Book of Enoch

May 13, 2011

and that is where we disagree Shilo. i do believe that the book is overall historical.

Well yes, the document is historical in terms of genre. The question is to the accuracy of its historical data.

There is no historical evidence that the Enoch of Scripture authored anything.

i think it's information was handed down to Noah. Enoch was taken about 60 years before Noah was born, and Noah lived at the same time as Enoch's son for nearly 600 years. I don't find it unusual to think the teachings of Enoch could not have been passed down any more than the general story of Genesis.

The possibility of that is not in dispute. It is the probability and reliability of such that is in question.

Since we have many different sets of fragments in the dead sea scrolls, and it's always been in the Ethiopian Bible, I find it not any more difficult to accept the information than other older books.

I am not sure that is a good way to determine the authenticty of ancient manuscripts.

May 13, 2011

One thing to keep in mind about the book of enoch and other psuedobiblical writings is that they were redacted and edited and traditions were added to them over time. There is no evidence historical or otherwise that enoch ever authored anything. The prophecy mentioned in Jude may have been genuine but was added to the book at a later time.

I was wondering about that exact point, shiloh.

Do you know off hand if that particular quote was included in the fragments found in the dead sea scrolls which predate the penning of Jude or not?

Not off hand. Would have to do some research on that.