Why is the book of Enoch not included in the Bible?

Bible Question:In Genesis 5:21-24 we are told that Enoch walked with God. In my research I have found the book of Enoch. I have read it over and over and found it to be very moving and very inspiring. It was the very key to bring me back to our Lord and Savior. It is a blue print of all things past, present, and future from Genesis to the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) our Messiah, to the secret day of judgment. It is almost the whole Bible in one book. My question is, why isn't this wonderful book in the Bible?

Bible Answer: The book of Enoch is one of the Pseudepigrapha books and was apparently written during the first century before Jesus Christ. The book contains one hundred and eight chapters divided into five sections. The introductory chapters, 1-5, provide a short introduction of Enoch and speak to the major themes of rewards, punishment, the end of the world and final judgment. Book 1 includes chapters 6-36 and is primarily about angels, the Tree of Life, Jerusalem, and the universe. Book 2 includes chapters 37-71 and deals with the One, the Son of God, or the Messiah, resurrection, the flood, Noah, future judgment, and paradise. Book 3 (chap. 72-82) deals with stars, moon, astronomy, the universe, and Enoch's mission. Book IV (chap. 83-90) presents predictions about the flood, a historical sketch, the future of Israel, and the messianic kingdom. Book V (chap. 91-105) addresses a variety of topics and the concluding chapters 106-108 end the book.

While the book is fascinating to read, it is important to note that the book is not scripture. That is, the book is not inspired by God. The book was quoted in the Apocryphal book of Baruch, and in several early church manuscripts: Barnabas 16:5, Idolatry 15:6 (Tertullian), and Eccl. Proph 3 (Clement of Alexandria). Some have speculated that Jude 14-15 is a quote from the book of Enoch and concluded that Jude regarded Enoch as scripture. The following two quotes compare Jude 14-15 to the suspected passage in the book of Enoch.

. . . Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. (NASB) Jude 1:14-15

. . . Behold, he will arrive with ten million of the holy ones in order to execute judgment upon all. He will destroy the wicked ones and censure all flesh on account of everything that they have done, that which the sinners and the wicked ones committed against him. - Enoch 1:9

Careful examination of the two passages reveals some significant differences. First, Jude refers to "thousands" of angels, but Enoch refers to "millions." Jude says that God will "convict" all of the ungodly, but Enoch says that they will be "destroyed." The rest of the two passages disagree in wording in minor ways. Therefore, it is inaccurate to conclude that Jude quoted Enoch. Since the book of Jude was written by Jude under the influence of God the Holy Spirit, we conclude that the book of Jude is truth. Therefore Enoch is wrong with regard to some facts.

The book of Enoch was never referred to by Jesus or any of the New Testament writers as scripture, and the book was not included in the New Testament by the apostles. It is commonly misunderstood that the content of the Bible evolved over time. But the New Testament clearly tells us that the apostles were identifying scripture as it was being written (1 Tim. 5:17-18; 2 Pet. 3:14-16). The New Testament books were being distributed by the apostles to the various churches to be read (Gal. 6:11; Col. 4:16; 1 Thess. 5:27; 2 Thess. 2:2; 3:14). By the time the apostles died, the New Testament had been written and its books were known. The Muratorian Fragment and several of the early fathers have left us a list of books that were identified as belonging to the New Testament. The book of Enoch was never included. Some books were challenged later but never with success.

Conclusion:You asked the question, "Why isn't this wonderful book included in the Bible?" The answer is that Jesus and the apostles never called it scripture. It is important to note that a few early church fathers highly valued the book of Enoch but they never referred to it as scripture. Therefore, we cannot view it as authorative since it is not the Word of God.