The Book Of Enoch – Understanding The Days Of Noah

During the first three hundred years of Christianity, early church leaders made reference to it. The early second century “Epistle of Barnabus” makes much use of the Book of Enoch. Second and Third Century leaders, including Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origin and Clement of Alexandria all reference it. Tertullian (160-230 A.D.) even called the Book of Enoch “Holy Scripture”. The Ethiopic Church even added the Book of Enoch to its official canon. It was widely known and read the first three centuries after Christ. This and many other books became discredited after the Council of Laodicea. And being under ban of the authorities, afterwards it gradually passed out of circulation.

Later theologians disliked it because of its content regarding the nature and actions of fallen angels. The Reformers, influenced by the Jewish canon of Old Testament, also considered it as non-canonical and thus it was removed from the Protestant Bible. Catholics apparently do consider the book of Enoch as canonical, as one of 12 of the 15 they accept.

Many of the early church fathers also supported the Enochian writings. Justin Martyr ascribed all evil to demons whom he alleged to be the offspring of the angels who fell through lust for women (from the Ibid.)–directly referencing the Enochian writings.

Athenagoras, writing in his work called Legatio in about 170 A.D., regards Enoch as a true prophet. He describes the angels which “violated both their own nature and their office.” In his writings, he goes into detail about the nature of fallen angels and the cause of their fall, which comes directly from the Enochian writings.

Many other church fathers: Tatian (110-172); Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons (115-185); Clement of Alexandria (150-220); Tertullian (160-230); Origen (186-255); Lactantius (260-330); in addition to: Methodius of Philippi, Minucius Felix, Commodianus, and Ambrose of Milanalso–also approved of and supported the Enochian writings.

The twentieth-century discovery of several Aramaic Enochian texts among the Dead Sea Scrolls prompted Catholic scholar J.T. Milik to compile a complete history of the Enochian writings, including translations of the Aramaic manuscripts.

The book of Enoch, documentary made by History Channel.

The Story Of The Second (Fourth) Book Of Esdras; Apocalyptic Esdras

LITERATURE
This book was not received by the Council of Trent as canonical, nor has it ever been acknowledged as such by the Anglican church.

1. Name:
The book is not found in the Septuagint and no complete copy of the Greek text is known, though at one time it did exist. The oldest extant name is “The Prophet Ezra” (Esdras ho prophetes; see Clement of Alexandria, Strom., iii.16): It has been often called the Latin Esdras because it exists more completely in that language; compare the name Greek Esdras for 1 Esdras. Read more

Early Christian Writings – Lost Books Of The Bible

Early Christian Writings And Sacred Texts – Information About The Lost (Banned) Books Of The Bible

In the process of determining the Biblical canon, a large number of works were excluded from the New Testament. These New Testament Apocrypha are generally not accepted by Christians, though the Ethiopian Orthodox Church recognizes Jubilees, Book of Enoch, the Shepherd of Hermas, 1 Clement, Acts of Paul, and some uniquely Ethiopian books. Read more

Do I Need To Go To Church To Be A Christian…?

I don’t know if you are anything like me… But when I go to church I come away wondering what God truly thinks of it. I mean… I thought church was supposed to be a place where the focus was on Christ. Instead I find that preachers are more interested in trying to make people feel Read more

The Problem with Paul – Part 1

I will never forget the beginning of my relationship with our heavenly Father. It was like I had begun a Quest. A quest to know Him and to be pleasing in His sight. Read more