Lawrence DeMetrius

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The Book of Enoch
An Intimate Review
Pt 1 – Introduction to Enoch 1
By Lawrence DeMetrius

The intent of this review is to encourage Yahweh worshipers to consider a credible writing that is likely the oldest to support our Faith. While it will not entail verbatim reading of every chapter, it will touch on ideas expressed in The Holy Bible. There are three versions of The Book of Enoch:

• Enoch 1 – The Ethiopian Book of Enoch
• Enoch 2 – The Slavonic Secrets of Enoch
• Enoch 3 – The Hebrew Book of Enoch

This intimate review will focus on Enoch 1 - The Ethiopian Book of Enoch because it is regarded as the most authentic version of Enoch’s writing. Citing from page 13 of Paul C. Schneiders work entitled, ‘The Book of Enoch, Complete Edition’ we learn that…

1. Parts of the original text were discovered in Qumran Cave 4 and written in the Aramaic language.

2. Paleographic dating on these pieces reveals they were copied around 200-150 BC.

3. The work is classified as pseudepigraphal because it claims to be written by a Biblical character.

4. It is also classified as apocryphal because it has an unknown origin and is recognized only in private circles. It is one of the apocryphal books of The Ethiopic Bible, which was composed by Syrian Monks who came to Ethiopia in the 5th Century fleeing a Byzantine persecution.

5. The writing is also classified as apocalyptic because it is of the prophetic nature, is divinely influenced and seeks to solve mysteries of the present and future.

6. It was printed and published in the western world during the 19th Century. The R.H. Charles Translation, reprinted and published in 1917, offers a more readable version of the text as it separates the sentences numerically. Thus, The R.H. Charles Translation is formatted much like The King James Bible.

7. Enoch 1 – The Ethiopian Book of Enoch is comprised of 108 short chapters that are divided into 5 sections.

• Section 1 covers Chapters 1-36 entitled Enoch’s Journeys and Vision, And the Fallen Angels
• Section 2 covers Chapters 37-71 entitled The Parables
• Section 3 covers Chapters 72-82 entitled The Book of The Heavenly Luminaries
• Section 4 covers Chapters 83-90 entitled The Dream-Visions
• Section 5 covers Chapters 91-108 entitled A Book of Exhortation and Promised Blessing for The Righteous and Of Malediction and Woe for The Sinners

The King James Bible does contain citations from The Book of Enoch 1. [I Pet 3:19, 20; Jude vs 14, 15; Eno 21:6] As noted by Paul C. Schnieders, early Christian fathers did recognize an apocryphal Book of Enoch. It is likely that Enoch 1 was not included in The King James Bible because it derives from a Bible canon that did not contain Enoch 1. Had it been wholly recognized as bearing the impress of divine inspiration, it may have been included in The King James Bible. The original Bible canon was written in ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The King James Bible is simply the first English translation of that epitome. Blessedly, The Book of Enoch 1 was recognized as a book bearing the stamp of divine inspiration by those who composed The African or Ethiopian Bible. This brings to light the process of canonicity, which is the field of Biblical study that conceptually precedes all other fields of Biblical study. It examines differentiation between books that bear the stamp of divine inspiration and those that do not. Concise review of Enoch 1 will prove that it is a book that bears the stamp of divine inspiration.


Citing from pages 16 and 17 of his work entitled, ‘Hermeneutics – Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation’, Henry A. Virkler writes,

“Essentially the process of canonization was a historical one in which the Holy Spirit guided the Church to recognize that certain books bear the impress of divine authority.”

This is an extremely valid point in that Jesus Christ, His Original Apostles and early Christian fathers, based their message on information that was documented in ancient texts. [Lk 24:44, 45] Neither Christ nor His Original Apostles expected people to blindly regard their claims. It was always a primary element of their speech to direct their audience to divinely inspired words, that could be researched in credible writings. Furthermore, Jesus Christ forewarned of false teachers who would come in His Name, and feign association with Him to promote erroneous Christian teachings. [Mt 7:15-23; 24:5, 11] Apostle John notes that such began to manifest in his day, some of whom were disciples of Jesus Christ. [I Jn 2:19; Jn 6:53-71] Being forewarned of these intruders, the Original Apostles of Jesus Christ and early Christian fathers were fiercely watchful of them. They were careful to identify and expose them in efforts to extinguish their heretical teachings. Furthermore, Jesus Christ forewarned that the most subtle of these false teachers are able to fool the very elect of GOD. This is possible when the Elect of GOD are not as sharp as they should be in discerning the literal meaning of divinely inspired words. [Mt 24:24; Gal 1:6-9; I Cor 11:3, 4, 13-15; II Tim 2:15; 3:16, 17] The most subtle of false teachers master the tactic used by Lucifer to seduce Eve. It involves acknowledging something Yahweh has said, then applying erroneous meaning to it. In addition to this, they use manipulation of mortal senses to more effectively inject lies into the reasoning faculty of their victims. Moses notes that Lucifer engaged Eve by first saying, “Yea, hath GOD said?” Then he proceeded to recite what THE LORD said ascribing erroneous meaning to it, in a manner that appealed to Eve’s mind and senses. [Gen 3:1-6] False teachers continue to do this today by stirring up emotions about common concerns of the mortal life. Per Christ, such concerns include food, clothing, money and social status. [Mt 6:24, 32, 33; I Jn 2:15-17] Enoch tells of Lucifer using this tactic on 200 children of heaven. He even attempted this with Christ Jesus Himself. [Mt 4:1-11] Surely, Lucifer and his subjects will continue this practice until their final demise. It is difficult for false teachers to fool the Elect of GOD when they are sharp in their understanding of divinely inspired words.
[Heb 5:12-14; II Tim 2:15; 3:16-18; II Cor 4:3-7; 10:4, 5; Eph 6:10, 11, 17; II Jn vs 7-11] This is why effective and continual scriptural study is mandatory for the sons of GOD, and has been since the days of Enoch. Jesus Christ promised that all who continue in His teachings will affirm their relationship to THE LORD as HIS sons, and obtain the only truth that liberates from all lying persuasions. [Jn 4:23, 24; 8:31, 32, 36; Rm 13:1-3; Eph 4:17-24; Tit 1:15, 16]

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