A phrase about the Book of Enochwith deep symbolic resonance and academic:

“Enoch represents the bridge between heaven and earth, between the revelation and mystery; his silence in the Genesis became a voice spoke over the millennia.”
— G. W. E. Nickelsburg, specialist in literature and apocalyptic of the Second Temple

1) What is and what is not “the Book of Enoch”

• 1 Enoch (also “Enoch ethiopian”) is a corpus jewish apocalyptic the period of the Second Temple, composed, and edited in several stages (III–I a. C., with possible added early s. I d. C.). Is preserved full ge'ez (ethiopian), with fragments in aramaic (Qumran) and Greek. Is pseudepigráfico: attributed to Enoch (Gen 5:21-24), but it is not of your authorship historical.
• 2 Enoch (slavic) and 3 Enoch (Hebrew) are works-different and post. In this report we try to only 1 Enoch. (Synthesis standard in modern criticism.)

2) Structure (macro-sections) and content

The critical edition and commentary of reference (Nickelsburg & VanderKam, Hermeneia) describe five books and two appendices brief:

1. Book of the Watchers (1-36): head of the “watchmen” (angels), origin of the Nephilim, the corruption of humanity, the judgment of the fallen angels (Azazel, Semihazah), travels of Enoch by the cosmos.
2. Parables or Similes (37-71): theology final judgment and figure of the “Son of Man / Chosen / Right” enthroned.
3. Book Astronomical or Luminaires (72-82): cosmology and solar calendar of 364 days revealed by Uriel.
4. Visions dream (83-90): “Revelation of the animals”: story symbolic of Israel until the time macabea and judgment.
5. Epistle of Enoch (91-105): exhortations, “Apocalypse of the Weeks” (history of the world in ten “weeks”).
   Appendices: Birth of Noah (106-107) and a close (108).

3) Transmission of textual and manuscripts

• Aramaic (Qumran): eleven fragments in the Cave 4 (siglos III–I a. C. for multiple parties), key to confirm the ancient pre-christian of 1 Enoch, and its writing by layers (e.g., 4Q208–211 for the Book Astronomical).
• Greek: passages preserved by Syncellus and the Papyrus of Akhmim (Cod. Panopolitanus, s. VI, discovered 1886/87).
• Ge'ez (ethiopian): witness full; families of manuscripts dated between s. XV–XIX; basis of modern translations.
• Critical view recent Enoch, aramaic and Qumran: Atkinson 2023.

4) Dating (by sections) and historical context

The critical match in that 1 Enoch is the composite structure, with dates staggered:

• Book of the Watchers: s. III–II. C. (pre-maccabean).
• Book Astronomical: attested in Qumran (4Q208–211) with a copy the beginning of s. II. C.; composition at least s. III. C. (terminus ante quem).
• Visions dream (Animal Apocalypse): normally time macabea (163-142 to. C. approx.).
• Epistle / Apocalypse of the Weeks: first half of the s. II. C.
• Parables (37-71): open discussion. Proposals from 50 to. C.–117 d. C.; the thesis very late (s. III. d. C.) of Milik is today mostly discarded. Lack of fragments at Qumran and in the Greek full complicates the dating.

5) major Themes and contributions of the theological-literary

a) Angelology and origin of evil:
The transgression of the watchers (teachings of illicit violence of the Nephilim) explains the corruption human and cosmic; God decrees the imprisonment and trial of the fallen angels (Azazel, Semihazah). (Shaft of the Book of the Watchers; the reception massive in traditions jewish and early christian).

(b) Eschatology and Messianism (the“Son of Man”):
The Parables presented to the “Son of Man / Chosen / Right” as figure enthroned judge of kings and powerful; it is one of the testimonials jews most developed on a agent heavenly trial prior to christianity, with parallels and echoes in the NT (and terminology thrones). The accurate identification and historicity of the title are discussed.

c) Calendar and cosmology:
The solar calendar of 364 days (Book Astronomical) is hallmark in Qumran and structure festivities and purity of the temporary community. Cosmology tripartite, tours, celestial, doors, astral, and revelation sapiens mediated by Uriel.

d) Historiography symbolic:
The “Apocalypse of the Animals” rewrites the history of Israel with allegories zoomorphic, culminating in judgment, and restoration (new / temple new Jerusalem, the resurrection of the righteous).

e) Ethics in key apocalyptic:
Dualism moral (righteous/wicked), revealed wisdom, conviction of violence and exploitation, hope re-creation of the right order (Epistle). (Synthesis in reference works.)

6) 1 Enoch and judaism in the Second Temple / Qumran

• Centrality in Qumran: the presence aramaic of 1 Enoch (especially Book Astronomical) indicates affinity doctrinal (calendar, angelology, ritual purity, expectation of judgment).
• Enoch works as “type celeste” and the archetype of the receiver of wisdom; her figure holds a “library enóquica” wide (Jubilees, Book of Giants, etc).

7) 1 Enoch and the New Testament

• Letter of Jude 14-15 explicitly quote 1 Enoch 1:9 (in the Greek tradition), which proves knowledge and authority in literary of Enoch in certain christian circles primitive. (Critical consensus).
• Echoes conceptual (not direct quotations) have been observed in the Gospels, 2 Peter, and Revelation (judgment, fallen angels, “Son of Man”), although the measurement of influences it is a matter of debate. (Synthesis, dissemination and academic).

8) canonical Status and historical reception

• In ancient christianity, 1 Enoch was widely circulated (e.g., Akhmim), but was outside the majority of the canons (except appointments and uses patristic).
• Today is canonical scripture in the Church Orthodox Tewahedo, Ethiopian and Eritrean (canon of 81 books; tradition ethiopian saved him full).
• In rabbinical judaism, and the most christian traditions, 1 Enoch is non-canonical, but high value historical-theological to understand the apocalipticismo jewish. (Picture encyclopedic).

9) critical Issues and open debates

• Date and provenance of the Parables: window 50 to. C.–117 d. C. (with minority positions outside that range). Absence in Qumran is not conclusive proof against their age.
• Identity of the “Son of Man”: what technical degree previous to christianity or development of literary enóquico singular? Chapter 71 and its relationship with Enoch same generated reading divergent.
• Textuality composed: layer publishers, variants of each aramaic/Greek/ethiopian, and material not preserved complicate the criticism of the text. (Hermeneia; specialized literature).

10) Chronology of reference (approximate)

• S. III–II. C.: composition Watchers and Astronomical (atest. Qumran).
• S. II. C.: Visions dream and sections of the Epistle.
• S. I a. C. I–d. C.: Parables, essays and closures. (Debate).
• S. IV–VI d. C.: testimonials Greek (Syncellus; Akhmim).
• Middle Ages: transmission ge'ez; ms. more old s. XV onwards.

11) Glossary minimum

• Watchers: a group of angels “watchers” descended, join unlawfully human and teach forbidden arts.
• Nephilim: hybrid giants; their violence motivated trial.
• Apocalypse of the animals: allegory zoomórfica of the history of Israel.
• Apocalypse of the Weeks: universal history in ten steps.
• Calendar of 364 days: pattern solar quarterly (364=52×7) key in Qumran.

12) why 1 Enoch matter today

• Is cornerstone to understand the apocalipticismo jewish and impact in christianity primitive language (of judgment, shapes, celestial, angelology).
• Illustrated diversity the judaism of the Second Temple (e.g., controversy calendar round).
• Shows how to the ancient authors reescribían Genesis 6 and articulated a theodicy: evil emerges not only of the freedom of man, but of the corruption angelica.

Frequently asked questions

Do you quote the NT to 1 Enoch? Yes: Jude 14-15 quote 1 Enoch 1:9 (Greek tradition). This is not “canonized” the work, but it shows your authority literary for Judas.

Why is it not canon outside of Ethiopia? By tradition, canonical and doctrinal discernment of jews and christians in the majority; even so, his historical-theological it is unanimously recognised.

Does the calendar of 364 days is enóquico or qumranita? Both 1 Enoch as articulates, Qumran what adopts and raises it to sign community.