Some maintain that Jude quotes from the apocryphal book of Enoch. Often, this is put forward as a statement of fact in order to move forward to the much “larger” discussions regarding the meaning of extra-Biblical quotes, their place in Scripture, and the question of their inspiration.
The book of Enoch is part of what’s known as the Apocrypha which is a collection of ancient writings providing commentary on Biblical events – some even credited as being authored by Bible characters. There is also a subset called the “Biblical apocrypha” — apocryphal writings still included in some denomination’s Bibles today, even if under a “special” designation. These works, including the book of Enoch, are generally considered to be uninspired.
apocrypha
How Scripture answers "Did Jude quote from the book of Enoch?"
Jude did not quote the book of Enoch1, but rather attributes the quote to Enoch, a specific individual we know that lived before Noah2. What Jude does do is amplify Enoch, the man. We know he was righteous all his days23, but now we know he was also a prophet of God (or spokesman for God, or speaking God’s literal words). As many other New Testament/inspired writers do4, Jude applies and defines a prophet’s prophecy in the context of the New Testament gospel message. A divine and inspired interpretation of a prophetic saying. In other words, no guesswork is required by us!
The fact that this prophesy isn’t recorded elsewhere in Scripture isn’t relevant. Rather, just as a true prophet would speak, these words are completely consistent with other statements about God’s judgment on false teachers.
Answer built on scripture-blocks below
It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these people: the Lord comes with ten thousands of His holy ones to execute judgment and convict the ungodly of their ungodly deeds and of the harsh things ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.
Jude is writing a brief, but stern letter of warning “to those who are called” (vs 1) to “contend for the faith” (vs 3) and remaining obedient. He also warns about false teachers (vs 4), but continues to give several examples from the Old Testament of those that did not remain faithful (for various reasons) and were condemned as a result. It is these false teachers and generally those “following their own sinful desires” (vs 16) that Jude says Enoch was prophesying about in his statement of judgment for their “deeds of ungodliness” (vs 15).
Applying Jude 1:14-15 to this question...
Jude testifies that Enoch (not the “book of” but rather a specific individual) prophesied about the coming of the Lord to judge the world.
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
Enoch was 65 when he had Methuselah, and lived another 300 years having other children. He walked with (obeyed) God, living 365 years and was no more since God took him.
The lineage of Adam(1), recording his descendants: Seth(2), Enosh(3), Kenan(4), Mahalalel(5), Jared(6), and Enoch(7).
Applying Genesis 5:21-24 to this question...
Jude1 is quoting from the Enoch that lived before Noah. He was a righteous man that God honored with an ascension without physical death.
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
Because of his faith, Enoch was taken up by God so that he would not see death. He lived a life that was pleasing to God.
The Hebrews writer accounting many of the “heroes of faith.”
Applying Hebrews 11:5 to this question...
Enoch was a man of great faith.
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
On the last day of the feast Jesus stood up and yelled that if anyone was thirsty, they should come to Him to drink and that whoever believed in Him would lead to what scripture said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” What He said was referring to the Holy Spirit which would be given to anyone who believed in him after his glorification.
Jesus has begun his public ministry, and He’s begun to stir up Jerusalem with his controversial teaching and popularity. On this occasion, Jesus has gone “privately” (vs 10) up to Judea for the Feast of Booths (vs 2), and it is the last “great” day.
Jesus makes a summary statement about what “Scripture has said”. It’s not a direct quote from any one passage, but a portion or concept well documented in Scripture, including His conversation with the woman at the well (John 4) and several other poignant statements in the prophets:
- “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Rev 7:17)
- “O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.” (Jer 17:13)
- “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isa 12:3)
- “Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.” (Ezk 47:1ff)
Applying John 7:37-39 to this question...
John confirms the meaning of Jesus’ statement about “living water”, applying it to the Holy Spirit that would be given to all who believe in Him.
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“Look, he comes with the myriads of his holy ones,
to execute judgment on all,
and to destroy all the wicked,
and to convict all humanity
for all the wicked deeds that they have done,
and the proud and hard words that wicked sinners
spoke against him.”
-1 Enoch 1:9
I have a hard time believing that Jude 1:14-15 was simply a reference to the person Enoch and not the book.
Thanks for your comment and perspective. As far as scripture goes, Jude’s only claim is that Enoch “prophesied saying” (e.g. spoke/preached). For example, he doesn’t say something like, “As Enoch wrote…” and of course does not reference any book of Enoch. Our objective is to make conclusions as far as is allowed by scripture. Beyond that, we just don’t know.