Bible Question:

My question concerns the book of Enoch. As a big ancient history buff, I have a profound interest in the book because it gives a vivid picture of the pre-flood world. This is hard to come by. I do not, however, make a habit of putting any trust in anything that is not directly inspired by our Lord. Therefore, I would greatly appreciate any insight you could give me about whether the book is inspired by the Holy Spirit or just a colorful narrative.

Bible Answer:

Is the book of Enoch inspired? Both the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestants agree that the Old and New Testaments are inspired. That is, the sixty-six books of the Bible are written by God. 2 Peter 1:20-21 states that God the Holy Spirit moved men to write the Scriptures. Also, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 clearly says that all Scripture is inspired. That is, the apostles recognized the books of the Old and New Testaments as inspired Scripture. In addition, Jesus and the apostles quoted from all of the Old Testament books. The New Testament was written by the apostles and a few others. For more information visit, “How Accurate Is the Bible?” All other books were rejected as not having been written by God.

Is the book of Enoch inspired?

The Apocrypha

The Roman Catholic Church accepts fourteen books that belong to a larger group of books called the Apocrypha. These eleven books are mistakenly called the Apocrypha, but they are only a subset of the Apocrypha. Technically, these books are called the Deuterocanon and include: Baruch, Bel and the Dragon, Ecclesiasticus, 1 and 2 Esdras, Additions to Esther, The History of Susanna, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, The Prayer of Manasseh, The Song of the Three Holy Children, Tobit, and The Wisdom of Solomon. Protestants reject these books because they were never endorsed by Jesus and the apostles. Another group of books called the Pseudepigrapha are rejected by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestants.

The Apocrypha contains a great number of historical and geographical errors. False doctrines abound in these books. That is, many of their doctrines are contrary to what the Bible teaches. Their writing style reveals an immaturity that is not found in the other books of the Bible.[1] In summary, not only were these books never quoted by Jesus and the apostles, but the very content and style of them are substandard.

The Pseudepigrapha

The Pseudepigrapha is a group of books that are rejected by both the Roman Catholic Church and Protestants. The Pseudepigrapha contains a long list of books too long to present here. Enoch 1, 2, and 3  are part of the Pseudepigrapha. Three books actually bear the name of Enoch, not just one. Each one is different: the Ethiopic version of Enoch, a Slavonic version of Enoch, and the Secrets of Enoch. Both the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestants do not believe that any of these books of Enoch are inspired or written by God.

Conclusion:

There is not any reason to believe the Books of Enoch are inspired. The Old Testament, as we know it, was endorsed by Jesus while He was alive on this earth. In Luke 24:44 Jesus endorsed the Old Testament when He said,

 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Luke 24:44 (NASB)

The Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms referred to the threefold division of the Hebrew Bible, which is the Old Testament in the Roman Catholic and Protestant Bibles. The apostles endorsed the books of the New Testament. The Old and New Testaments contain all of the books written by God. Once again, Jesus and the apostles never quote the book of Enoch. The book of Enoch is not Scripture.

 

References:

1. Unger and Harrison. The New Unger Bible Dictionary. Moody Publishers. 1988. p. 85.

Suggested Links:

What is the Bible?
What books belong in the Bible? – Canon of Scripture
What Is The Apocrypha? Should It Be In The Bible?
What is the Pseudepigrapha? Should it be in the Bible?
What are the additional books of the Bible in the Catholic religion?
Should the Deuterocanon be included in the Holy Bible?
How accurate is the Bible?