June 29, 2025

    Jude is using a well-known contemporary source as an example of the point he is making. In doing so Jude does not force us to conclude that 1^st Enoch was inspired by God or that it was written by Enoch. He is simply using a truth expressed by an influential contemporary work to bolster his warning. The most we can say is that Jude guided by inspiration believes the statement describing judgement to be a true warning worth heeding. 

     It should be noted that Jude is not the only New Testament writer to do this. The Apostle Paul quoted a number of popular writings to make various points in his teaching:

• Epimenides and Aratus Acts 17:28 “For in him we live and move and have our being”
• Menander I Cor 15:33 “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die”
• Epimenides Titus 1:12 “the Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons!” 

     Jude may have used a quote from a different pseudepigraphical book “The assumption of Moses” in verse 9. Both Clement of Alexandria and Origen attribute the quote to that work. 

     The same principle is at play, Jude is using a cultural reference that his readers would be familiar with to make his point. As mentioned above, these examples do not mean that Paul or Jude affirm anything more than the specific quote used. It is still a common practice for a teacher to use  a quotation that hearers or readers will understand and identify with. We should not read too much into the fact that New Testament authors sometimes do this. 

     Ancient religious writing can help us gain insights into the concepts with which people were familiar. They can also help translators learn about words and phrases. They may supply important historical context, helping us understand the meaning of scripture.

     That said, there was a reason ancient Jews didn’t accept 1^st Enoch as an inspired book or include it in the Bible. Rather, they saw it as human speculation not divine revelation. 

     Lest we miss the point, we would all do well to heed Jude’s  warning as it remains as important today as it was for those who first read it. 

Kevin Cleary