Jesus once asked “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
The Book of Enoch was very popular in Jesus’ time. It seems scholarly opinion tends to believe this included the passages about the Son of Man, even though they are not found in Dead Sea Scroll fragments of the Book of Enoch.
Reality check: Were the ancients aware in Old Testament times of these passages describing the Son of Man? If they were, we would expect the Old Testament to have some evidence of this. Is there any?
Where would such evidence be most likely to appear in Old Testament scriptures? Did Abraham know about the Book of Enoch? Writings from Jesus’ time suggest Abraham was aware of the book. Would that mean Abraham knew about the Son of Man? Is there any evidence he did? The Book of Genesis does not mention it. However Jesus did say “Abraham saw my day and rejoiced”. How did Abraham know about Jesus and His day? One way might be these passages in the Book of Enoch.
The other most obvious place to find the Book of Enoch evidenced in Old Testament scriptures is the Book of Daniel which has so many similarities with it that it implies one influenced the other. No passage shows greater similarity than the seventh chapter:
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, a coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”
— The Book of Daniel chapter 7
Compare this to chapter 46 of the Book of Enoch and you see the similarities. Now note that this passages is from the sections of the Book of Enoch missing from Dead Sea Scrolls (those publicity available at least) which mention the Son of Man.
“And there I saw One who had a head of days,
And His head was white like wool,
And with Him was another being whose countenance had the appearance of a man,
And his face was full of graciousness, like one of the holy angels.
And I asked the angel who went with me and showed me all the hidden things, concerning that Son of Man, who he was, and whence he was, (and) why he went with the Head of Days? And he answered and said unto me:
This is the son of Man who hath righteousness,
With whom dwelleth righteousness,
And who revealeth all the treasures of that which is hidden,
Because the Lord of Spirits hath chosen him,
And whose lot hath the pre-eminence before the Lord of Spirits in uprightness for ever.
And this Son of Man whom thou hast seen
Shall †raise up† the kings and the mighty from their seats,
[And the strong from their thrones]
And shall loosen the reins of the strong,
And break the teeth of the sinners.
[And he shall put down the kings from their thrones and kingdoms]
Because they do not extol and praise Him,
Nor humbly acknowledge whence the kingdom was bestowed upon them.
And he shall put down the countenance of the strong,
And shall fill them with shame.”
— The Book of Enoch chapter 46
So if Daniel had translated the Book of Enoch or at least if he had a copy in a language he could read (and clearly he was a brilliant scholar of his time) and he knew this passage in particular, then he would have known about the Son of Man. What other information about the Son of Man would he have known? The following passage shows he could have known that this Son of Man had existed in the time of Enoch who met Him when ascending to heaven. And Daniel would have believed that the same Son of Man was the one like a son of man he himself had seen in his vision (Daniel chapter 7).
“And it came to pass after this that his name during his lifetime was raised aloft to that Son of Man and to the Lord of Spirits from amongst those who dwell on the earth. And he was raised aloft on the chariots of the spirit and his name vanished among them. And from that day I was no longer numbered amongst them: and he set me between the two winds, between the North and the West, where the angels took the cords to measure for me the place for the elect and righteous. And there I saw the first fathers and the righteous who from the beginning dwell in that place.
— The Book of Enoch chapter 70
So as Jesus asked, do you believe in the Son of Man?
“Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’
‘Who is he, sir?’ the man asked. ‘Tell me so that I may believe in him.’
Jesus said, ‘You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.’”
— The Gospel of John chapter 9
The Book of Enoch was very popular in Jesus’ time. It seems scholarly opinion tends to believe this included the passages about the Son of Man, even though they are not found in Dead Sea Scroll fragments of the Book of Enoch.
Reality check: Were the ancients aware in Old Testament times of these passages describing the Son of Man? If they were, we would expect the Old Testament to have some evidence of this. Is there any?
Where would such evidence be most likely to appear in Old Testament scriptures? Did Abraham know about the Book of Enoch? Writings from Jesus’ time suggest Abraham was aware of the book. Would that mean Abraham knew about the Son of Man? Is there any evidence he did? The Book of Genesis does not mention it. However Jesus did say “Abraham saw my day and rejoiced”. How did Abraham know about Jesus and His day? One way might be these passages in the Book of Enoch.
The other most obvious place to find the Book of Enoch evidenced in Old Testament scriptures is the Book of Daniel which has so many similarities with it that it implies one influenced the other. No passage shows greater similarity than the seventh chapter:
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, a coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”
— The Book of Daniel chapter 7
Compare this to chapter 46 of the Book of Enoch and you see the similarities. Now note that this passages is from the sections of the Book of Enoch missing from Dead Sea Scrolls (those publicity available at least) which mention the Son of Man.
“And there I saw One who had a head of days,
And His head was white like wool,
And with Him was another being whose countenance had the appearance of a man,
And his face was full of graciousness, like one of the holy angels.
And I asked the angel who went with me and showed me all the hidden things, concerning that Son of Man, who he was, and whence he was, (and) why he went with the Head of Days? And he answered and said unto me:
This is the son of Man who hath righteousness,
With whom dwelleth righteousness,
And who revealeth all the treasures of that which is hidden,
Because the Lord of Spirits hath chosen him,
And whose lot hath the pre-eminence before the Lord of Spirits in uprightness for ever.
And this Son of Man whom thou hast seen
Shall †raise up† the kings and the mighty from their seats,
[And the strong from their thrones]
And shall loosen the reins of the strong,
And break the teeth of the sinners.
[And he shall put down the kings from their thrones and kingdoms]
Because they do not extol and praise Him,
Nor humbly acknowledge whence the kingdom was bestowed upon them.
And he shall put down the countenance of the strong,
And shall fill them with shame.”
— The Book of Enoch chapter 46
So if Daniel had translated the Book of Enoch or at least if he had a copy in a language he could read (and clearly he was a brilliant scholar of his time) and he knew this passage in particular, then he would have known about the Son of Man. What other information about the Son of Man would he have known? The following passage shows he could have known that this Son of Man had existed in the time of Enoch who met Him when ascending to heaven. And Daniel would have believed that the same Son of Man was the one like a son of man he himself had seen in his vision (Daniel chapter 7).
“And it came to pass after this that his name during his lifetime was raised aloft to that Son of Man and to the Lord of Spirits from amongst those who dwell on the earth. And he was raised aloft on the chariots of the spirit and his name vanished among them. And from that day I was no longer numbered amongst them: and he set me between the two winds, between the North and the West, where the angels took the cords to measure for me the place for the elect and righteous. And there I saw the first fathers and the righteous who from the beginning dwell in that place.
— The Book of Enoch chapter 70
So as Jesus asked, do you believe in the Son of Man?
“Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’
‘Who is he, sir?’ the man asked. ‘Tell me so that I may believe in him.’
Jesus said, ‘You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.’”
— The Gospel of John chapter 9
