Apocryphal & Enochian Texts

1 Enoch (Ethiopic Enoch)

Date: 3rd-1st century BCE | Language: Aramaic/Hebrew (original), Ge'ez (complete version)

The most important Enochian text, 1 Enoch is actually a compilation of five separate books that tell the story of Enoch's heavenly journeys and revelations. It is the primary source for the Watchers mythology and provides detailed angelology, cosmology, and apocalyptic visions. Though excluded from most Biblical canons, it was considered scripture by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and is quoted in the New Testament book of Jude.

The Five Books:

• Book of Watchers (Chapters 1-36): The fall of the angels, their teaching of forbidden knowledge, the birth of the Nephilim, and Enoch's intercession. Describes Enoch's journey through heaven and earth, including visions of Sheol and Paradise.
• Book of Parables/Similitudes (Chapters 37-71): Three parables revealing future judgment, the "Son of Man" figure, Messianic prophecy, and secrets of heaven. Contains visions of the righteous, the garden where the elect dwell, and the final resurrection.
• Astronomical Book (Chapters 72-82): Detailed descriptions of celestial movements - the courses of sun, moon, stars, and seasons. Reveals the solar calendar of 364 days used by some Jewish sects. Enoch learns cosmological secrets from the angel Uriel.
• Book of Dream Visions (Chapters 83-90): Two apocalyptic visions shown to Enoch. The first predicts the Flood. The second (Animal Apocalypse) retells biblical history using animal symbolism and prophesies future judgment.
• Epistle of Enoch (Chapters 91-108): Enoch's final words to his descendants, including the Apocalypse of Weeks dividing history into ten periods, warnings against sin, and promises of reward for the righteous.

2 Enoch (Slavonic Enoch/Secrets of Enoch)

Date: 1st century CE | Language: Greek (original), Old Church Slavonic (preserved)

2 Enoch provides the most detailed description of Enoch's journey through the seven heavens. It describes what he saw in each heaven, the angels who guided him, and the divine mysteries revealed at each level. The text emphasizes moral instruction and the importance of charity, justice, and compassion.

Key Content:

• Detailed tour of all seven heavens with descriptions of their inhabitants and functions
• Creation account told by God himself, including the creation of angels before the world
• Enoch's 30-day stay in the seventh heaven learning divine secrets
• God's instructions to Enoch to write 366 books of wisdom
• Enoch's transformation into an angelic being
• Ethical teachings emphasizing justice, charity, and proper worship
• The calendar system and proper times for worship

3 Enoch (Hebrew Enoch/Sefer Hekhalot)

Date: 5th-6th century CE | Language: Hebrew

3 Enoch describes Enoch's ultimate transformation into the angel Metatron, the "Lesser YHVH" who stands at God's right hand. This text is a key source for Merkabah mysticism and describes the celestial palace (Hekhalot) and the angelic hierarchies in detail. It portrays Rabbi Ishmael's mystical ascent to heaven where Metatron reveals cosmic secrets.

Major Themes:

• Enoch's transformation into Metatron with detailed physical description
• Metatron's throne, authority, and role as celestial scribe
• Names and functions of angels, including their appearances and duties
• Measurements of God's body (Shiur Qomah - divine dimensions)
• The heavenly temple and its angelic priests
• Dangers of mystical ascent and requirements for the journey
• Secret names of power used to command angels

Enochian Literature at Qumran

The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in caves near Qumran (1947-1956), contained numerous fragments of Enochian literature, proving these texts were valued by the Essene community. The finds include:

• Multiple copies of 1 Enoch: Aramaic fragments covering most sections except the Parables. At least 11 different manuscripts found.
• Book of Giants fragments: Elaborates on the Nephilim giants and their fate.
• Book of Jubilees: Numerous copies showing its importance to the community.
• Genesis Apocryphon: Retelling of Genesis with expanded stories about Noah and Abraham, showing Enochian influence.
• New Jerusalem text: Describes the heavenly Jerusalem's measurements and architecture.

The presence of these texts at Qumran demonstrates that Enochian traditions were part of mainstream Jewish thought in the Second Temple period, not fringe beliefs. The community used the solar calendar described in 1 Enoch rather than the lunar calendar of the Jerusalem Temple.

Impact on Religious Traditions

• Early Christianity: The Epistle of Jude quotes 1 Enoch as scripture. Early Church Fathers like Tertullian accepted Enochian literature as authentic. Later declared non-canonical but continued to influence Christian angelology.
• Jewish Mysticism: Foundation for Kabbalah and Merkabah mysticism. The concept of Metatron became central to Jewish esoteric thought. Enochian cosmology shaped understanding of heavenly realms.
• Islam: Islamic tradition includes stories of Idris (identified with Enoch) who ascended to heaven. Some Islamic texts show knowledge of Watchers/Nephilim traditions.
• Ethiopian Christianity: Only major tradition to maintain 1 Enoch in its Biblical canon. Ge'ez version is the most complete text we possess.
• Western Esotericism: Renaissance magicians like John Dee claimed to receive Enochian angelic language. Influenced Freemasonry, Theosophy, and modern occultism.

Modern Scholarship

The discovery of Enochian fragments among the Dead Sea Scrolls revolutionized understanding of Second Temple Judaism. Scholars now recognize these texts as representing important streams of ancient Jewish thought, not marginal heresies. They provide insights into:

• Development of Jewish angelology and demonology
• Origins of apocalyptic literature and expectations
• Ancient cosmology and astronomical knowledge
• Early interpretations of Genesis 6:1-4
• Calendar controversies in Second Temple Judaism
• Evolution of concepts like Messiah, resurrection, and final judgment

Access & Translations

Modern readers can access these ancient texts through various scholarly translations:

• 1 Enoch: R.H. Charles translation (1917), James Charlesworth's OTP, George Nickelsburg's Hermeneia commentary
• 2 Enoch: F.I. Andersen in Old Testament Pseudepigrapha
• 3 Enoch: Philip Alexander translation, Hugo Odeberg edition
• Dead Sea Scrolls: Geza Vermes translations, Florentino García Martínez editions
• General Collections: "The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha" (Charlesworth), "The Apocryphal Old Testament" (Sparks)

These texts offer windows into the rich diversity of ancient Jewish thought and the development of ideas that shaped Western religious traditions. They reveal a cosmos more complex and mysterious than canonical scriptures suggest - a universe populated by angels and demons, where heaven has architecture, where prophets journey through celestial realms, and where the boundary between human and divine is permeable to the righteous.