The Book of Enoch & the Bibleনমুনা

Enoch In The New Testament - Part 2

Peter tells us a strange tale of sinful angels in 2 Peter chapter 2. He explains that God did not spare these angels for their crimes, and he locked them away. These angels were to remain in this prison until it was time for their judgment.

Who is Peter talking about? The Devil and his angels are still at work in the world today, and demonic powers are active throughout the Bible. Last time, Jude told us that the sinful angels of Genesis 6 were kept in everlasting chains under darkness until the coming great day of judgment.

Neither Peter nor Jude explain where they get this information, and Genesis 6 never tells what happened to these angels.

Both writers are describing events detailed in several chapters of the Book of Enoch. “A severe sentence has gone out against you to put you in chains.” (En 13:1 MSV) One of the leaders of the fallen angels takes extra blame, being singled out by God for how terrible his sins are:

“Bind Azazel hand and foot,

and cast him into the darkness.

Make an opening in the desert of Dudael,

and cast him in.

Place rough and jagged rocks on him,

and cover him with darkness;

let him stay there forever,

and cover his face that he may not see light.

On the day of the great judgment,

he will be cast into the fire.” (En 10:4-6 MSV)

When Peter said these angels were cast into “hell,” he used the word Tartarus, a Greek word for a lower hell reserved for the most wicked of humans, gods, and demons. The Jews adopted this word to describe the prison for the angels awaiting judgment.

2 Peter 2:1-10 is one long sentence, drawing together the ideas of these angels who sinned with the pre-flood world of Noah. He then ties them to the sexual sin of Sodom and Gomorrah. Peter continues this thought in chapter 2 by describing false teachers. In Enoch, chapters 7 & 8 describe these fallen angels as false teachers, spreading their corruption to mankind.

We’re beginning to see a pattern, aren’t we? Enoch is consistent with the teachings of the Bible. Also, the biblical authors expected their readers to know Enoch by including these details not found elsewhere in the Bible. We’ll explore these ties further next.