The Dead Sea Scrolls found in the
caves of Qumran are of great interest in the venture of clarifying the history
and doctrine in existence between biblical times and the fixing of canon. Many
of the scrolls were penned in the second century B.C. and were in use at least
until the destruction of the second temple in 70 A.D. Similar scrolls to those
found in the eleven caves of Qumran were also found at the Masada stronghold
which fell in 73 A.D. Fragments of every book of the Old Testament except
Esther were found in the caves of Qumran, but so were many other books. Some of
these books are considered to have been of equal importance and influence to
the people of Qumran and to the writers and scholars of the time. Some of those
studying the scrolls found in Qumran were the writers of the New Testament.
Knowing this, one might
ask which of the dozens of non-canonical books most influenced the writers of
the New Testament. It is possible to ascertain the existence of certain
influences within the Bible context by using the Bible itself. The Bible can direct us to other
works in three ways. The work can be mentioned by name, as is the Book of
Jasher. The work can be quoted within the Bible text, as is the case with the
Book of Enoch. The existence of the work can be alluded to, as is the case of
the missing letter from the apostle Paul to the Corinthians.
In the case of those books named in
the Bible, one can set a list as the titles are named. The list is lengthier
than one might first suspect. Most of these works have not been found. Some
have been unearthed but their authenticity is questioned. Others have been
found and the link between scripture and scroll is generally accepted.
Following is a list of books mentioned in the Holy Bible.
The Book of Jasher: There are two
references to the book in the Old Testament:
2 Samuel
1:18 – Also he bade
them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in
the book of Jasher.
Joshua 10:13 - Is it not written in
the Book of Jasher? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not
hasten to go down for about a
whole day.
There are several books which have come to us entitled, “Book of Jasher.” One is an ethical treatise from the Middle Ages. It begins with a section on the Mystery of the Creation of the World: It is clearly unrelated to the Biblical Book of Jasher.
Another was published in 1829 supposedly translated by Flaccus Albinus Alcuinus. It opens with the Chapter 1 Verse 1 reading: "While it was the beginning, darkness overspread the face of nature." It is now considered a fake.
The third and most important is by Midrash, first translated into English in 1840. It opens with Chapter 1 Verse 1 reading: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and God created man in his own image." A comparison of Joshua 10:13 with Jasher 88:63-64 and 2Sam. 1:18 with Jasher 56:9 makes it clear that this Book of Jasher at least follows close enough with the Bible to be the Book of Jasher mentioned in the Bible.
Other books mentioned by name in the Bible are:
1. The Book of Wars of the
Lord: "Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord."
Num. 21:14
2. The Annals of Jehu:
"Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first to last, behold, they are
written in the annals of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is recorded in the Book
of the Kings of Israel." 2 Chronicles 20:34
3. The treatise of the
Book of the Kings: "As to his sons and the many oracles against him and the
rebuilding of the house of God, behold, they are written in the treatise of the
Book of the Kings. Then Amaziah his son became king in his place." 2
Chronicles 24:27
4. The Book of Records,
Book of the Chronicles of Ahasuerus: "Now when the plot was investigated
and found to be so, they were
both hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the Book of the Chronicles in
the king’s presence." ... "During that night the king could not sleep
so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were
read before the king." Esther 2:23; 6:1
5. The Acts of Solomon:
"Now the rest of the acts of Solomon and whatever he did, and his wisdom,
are they not written in the book of the Acts of Solomon?" 1 Kings 11:41
6. The Sayings of Hozai:
"His prayer also and how God was
entreated by him, and all his sin, his unfaithfulness, and the sites on which
he built high places and erected the Asherim and the carved images, before he
humbled himself, behold, they are written in the records of the Hozai." 2
Chronicles 33:19
7. The Chronicles of
David: "Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to count them, but did not finish; and because of this, wrath came upon
Israel, and the number was not included in the account of the Chronicles of
King David." 1 Chronicles 27:24
8. The Chronicles of
Samuel, Nathan, Gad: "Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are
written in the Chronicles of Samuel the seer, in the Chronicles of Nathan the
prophet and in the Chronicles of Gad the seer." 1 Chronicles 29:29
9. Samuel’s book: "Then
Samuel told the people the ordinances of the kingdom, and wrote them in the book and placed it before the Lord." 1 Samuel
10:25
10. The Records of Nathan
the prophet: "Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are
they not written in the Records of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of
Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam
the son of Nebat?" 2 Chronicles 9:29
11. The Prophecy of Ahijah
the Shilonite: "Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last,
are they not written in the Records of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy
of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning
Jeroboam the son of Nebat?" 2 Chronicles 9:29
12. The Treatise of the
Prophet Iddo: "Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways and his
words are written in the treatise of the prophet Iddo." 2 Chronicles 13:22
The existence of a book can be inferred as well, this is clearly seen
with several missing epistles.
Paul’s letter to the
church at Laodicea: "When this letter is read among you, have it also read
in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea."
Colossians 4:16 (Since three earlier manuscripts do not contain the words
"at Ephesus" in Eph 1:1, some have speculated that the letter coming
from Laodicea was in fact the letter of Ephesians. Apostolic fathers also
debated this possibility.)
In Paul’s first letter
to Corinth, he predated that letter by saying: "I wrote you in my letter
not to associate with immoral people" (1 Corinthians 5:9) (This could
merely be a reference to the present letter of 1 Corinthians.)
Of all
the books quoted, paraphrased, or referred to in the Bible, the Book of Enoch
has influenced the writers of the Bible as few others have. Even more
extensively than in the Old Testament, the writers of the New Testament were
frequently influenced by other writings, including the Book of Enoch.
It is not the purpose of this work
to make judgments as to the validity or worth of the Book of Enoch, but rather
to simply put forth a meaningful question. Is not the non-canonical book that
most influenced the thought and theology of the writers of the New Testament
worth further research and contemplation?
Before we continue in our study of
the Book of Enoch there are several questions we must keep in mind. If a book
is mentioned or quoted in the Bible is it not worthy of further study? If it is
worth investigating, is this the book of which the Bible speaks? What knowledge
or insight does it add to our understanding of the Bible or the men who wrote
it?
The Book of Enoch was once
cherished by Jews and Christians alike. It is read in certain Coptic Christian
Churches in Ethiopia. Two versions of the Book of Enoch exist today.
Most scholars date the First Book
of Enoch to sometime during the second
century B.C. We do not know what earlier oral tradition, if any, the
book contains. Enoch was considered inspired and authentic by certain Jewish
sects of the first century B.C. and remained popular for at least five hundred
years. The earliest Ethiopian text was apparently derived from a Greek
manuscript of the Book of Enoch, which itself was a copy of an earlier text.
The original was apparently written in the Semitic language, now thought to be
Aramaic.
The First Book of Enoch was
discovered in the 18th century. It was assumed to have been penned
after beginning of the Christian era. This theory was based upon the fact that
it had quotes and paraphrases as well as concepts found in the New Testament.
Thus, it was assumed that it was heavily influenced by writers such as Jude and
Peter.
However, recent discoveries of
copies of the book among the Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran prove the book
was in existence long before the time of Jesus Christ. These scrolls force a
closer look and reconsideration. It becomes obvious that the New Testament did
not influence the Book of Enoch; on the contrary, the Book of Enoch influenced
the New Testament. The date of the original writing upon which the second
century B.C. Qumran copies were based is shrouded in obscurity. Likewise lost
are the sources of the oral traditions that came to be the Book of Enoch.
It has been largely the opinion of
historians that the book does not really contain the authentic words of the
ancient Enoch, since he would have lived several thousand years earlier than
the first known appearance of the book attributed to him. However, the first
century Christians accepted the Book of Enoch as inspired, if not authentic. They
relied on it to understand the origin and purpose of many things, from angels
to wind, sun, and stars. In fact, many of the key concepts used by Jesus Christ
himself seem directly connected to terms and ideas in the Book of Enoch.
