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Book of Enoch

The Book of Enoch is an ancient Jewish apocalyptic text traditionally attributed to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Book of Enoch is an ancient Jewish apocalyptic text traditionally attributed to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. In most Christian and Jewish traditions it is not part of the biblical canon, but it is regarded as scripture by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The best-known form is 1 Enoch, a composite work preserved complete in Ge'ez.

Composition and text

The Book of Enoch is a composite work made up of several sections written at different times. Modern scholarship generally dates its components to the third century BCE through the first century CE. The complete text was preserved in the Ethiopian manuscript tradition, and Dead Sea Scrolls fragments support its antiquity as a pre-Christian Jewish work.

Content and themes

Its major themes include the Watchers, the origin of evil, the punishment of angels, visions of judgment, and the fate of the righteous and wicked. It also contains cosmological and calendrical material. The text includes visions of fallen angels, divine judgment, and eschatological themes.

Religious status

Most Jewish and Christian traditions do not include it in their canonical scriptures. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church accept it as scripture. It is pseudepigraphal, meaning it is attributed to Enoch but was not written by him.

Influence

The text is important for studying Second Temple Judaism and the background of early Christianity. It is especially noted for parallels with apocalyptic imagery found in later religious literature. It influenced some early Jewish and Christian thought, including concepts later echoed in New Testament literature.

Key facts

  • The term usually refers to 1 Enoch, the most prominent of several Enoch literature texts.
  • It is pseudepigraphal, meaning it is attributed to Enoch but was not written by him.
  • The text includes visions of fallen angels, divine judgment, and eschatological themes.
  • It influenced some early Jewish and Christian thought, including concepts later echoed in New Testament literature.
  • The complete text was preserved in the Ethiopian manuscript tradition, and Dead Sea Scrolls fragments support its antiquity.
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Canadian context

The Book of Enoch is relevant to Canadian readers through biblical studies, religious history, and university scholarship on Second Temple Judaism and apocalyptic literature.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Book of Enoch?
It is an ancient Jewish apocalyptic work traditionally attributed to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah, and usually refers to 1 Enoch.
Is the Book of Enoch in the Bible?
Not in the biblical canon of Judaism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, or most Christian churches.
Which churches treat it as scripture?
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church include it in their scriptural tradition.
Who wrote the Book of Enoch?
It is considered pseudepigraphal, so it was likely written by multiple authors rather than by Enoch himself.
What does it talk about?
It discusses fallen angels, divine judgment, heavenly visions, cosmic order, and the destiny of humanity.
Why is it historically important?
It helps scholars understand Second Temple Jewish thought and the apocalyptic ideas that shaped some early Christian writings.

References

  1. GotQuestions.org — https://www.gotquestions.org/book-of-Enoch.html
    Supports: Identifies the Book of Enoch as a pseudepigraphal work, notes 1 Enoch as the common reference, and states its canonical status in Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox traditions.
  2. EBSCO Research Starters — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/book-enoch
    Supports: Summarizes the text as ancient Jewish religious writings, discusses its themes, authorship, non-canonical status in Judaism and Christianity, and preservation by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
  3. BibleGateway Encyclopedia of the Bible — https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Books-Enoch
    Supports: Describes 1 Enoch as a composite work and provides scholarly dating for its sections.
  4. Sacred Texts — https://sacred-texts.com/bib/boe/index.htm
    Supports: Provides an overview of the Book of Enoch as a non-canonical ancient apocalyptic text and describes its major themes.
  5. New World Encyclopedia — https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Book_of_Enoch
    Supports: Explains that the text is generally dated to the Maccabean period and notes its exclusion from most Christian canons except the Ethiopian tradition.