Book of Enoch the Prophet (Secret Doctrine Reference Series) (Hardcover)

by Richard Laurence (Editor, Translator) "IN the Authorized Version of the Epistle of Jude, we read the following words:- "Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold,..." (more)
Key Phrases: Archbishop Laurence, Epistle of Jude, University of Oxford (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This is a reprint of the Apocryphal Book of Enoch: The Prophet which was first discovered in Abyssinia in the year 1773 by a Scottish explorer named James Bruce. Bruce, a sort of 18th century Indiana Jones, may have seen the Ark of Covenant at Axum, and was able to obtain the ancient Coptic Christian text, approximately 2000 years old. In 1821 The Book of Enoch was translated by Richard Laurence and published in a number of successive editions, culminating in the 1883 edition. Like the Dead Sea Scrolls, or the Nag Hammadi Library, the Book of Enoch, translated from the original Ethiopian Coptic script, is a rare book that was suppressed by the early church and thought destroyed. Today it is back in print in this expanded, deluxe edition, using the original 1883 revised text. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Wizards Bookshelf (June 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0913510017
• ISBN-13: 978-0913510018
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #810,722 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

131 of 140 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Enoch and the Bible, June 19, 2000

By	benjamin (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Enoch the Prophet (Secret Doctrine Reference Series) (Paperback)

I find it absolutely fascinating the controversy that this book has created.

Concerning whether or not this book should be incorporated into the so-called "canon," I do not feel that I am qualified to speak. However, I would like to attempt to clarify a few of the supposed contradictions between I Enoch and the Bible.

As far as 2 Peter 2 goes, the context of the passage on angels (v. 11) is that angels do not blashpheme God in the same way that humans do (see the Peshitta translation of the Bible by George M. Lamsa - it is a bit clearer).

When it comes to Jude and his epistle, the idea of his quoting Enoch sarcastically is absolutely assinine - just read the Epistle of Jude.

Timothy names Jesus as the supreme intercessor between God and man. In a more general sense of the word, however, there were many people who acted as intercessors between the people of Israel and God (such as Moses, the greatest of all the prophets next to Jesus!).

Finally, Jesus said that in Heaven - or rather, in the world to come - people would not marry each other. However, according to I Enoch, the angels had sex with humans, which did not necessarily involve being married to them.

Concerning the "mythical" aspects of Enoch, they are no more "far fetched" than anything in Scripture.

I Enoch is absolutely fascinating. Enoch is assumed up into Heaven, travels through the Heavens, is told secrets of the coming judgment and the messianic age, sees the workings of Heaven, and pronounces judgements upon the wicked angels.

Although I do recommend that one reads this book since it does, according to Jude, contain prophecy, I recommend it most of all for the sake of improving one's education. Whether or not you believe that it should be in the Bible, it is an important piece of literature and even if it isn't accepted as Scripture by most people, that doesn't mean that it is any less important or worthy of one's time or attention.

As far as this translation goes, it is a bit outdated (which is why I only gave it 4 stars). If you can afford it, buy:

Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Vol. 1: Apocalyptic Literature and Testaments.

Otherwise, this or the R. H. Charles version will suffice.

91 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of The Book of Enoch the Prophet, December 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Enoch the Prophet (Secret Doctrine Reference Series) (Paperback)

I agree wholeheartedly with the scholars who say that THE BOOK OF ENOCH has been tampered with. There are two kinds of verses in THE BOOK OF ENOCH. Verses that are very closely related to the Bible and verses that seem to be mostly folklore. Even though the book has some folklore in it; it should not be ignored. The verses that are closely related to the Bible are worth paying attention to because they re-iterate some of the most basic teachings in the Bible. Teachings such as not oppressing our fellow man and not forgetting to pay attention to our Creator. A good example of the folklore in the BOOK OF ENOCH is the super- natural birth of NOAH in the first part of Ch. 105. Some of the interesting things in the BOOK OF ENOCH are: (1) GOD had wanted to completely break-up the Earth and create another asteroid belt around the SUN but ENOCH asked him not to do it so he didn't do it. (Ch. 82- 83). (2) The Overview of Earth's history from Creation until beyond the Final Judgement. (the footnotes provided are very helpful). (Ch. 84-89). (3) EVE gave birth to many children. (84:4-12). (4) I've never before heard King Saul's life summarized as the one "...who had laid aside his glory." (88:69,71). (5) The "elect", who are mentioned in both the O.T. and N.T., are mentioned 25 times in THE BOOK OF ENOCH. (1:1,2,7;6:9,11... 61:11,14,15). The judgements in THE BOOK OF ENOCH basically agree with the judge- ments in the Bible. The quality of paper and size of type in this paperback are above average. In Ch. 104:10,11 it speaks of those who will rejoice because books of joy, integrity and great wisdom will be given to them. I too rejoice because I have a copy of this wonderful book.

106 of 118 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Laurence's Enoch, August 15, 2000

By	"lemke33" (Mountain View, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Enoch the Prophet (Secret Doctrine Reference Series) (Paperback)

The Book of Enoch is a hodgepodge of various materials. I find the mythology of the first eighteen chapters more exciting than some of the relatively opaque cosmological and apocalpyptic sections that follow (though the prophetic parts are suggestive). The story of the revolt and defeat of the Watchers is beautiful and tragic mythology which will appeal to anyone interested in fine literature or curious to learn more about angels or the "giants" frequently (and confusingly) mentioned in Genesis and other OT books. Laurence's translation of Enoch (the first translation into English after the Ethiopic text was discovered by a Scottish adventurer in the 18th century) has been criticized as inferior. If you are looking for precision of translation, you had best seek more recent versions. But if you are looking for a good read (Biblical and moving rather than scholarly), you can't do better than Laurence. His is by far the most poetic translation, beautifully punctuated in a unique style influenced by early English translations of the Bible. Enjoy--and may Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Sarakiel, Uriel, Phanuel and the other good angels watch over you.