The Book of Enoch often surfaces in sincere Bible study groups, especially among people who take Scripture seriously and want to follow God faithfully.
Problems arise when Enoch is read as if it were written in the same way — and with the same authority — as Genesis, Isaiah, or the Gospels.
This article explains what the Book of Enoch is, how it was intended to be read, and why it has never been treated as Scripture by the historic people of God.
📜 What Kind of Book Is the Book of Enoch?
The Book of Enoch is an example of Jewish apocalyptic literature. This is a highly symbolic genre that uses visions, imagery, numbers, and cosmic language to communicate spiritual meaning.
Apocalyptic writing is not trying to describe physical reality in a scientific way. It communicates truth through symbol, contrast, and exaggeration.
Biblical books that use similar language include:
- Daniel (especially chapters 7–12)
- Zechariah
- Parts of Ezekiel
- Revelation
Reading apocalyptic literature literally, line by line, is a category error - like reading poetry as if it were a legal contract. If you want a quick list of common mistakes about this book you can go to the Apologetic Fallacy section and read more in the article on category errors.
🧠 How the Book of Enoch Was Historically Read
Enoch was never read as a textbook, map, or scientific description of the universe.
Ancient Jewish readers understood it as:
- A visionary meditation on Genesis 6
- A warning against rebellion
- A symbolic critique of injustice and corruption
Even when it was quoted or referenced, it was treated as illustrative, not authoritative.
This is the same way later Christians quoted Greek poets (Acts 17:28) without treating their writings as Scripture.
📚 Canonical Status of the Book of Enoch
There are three sources that might give the Book of Enoch the status of Scripture. Jewish Canon, Catholic Canon, Protestant Canon. These will be discussed separately.
🕍 In the Hebrew (Jewish) Canon
The Book of Enoch was never included in the Hebrew Bible.
Jewish communities preserved, read, and discussed many ancient writings, but they maintained clear boundaries around what counted as Scripture.
Enoch did not meet those criteria and was excluded long before Christianity existed.
✝️ In the Protestant Canon
Protestant Bibles follow the Hebrew canon for the Old Testament.
As a result, Enoch is treated as a historical and literary work — interesting, but not inspired Scripture.
⛪ In the Catholic Canon
The Catholic Church also does not recognise the Book of Enoch as Scripture.
While Catholic tradition includes additional Old Testament books (the Deuterocanon), Enoch is not among them.
End Note:
Note: There is a minority that have canonised the Book of Enoch. They are the Ethiopian & Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches. They followed the Ethiopian Jewish Canon. This is a unique historical case and should not be used to override Jewish or early Christian consensus. The issue never really was whether or not Enoch was scripture or just an historic commentary. It was in its proper reading and understanding. As an apocalyptic writing you are committing a grave error by reading it literally. It is not talking about physical things but using imagery and symbolism to comment on spiritual things!
⚠️ Why Literal Readings Cause Serious Problems
When symbolic literature is read as literal description, it produces confident but unstable conclusions.
Claims such as a flat earth arise not because the Bible teaches them, but because genre has been ignored.
The same method could just as easily prove:
- God has wings (Psalm 91)
- Mountains literally clap their hands (Isaiah 55)
- Jesus is a physical door (John 10)
SOS does not mean “read everything literally.” It means reading carefully, responsibly, and in context.
People can misuse Enoch in two category errors, The first and biggest is that they ignore its symbolic apocalyptic genre; the second is that they mistake it for authoritative scripture when it is a commentary on scripture.
🧭 How Enoch Should Be Used (If at All)
The Book of Enoch can be:
- A historical window into Second Temple Jewish thought
- A literary reflection on Genesis themes
- A cautionary example of speculative theology
It should never be used to:
- Override Scripture
- Define doctrine
- Create new belief tests
- Judge the faithfulness of others
Putting This Back Under Scripture
Scripture interprets non-scripture — not the other way around.
Faithfulness is shown not by chasing hidden knowledge, but by careful obedience to what God has clearly revealed.
Zuko would say: confidence is not the same as correctness.
← Return to: The Bible Timeline — Order, Writing, and History
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