ENOCH, BOOK OF (e'nok, book 6v). The interest that once attached to'the apocryphal book of Enoch has now partly subsided. Yet a docu ment quoted, as is generally believed, by an inspired apostle, can never be wholly devoid of importance or utility in sacred literature.
(1) Authorship and Date. With regard to the author and the time when the Book of Enoch was written various opinions have been advanced. But it seems to us to have been composed a little be fore Christ's appearance by a Jew who had studied well the book of Daniel. At the same time we freely confess that the Savior is spoken of in terms expressive of his dignity, character, and acts, surpassing the descriptions which other Jewish books present. Sevval circumstances render it apparent that it was originally composed in the Hebrew or Chaldec language.
The Greek translation, in which it was known to the fathers, appears to be irrecoverably lost. There is no trace of it after the eighth century. The last remnant of it is preserved by Syncellus.
(2) Object. The leading object of the writer, who was manifestly imbued with deep piety, was to comfort and strengthen his contemporaries. He lived in times of distress and persecution, when the enemies of religion oppressed the righteous. The outward circumstances of the godly were such as to excite doubts of the Divine equity in their minds, or at least to prevent it from having that hold on their faith which was necessary to sustain them in the hour of trial. In accordance with this, the writer exhibits the reward of the right eous and the punishment of the wicked. To give greater authority to his affirmations, he puts them into the mouth of Enoch. Thus they have all the weight belonging to the character of an eminent prophet and saint. Various digressions are not without their bearing on the author's main pur pose. The narrative of the fallen angels and their punishment, as also of the flood, exemplifies the retributive justice of Jehovah; while the Jewish history, continued down to the Maccabees, ex hibits the final triumph of His people, notwith standing all their vicissitudes. Doubtless the au thor lived amid fiery trial ; and, looking abroad over the desolation, sought to cheer the sufferers by the consideration that they should be recom pensed in another life. As for their wicked op pressors, they were to experience terrible judg ments. The writer seems to delight in uttering dire anathemas against tnc wicked. It is plain
that the book grew out of the time when the author lived and the circumstances by which lie was surrounded. It gives tis a glimpse not only of the religious opinions, but also of the general features that characteriled the period.
(3) Possibly Quoted by Jude. Much un necessary discussion has arisen over the question whether Jude really quoted the Book of Enoch or not. Some are most unwilling to believe that an inspired writer could cite an Apocryphal produc tion. Such an opinion destroys, in theft view, the character of the writing said to be inspired, and reduces it to the level of an ordinary composition. But this is preposterous. The Apostle Paul quotes several of the heathen poets; yet who ever sup posed that by such references he sanctions the productions from which his citations are made, or renders them of greater value? All that can he reasonably inferred from such a fact is, that if the inspired writer cites a particular senti ment with approbation, it must he regarded as just and right, irrespective of the remainder of the hook in which it is found. The Apostle's sanc tion extends no farther than the passage to which he alludes. Other portions of the original docu ment may exhibit the most absurd and super stitious notions. Others suppose that Jude quoted a traditional prophecy or saying of Enoch, and we sec no improbability in the assumption. Others again believe that the words apparently cited by Jude were suggested to him by the Holy Spirit. But surely this hypothesis is unnecessary. Until it can be shown that the book of Enoch did not exist in the time of Jude, or that his quoting it is unworthy of an Apostle, or that such knowl edge was not handed down traditionally within the Apostle's reach, we abide by the opinion that Jude really quoted the book of Enoch. While there arc probable grounds for believing that Jude might have become acquainted with the circum stance independently of inspiration, we ought not to have recourse to the hypothesis of immcdiote suggestion. On the whole, it is most likely that the book of Enoch existed before the time of Jude, and that the latter really quoted it in accordance with the current tradition. If so, the prophecy ascribed to Enoch was truly ascribed to him, be cause it is scarcely credible that Jude writing by inspiration would have sanctioned a false state ment.