The Epistle of Jude and its Connection to the Book of Enoch: Unveiling Ancient Jewish and Christian Perspectives

 The Epistle of Jude, a brief yet powerful letter nestled in the New Testament, draws from a variety of Jewish traditions, including an intriguing reference to the Book of Enoch. This connection between Jude and Enoch sheds light on early Jewish and Christian understandings of scripture and revelation, as well as the role of the Book of Enoch in the religious canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

The Epistle of Jude: A Unique Citation

Jude, often attributed to Jude the brother of Jesus, writes to warn his readers against false teachers and ungodly behavior. In his exhortation, Jude draws from a non-canonical source, the Book of Enoch, when he states:

"Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: 'See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.'"
(Jude 1:14-15, NIV)

This passage directly quotes from 1 Enoch 1:9, a text that was widely circulated in Second Temple Judaism but never made it into the Hebrew Bible canon. The fact that Jude quotes from this text shows that it held a place of authority or at least significant influence within certain Jewish and early Christian circles. Jude's reference is striking because, while Enoch is not part of the standard Christian canon, the Epistle gives it weight, implying that early Christians respected or were at least familiar with its message.

Understanding 1st Century Jewish and Christian Views of Scripture

In the 1st century, Jewish understanding of scripture was diverse. Different Jewish sects (such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes) had varying views on what constituted inspired scripture. While the Torah (the first five books of Moses) was universally accepted, other texts, like the prophets and certain writings (e.g., the Psalms and Wisdom literature), held varied levels of authority across different groups.

The Book of Enoch was one such text that was popular among some Jewish groups, especially those with an apocalyptic worldview. The Essenes at Qumran, for instance, revered the Book of Enoch as sacred, as evidenced by the Book of Enoch fragments found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Early Christians, many of whom emerged from these Jewish backgrounds, inherited some of this reverence, which is likely why Jude felt comfortable citing it as prophecy.

However, by the time the Christian canon was formalized in the 4th century, the Book of Enoch was not included. Still, its influence lingered in early Christian thought, especially in apocalyptic literature, such as the Book of Revelation.

The Book of Enoch: Origins, Content, and Legacy

The Book of Enoch, also known as 1 Enoch to distinguish it from later works, is a collection of ancient Jewish apocalyptic texts. Its primary focus is on the visions and revelations given to the patriarch Enoch, who is described in the book as “the seventh from Adam.” The Book of Enoch includes several sections, the most notable of which is the Book of the Watchers, detailing the fall of the "watchers" (angels) who rebelled against God, intermarried with human women, and taught humanity forbidden knowledge. Other sections of the book include The Parables of Enoch, The Astronomical Book, The Dream Visions, and The Epistle of Enoch.

Scholars generally date the composition of the Book of Enoch between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century CE, with different sections likely being written at different times. It was originally composed in Aramaic, though the full text survives today only in an ancient Ge'ez (Ethiopic) translation.

The author or authors of the Book of Enoch remain anonymous, though it is evident that they belonged to a Jewish apocalyptic tradition. The book reflects themes of divine judgment, the coming of a messianic figure, and the ultimate restoration of justice — themes that resonate strongly with both Jewish and Christian eschatology.

The Book of Enoch in the Ethiopian Bible

While the Book of Enoch was largely excluded from the Jewish and Christian biblical canons, it holds a special place in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, where it is considered part of the official Old Testament. This unique inclusion is likely due to the ancient ties between Ethiopian Christianity and Judaism, as well as the preservation of Enochic traditions in Ethiopian literature and religious life. Ethiopia's isolation from much of the early Christian world allowed it to develop its own biblical canon, which includes several books not found in other Christian Bibles, including 1 Enoch.

The presence of the Book of Enoch in the Ethiopian Bible underscores its theological significance in early Ethiopian Christianity, where it was regarded as inspired scripture and a testament to the prophetic and apocalyptic traditions inherited from Judaism.

Conclusion

The Epistle of Jude’s use of the Book of Enoch offers a fascinating glimpse into the religious landscape of the 1st century. For Jude and his audience, the Book of Enoch was a respected source of prophecy, shedding light on divine judgment and the fate of the ungodly. Although it did not become part of the Christian canon outside Ethiopia, the Book of Enoch remains a crucial text for understanding the development of Jewish and Christian eschatology. Its inclusion in the Ethiopian Bible reflects the rich diversity of early scriptural traditions and continues to inspire theological reflection today.