Introduction
A. Our text was written by Jude, the
Lord's brother in the flesh.
1. Many questions arise when people
read Jude 1:14-15 as quoted from Enoch, e.g. " where is this book now? is
it from God or from man?"
2. We shall study this book to find out
if is indeed inspired for Jesus said, "...the truth shall make you
free," John 8:32.
B. Our approach shall be as follows:
1. Describe the book as to its origin
and development
2. Why was it not included in the Old
Testament canon?
3. How should we treat this book today?
Are there lessons to learn from this book?
Discussion
A. Description of the Book of Enoch
1. It was not included in the Old
Testament canon of the Jews but accepted as having historical and theological
values
2. Found at Qumran and part of the Dead
Sea scrolls
3. The manuscript was in Ethiopian Geez
(a semitic language) used by the Jews
4.Brought to Europe in the 18th century
by James Bruce and translated into English in the 19th century
5. Containing a section on the 1000-year
reign of the Messiah, it was regarded as part of Hebrew apocalyptic literature
6. Supposedly, it was written, not by
Enoch himself, but by a certain Rabbi Ishmael
B. Why did the Jews reject the Book of
Enoch and exclude it from the OT Canon?
1. Canon means a " set of
rules" to determine whether a book is inspired or not. Adjective form is
" canonical" and the noun form is " canonicity."
2. Thus a " canonized" book
is one that has met the standard or norm set by the church and her leaders.
3. The Book of Enoch has " textual
nature of several sections which used the Torah (5 books of Moses), the Midrash
in Deuteronomy 33:2
4. That portion described the fallen
angels
5. Only the Ethiopic Beta Israel (Jewish
group) accepts this book as canonical and uses it in Geez liturgical services
6. Even Christians in the 4th century
rejected the Book of Enoch as inspired
7. In Hebrews 11:5, the writer quoted
Genesis 5:24.
8. Some argue that Jude 1:14-15 quoting
Enoch is one proof that the said book is inspired
9. But having been quoted by any
inspired writer does not necessarily mean that such author is already inspired.
10. Paul quoted someone in Acts 17:28
and Epimenides in Titus 1:12
11. These quotations do not necessarily
mean that the said authors were inspired by God
C. How shall Christians treat the Book
of Enoch and other apocryphal writings?
1. As was discussed, this book and
similar writings should NOT be regarded as " inspired, inerrant,
infallible and authoritative words of God."
2. Like other apocryphal books, some
are right but mostly are historically wrong and inaccurate
3. Most were written between 164 to 63
B.C. during the Maccabean Empire, a period the Jews were freed from the
tyrant Antiochus IV of Syria
4. In 325 A.D. during the Council of
Nicea, the 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books, were declared canonical
5. These rules were followed in making
the Biblical Canon:
a. New books were compared with old
books and those found controversial, e.g. Book of Enoch, were removed.
b. The Council relied on the promptings
of the Holy Spirit in the process of canonicity
6. Example of a controversial portion
in the Book of Enoch:
a. The fallen angels (sons of God)
married the daughters of men and their unions produced giants (the Nephilim) cf
Genesis 6:2-4
b. Jesus said in Matthew 22:30 that
" angels do not marry or are given in marriage."
Conclusion
A. Lesson to learn: the Bible is a
complete guide to salvation
1. Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16-17
wrote that " all scripture is inspired by God...."
2. Peter also wrote in 2 Peter
1:3 "His divine power has given us everything that pertains to life and
godliness."
3. Nobody should add to or subtract
from God's words, Revelation 22:18-19
B. Invite people to become Christians
and rely on the Bible alone as their guide to salvation
1. Believe, confess, repent and be
baptized for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit, Acts 2:38
2. Jesus invites you now in Matthew
11:28-30