Enoch?

[gnostic]

Is the antediluvian patriarch Enoch in the Gnostic literature?

I would have thought he would be popular in Gnosticism, but so far I have not come across him.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Is the antediluvian patriarch Enoch in the Gnostic literature?

I would have thought he would be popular in Gnosticism, but so far I have not come across him.

I have some resources that would help. If you have access to a good library, you can access:

The Apocalypse of Zostrianos (Nag Hammadi VIII .1) and the Book of the Secrets of Enoch by Madeleine Scopello in Vigiliae Christianae Vol. 34, No. 4 (Dec., 1980), pp. 376-385

The Jewish Background of the Gnostic Sophia Myth
George W. MacRae in Novum Testamentum > Vol. 12, Fasc. 2 (Apr., 1970), pp. 86-101

The Book of Enoch in Reference to the New Testament and Early Christian Antiquity by Henry Hayman in The Biblical World > Vol. 12, No. 1 (Jul., 1898), pp. 37-46.

Gnostic Interpretation of the Old Testament in the "Testimony of Truth" (NHC IX, 3) by Birger A. Pearson in The Harvard Theological Review > Vol. 73, No. 1/2, Dedicated to the Centennial of the Society of Biblical Literature (Jan., 1980), pp. 311-319.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

I don't have time to pull out quotes this morning... you have an excellent question that interests me as well. I will have time to give to this tomorrow morning.: hamster :

 

[angellous_evangellous]

The Apocalypse of Zostrianos (Nag Hammadi VIII .1) and the Book of the Secrets of Enoch by Madeleine Scopello in Vigiliae Christianae Vol. 34, No. 4 (Dec., 1980), pp. 376-385

In this article Madeleine Scopello analyzes two direct quotes from the Slavonic Book of the Secrets of Enoch (Enoch II) in the Coptic Apocalypse of Zostrianos (Nag Hammadi 8.1). The Apocalypse changes the name of Enoch to Zostrainos.

Zostrainos:

"I received the image of the Glories there. I became like one of them."


2 Enoch:

"I looked at myself and I was as one of his Glorious ones and there was no difference of aspect."

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Zostrainos:

"Behold, Zostrainos, you have heard all these things that the gods do not know and which are unattainable to the angels."


2 Enoch

"Not to my angels have I explained my secret and to you I explain it today."

 

[angellous_evangellous]

The Book of Enoch in Reference to the New Testament and Early Christian Antiquity by Henry Hayman in The Biblical World > Vol. 12, No. 1 (Jul., 1898), pp. 37-46.

Ok this one does not mention Gnostic sources, but it is interesting to compare the use of Enoch in the proto-Orthodox canon to the Gnostics.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Gnostic Interpretation of the Old Testament in the "Testimony of Truth" (NHC IX, 3) by Birger A. Pearson in The Harvard Theological Review > Vol. 73, No. 1/2, Dedicated to the Centennial of the Society of Biblical Literature (Jan., 1980), pp. 311-319.

In footnote 12, page 313 Pearson suggests that two Gnostic writings could be depedent on 1 Enoch 6-11: Ap. John BG 74, 1-5; cf. Val. Exp. NHC IX 38, 34-37.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

The Jewish Background of the Gnostic Sophia Myth
George W. MacRae in Novum Testamentum > Vol. 12, Fasc. 2 (Apr., 1970), pp. 86-101.

This one is very useful - too much to list here. Good analysis of Enoch, Apocalypse of John, and other Gnostic and Jewish texts. It seems that scholars argue for dependence on Enoch books for some ideas in Gnosticism rather than Enoch himself becoming an important Gnostic figure.

 

[gnostic]

Thanks, angellous_evangellous. A frubal to you.

I have not come across the Apocalypse of John, AE. Is this just another name for the New Testament Bible's last book - The Revelation to John?

If so, then I am just more used to referring it to as Revelation, instead of Apocalypse.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Thanks, angellous_evangellous. A frubal to you.

I have not come across the Apocalypse of John, AE. Is this just another name for the New Testament Bible's last book - The Revelation to John?

If so, then I am just more used to referring it to as Revelation, instead of Apocalypse.

I double checked and it is the Apocryphon of John rather than Apocalypse. A Freudian slip I guess. So it's not the canonical Apocalypse that is known as Revelation to John...

 

[gnostic]

Then I've heard and read the "Apocalypse of John".

Actually, the Apocryphon of John is John's "apocalypse". So is John's Revelation. Both have apocalypse themes. Whichever book you choose, you are right. :biglaugh:

 

[gnostic]

I have read Zostrianos, but didn't get far and didn't understand much. There are lots of gaps in this text, due to the damage of the papyri, which is why I felt frustrated :banghead3 trying to read and understand Zostrianos.

But now that you've mentioned it, Zostrianos and Enoch seemed to be the same person. Both visited heavens and returned to tell their stories.

I must be blind to not see the similarities between the two men. :cover:

 

[Radiant_Light]

why would they exclude such a vital part of the Scriptures?

 

[angellous_evangellous]

why would they exclude such a vital part of the Scriptures?

If you're referring to gaps in the papyrii, it's not an exclusion but a coincidence of preservation.