The book of Enoch is one of the most talked about extra-biblical texts, filled with wild accounts of fallen angels, heavenly visions and end-times judgment. The text details stories of angels who left their place in heaven, intermingled with humanity and faced divine punishment. These themes have sparked curiosity for centuries, but while fascinating, the book is not part of the biblical canon and has long been a source of debate among Christians. Teachers warn against elevating it above its place as an ancient Jewish writing.
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Revivalist Isaiah Saldivar recently addressed the issue during his verse-by-verse teaching on 1 John 5 and Jude. He acknowledged the historical interest of the book of Enoch but made clear it must never be treated as inspired Scripture. “The book of Enoch could be a valuable historical resource,” Saldivar said. “But the book of Enoch is not canon.” He explained that it gives readers a glimpse into what Jewish communities thought before the time of Christ, especially about fallen angels and judgment, but it cannot form the basis of Christian belief.
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Saldivar also highlighted the moment in Jude where the writer quotes directly from Enoch. “Jude even, like I just said, quotes him,” he said. This reference often causes confusion among Christians who wonder if the book should be considered part of the Bible. Saldivar explained that quoting from a work does not elevate the entire text to inspired status, pointing out that Paul also quoted pagan poets in Acts without endorsing their writings as Scripture.
While Saldivar did not discourage people from reading Enoch, he gave strong caution on how it should be approached. “Yes, I personally think you can read it, but I don’t think you should treat it as the Bible or build your doctrine on it,” he said. “And I think you need to read it with discernment. Use the Bible as your filter.” For him, any insight from Enoch must pass the test of Scripture. If something contradicts the Word of God, it must be set aside.
He went further, warning against preachers who misuse Enoch to create sensational teachings. “I’m not going to start preaching out of Enoch or doing a whole bunch of videos out of Enoch said this and creating theology on it,” Saldivar said. Instead, he pointed his listeners back to the sufficiency of the Bible, which he said is the only authoritative source for Christian life and doctrine.
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The book of Enoch remains a captivating piece of ancient literature, but as Saldivar emphasizes, Christians should handle it carefully. It may be worth reading for historical understanding, yet it should never be elevated to the level of Scripture. Following Saldivar’s advice, believers would do best to treat it as a document of history, not divine revelation.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
