ASK FR BITAJU | KAIROS GLOBAL | DECEMBER 2019

Author: Fr Bitaju

Q 23. Why is the book of Enoch not included in the Catholic Bible?

Alain Verghese, Delhi

The book of Enoch was already in existence much before the birth of Christ. Early Christians considered it to be part of scripture, as the Church Fathers have referred to this mysterious book in their writings. The second and third century Fathers of the Church like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria have used the Book of Enoch in their writings. As a result, this book was widely known and read during the first three centuries after Christ. But the Council of Laodicea (363-364 AD) discredited this and many other books, after which it gradually passed out of circulation. 

It is important to note that some books mentioned in the Bible were not inspired books but are simply used as historical sources. For example, St. Paul quotes books by pagan writers like Aratus, Menander and Epimenides (Acts 17: 28, I Cor 15:33, and Tit 1:12 respectively). There are other books mentioned in the Bible that contain genuine revelation, though these books as a whole are considered to be not divinely inspired. The book of Enoch comes under this category, that is quoted in Jude 14. 

Another reason is that the list of books left us by several early Church Fathers regarding the canon of the New Testament does not include the book of Enoch. Though some books were challenged later but never with much success. Though it was highly valued by some of the early Church Fathers, they did not refer to it as scripture. 

It is noteworthy that there were several books like the book of Enoch in circulation during the time of finalizing the books of the Bible by the Church Fathers. Some such books were the book of the Assumption of Moses, book of Jashar, books of the Kings of Judah and Israel, the Memoirs of Nehemiah, etc. Yet, none of these were discerned to be fully inspired and containing genuine revelation by the Fathers of the Church who prepared the canon of the Bible, just like the book of Enoch.   Interestingly Jews, Roman Catholics and Protestants do not accept the book of Enoch as inspired.