Were the Book of Enoch and other books quoted in Scripture inspired?
A viewer argues that Jude quoted Enoch and the Assumption of Moses as divine truth from the prophets, not merely as history.
Answer
How would you know the original Enoch was quoted as divine truth? There are many times in Scripture, especially in the Old Testament, where extra-canonical books are quoted, and they are not inspired; they are quoted for historical truth. There are probably a dozen such books quoted in the Old Testament, like the Book of Jasher, cited in Joshua about the sun and moon standing still. In the New Testament period, before the canon was decided, there were at least 200 pseudepigraphal and apocryphal books, one of which was the Book of Enoch, and only 27 passed the test of canonicity. If a portion of Enoch had been known to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Church would have been required to add it, but she did not, because it is too sensational and fantastic. The difference between Enoch and the Book of Revelation is that Revelation's fantastic imagery is admittedly symbolic, pointing to political or ecclesiastical realities, while the Book of Enoch claims all its fantastic material about angels and demons actually happened and will happen. That is why the Church never accepted it. So do not get caught up in it.