100 Things #38: The Book of Enoch.

[railenthe]

The history of the Bible is an interesting thing. A collection of stories culled from both the original Torah and writings created later, it is a repository of general scripture that a multitude of branches of Christianity take as sacred. (Some literally, but that’s not the point here.

Certain stories did not make it into the full text, known as the Canon. These are collectively called Apocrypha. Some texts are apocryphal because a) they may have incited heresy (Gospel of Judas), b) were generally disliked by specific people in charge (Song of Solomon, which—let’s face it, is basically the first written erotica), or c) they were just plain weird (Gospel of Thomas anyone?)

The Book of Enoch—or if we’re being really careful about technicalities, 2 Enoch (read as “second Enoch”) is the story of Enoch—the second Enoch if we’re being neurotic still. (I wonder if this was intentional. If not, it’s just weird.) Enoch, an ancestor of Noah, was evidently going about his business when sudden an archangel is like “HEY! LISTEN!” and drags him into something strange. Under the angel’s tutelage he learns the secrets of creation—including the ones that the Watchers, fallen angels, taught humanity against the supreme god’s will.

Stumbling over this fact, one of the Watchers petitions Enoch to act as a go between, trying to be let back into the heavens. It’s back and forth, as Enoch learns more about what is going on and what he has to do. He is forced to be the conduit through which the divine decree—permanent exile—is delivered.

It isn’t an easy message to deliver. In fact it’s such a difficult message to both deliver and take that neither Enoch nor the Archangels take it particularly well—there is a spat between Raphael and Michael, wanting to rush in and beg an alternative decision—ANY alternative but exile.

So yeah, fallen angels beg for mercy, don’t get it, Archangels concur and want to stop it. Not a message that the church would want out there. TO THE APOCRYPHA IT GOES.

There are a few good translations out there. The Book of Enoch is considered an important part of Ethiopian Christianity, though not generally accepted as canon. I recommend it—it is an interesting read, especially for comparative religious study or for metaphysics/mythology buffs.

Comments

[kuro_pantsu]

I really do need to try and translate some of the Saint Beast audio dramas for you - it takes some inspiration from the popular christian depiction of heaven but alters it enough that it resembles a bunch of mythologies (such as the four saint beasts from Asian culture or god being renamed 'Zeus') and centers around the discord on Heaven between the angels and Zeus. Archangels rebel (most notably in the form of Lucifer who looks like a palette swap of Sephiroth - no seriously - and two former members of the main heroes (who double as seme boyfriends for two of the party) and even the heroes question whether Zeus's orders are truly the right thing, all the whilst Zeus is losing his sanity due to overthrowing the old gods in the past and becoming aggressive over anyone threatening his idealized world. (But more importantly it's shonen-ai with a load of well known seiyuu. I'd recommend the audio dramas more as they are far better written but it might be worth checking out Saint Beast - Kouin Jojishi Tenshi Tan as that's the best of the OVA series and serves as a decent enough introduction.

With regards to the Book of Enoch itself, this reminds me how fascinating I used to find mythology and religious studies until school sucked all the fun out of it. The stories themselves are interesting but I find it so hard to come across a source that tells them well. (And the mad, evil 50-something thong-wearing 'I'm still a hip young teenager like you girls!' Religious Studies teacher that reduced me to tears almost every other lesson didn't help...) Have you got any recommendations for someone relatively n00bish?

The Apocrypha get gloriously weird.

[railenthe]

And Saint Beast sounds more and more fascinating every time I hear about it.

The Book of Enoch has actually inspired me for another project. Oddly, the most meta of the bunch will NOT be the future Metatron, but rather Enoch's oldest son Methuselah...

One of my favorite apocryphal books I heard about in Church History class (In high school. CATHOLIC high school.) At some point Mary asks Jesus how one achieves perfection. The question is followed by some trademark Jesus monologue-ing--


And then Jesus turns Mary into a man. o_O

[kuro_pantsu]

....I think the only thing I have in response to that is Wakamoto...

Well...at least it's a positive nod to transgender...?

[railenthe]

Biblical Apocrypha are wonderfully weird. XD