Canon of ScriptureAnswered

Were the Book of Enoch and other books quoted in Scripture inspired?

TL;DR

Robert Sungenis answers no: Scripture quotes a dozen or so extra-canonical books, such as the Book of Jasher in Joshua, for historical truth, not as inspired. He holds that the Church never added Enoch to the canon because it is too sensational, presenting its fantastic material on angels and demons as literal fact, unlike the openly symbolic Book of Revelation.

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.

Answered by Dr. Robert Sungenis

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