!

I read the photo-copied book of Enoch in 2006 and did a verse-by-verse analysis of enough of the book to conclude it was nothing more than a fraud, a spurious document, intended to confuse and deceive Bible readers by causing doubt in the minds of those who read the Bible.  In my study of the book, numerous problems were such that I had to include my hand written notes with the photocopied text.   Here is a partial list of discrepancies that challenge the credibility of the book of Enoch:

++Enoch 1:1 implies restoration during tribulation; and is incongruent with Scriptures.

++Enoch 1:8 is in conflict with the doctrine that peace was made at the cross.  Also, in the last days tribulation will increase for the righteous, and this verse seems to dispute that fact.

++Enoch 2:2-3 appears to contradict 2nd Peter 3:3-7.

++Enoch 5:4 is an admonition to some unknown party - this is very irregular relative to the Scriptures (i.e. authentic ancient writings) by God-fearing Jews.

++Enoch 6:4 states that Semjaza seems to be listed as the leader of the angels, which again is not Scriptural.

++Enoch 6:3, 8 lists angels that are never mentioned in the Bible.

++Enoch 8:1 mentions Azazel but it isn't even listed in 6:8 as one of the angels that fornicated with women.

++Enoch 8:3 notes two angels, Araquiel and Shamsiel but they are not listed in 6:8 either.

++Enoch 10:2 allegedly wrote about Noah, even though the Bible teaches that Enoch was taken up to heaven years before Noah was born.

++Enoch 10:4-6, 12 implies angels can be bound and hid in holes under rocks.  This is totally contrary to Scripture.

++Enoch 10:8 ascribes all the sin of the fallen angels to one named Azazel.  This is not Scriptural.

++Enoch 10:15-11:2 seems to imply that permanent restoration took place after the flood, clearly not true.  It seems the true author of this book confused Scriptures pertaining to the future restoration. 

++Enoch 13:5-6, 14; 14:5-7 implies fallen angels can't talk to God.  This contradicts the book of Job.  It also implies that angels were repentant, but weren't received back by God, a most strange doctrine.

++Enoch 15:8-10 gives an unusual but strange doctrine about "evil spirits" proceeding from unredeemable giants.

++Enoch 17-18, 21, 23 gives a very strange description of the earth and universe which is clearly not true.  Also, it alludes to the ancient model of astronomy that held that there were 7 stars (the closest planets) which burned like the Sun.  They don't!

++Enoch 19:3 discredits all other prophecy about the consummation of the ages.

++Enoch 20 lists strange angels not in Scripture, and incorrectly assigns the roles of Michael (the warrior) and Gabriel (the messenger).

++Enoch 21:7-10 seems to contradict Biblical descriptions of the present and final judgment places for the fallen angels.

++Enoch 22 contradicts the Biblical description of past, present and future dwelling places for the righteous who die.

++Enoch 32:2-6 seems to imply the Garden of Eden was still in existence after the Flood.

++Enoch 33:1-2 says Heaven rests on a foundtion that is at the eastern edge of the Earth.

++Enoch 33:3 claims he counted the stars and individually mapped them, which is impossible Scripturally and scientifically.

++Enoch 34 says the winds come out of a "portal" at the Northern edge of the Earth.  The "hollow Earth" folks will love this one.

++Enoch 36:3 says the stars come out of portals at the eastern edge of the Earth and move North.

++Enoch 38:5-6 Contradicts Daniel and other prophecies about the Millennial Reign of Christ Jesus.

++Enoch 39:1-2 is a very strange implication about the "seed" of angels dwelling with men at the end.  This absolutely contradicts the Scriptures.

++Enoch 40:7 talks about the "Satans" - plural, different from the Bible, who gives that name is only one fallen angel.  Also, it implies Satan can stand in God's presence, which is contrary to the book of Job.

++Enoch 40:9 mixes up the roles of the 2 archangels and adds more names in it.  Michael's role in Scripture is related to conquering nations and fighting spiritual wars, while Gabriel's relates to bringing messages and visions to people.

++Enoch 41:1-2 says the Kingdom of God is divided.  It's not and can't be Scriptural.  It also describes sinners being repelled from a mansion, which is also not Scriptural, unless you look at a parable Jesus told, which was not intended to be literal.

++Enoch 41:4-5 says the Sun,Moon, winds, etc. are stored in chambers and released at appointed times.

++Enoch 41:6-7 implies the Sun and Moon move opposite of each other.

++Enoch 43:1-3, 44 presents a weird model of the nature of stars and lightning.

++Enoch 47:4 says God requires the blood of the saints, strange for sure, very strange.  It might fit into the Pre-Wrath Rapture babble.

++Enoch 51:1 says Sheol and Hell will give back to the Earth, which isn't Scriptural.  Also Hell is a New Testament term, not Old Testament.

++Enoch 51:2 disputes the Biblical doctrine that we are chosen.  We do not have to wait until Christ's return to be chosen.  The Enoch statement isn't Scriptural.

I see no need to list the entire list of incongruent discrepancies found in the book of Enoch.  The preceding list is about 1/2th of the total list.  The Apostle Paul's words are most appropriate for us to consider when it comes to the book of Enoch, "As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.  But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure hart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions".  These words would be an important major lesson for another web site that beats out the same old "Energizer" bunny drum beat. 

The Jewish canon was still in a state of flux when the New Testament was being written.  Therefore, early Christian authors drew freely from a wide variety of works, some of which were excluded from both the Jewish and Christian Scriptures at a later date.  1st Enoch certainly falls into that category.  The early Church probably held theological views much similar to those of the Pharisees.  That meant that they would have accepted a larger selection of books than just the Torah, but not the full range of texts that have been found in the Qumran library.  Enoch was not found in the 200-132 BC translation of the Hebrew Bible translated into Greek (i.e., the Septuagint).  Most likely, the text was not in its final form at the time.  However, many church father quoted Enoch, so it must have been translated into Greek by the first and second century AD.

Why didn't the church accept Enoch?  The Church had difficulty in deciding on the Christian texts to be included.  Even at the time of Eusebius the question of which texts belonged in the New Testament was disputed.  Before Jerome, most Christians simply used the Septuagint (or Latin translations of it) because it was convenient; it was quoted (and therefore used) by the apostles, and some such as Augustine considered the translation itself inspired.  Obviously, Enoch was not found in that collection.  After Jerome, the Latin church shifted to using the Vulgate, which also did not include Enoch.  So the vast majority of Christian traditions Enoch simply fell out of use.

The easiest answer is that it was excluded because it was never properly included.  None of the groups who formed a version of the canon felt that this book accurately reflected Jewish values sufficiently to be included in the Tanakh or the Septuagint.  Christians just followed suit.  The important point to keep in mind is that just because a book is cited by the Bible, that does not justify for automatic inclusion.  Just because a book is not cited by the rest of the Bible that does not mean that it would be right to exclude it.

The book of Enoch is part of the liturgical canon of a number of Christian groups in the Middle East.  Major Christian denominations do not accept the book of Enoch because regarding Old Testament canon they only accept Canon of Scripture approved by Jews at the Council of Jamnia in the late 1st century around 90 or 91 AD.
It goes without further saying that there is ample evidence given in this post that has been tested over the centuries, the book of Enoch is a "False Teaching", the definition of a Pseudepigraphal writing, which the Christian and Jewish fellowships categorize Enoch. 

Blessings from our Lord Christ Jesus,


Pastor Bob