Jude cites two events that are not recorded in the Old Testament: Michael's contest with Satan over the body of Moses (v. 9) and the prophecy of Enoch referred to in this question (vv. 14-15).

The Ascension of Moses: Origen refers to 'a work entitled The Ascension of Moses,' which he describes as 'a little treatise, of which the Apostle Jude makes mention in his Epistle' (De Principiis, III.2.1). This book is no longer extant.

The Book of Enoch: This book is extant, preserved by numerous manuscripts in Aramaic and Greek, and is part of the pseudepigrapha, a group of writings whose authorship is falsely attributed to biblical characters (the Greek word means falsely inscribed or falsely entitled). Thus this book was not written by Enoch. It is evidently a composite work, but scholars differ on the dates of composition of the various parts and when and how it was collected into a single work. Aramaic fragments of ten different MSS representing four different parts of the book were found at Qumran, indicating that the book in its various parts was probably originally written in Aramaic. Most scholars believe the various parts were written between 165 and 64 B.C. The passage cited by Jude in verses 14-15 is Enoch 1:9.

Concerning Jude's mention of these two events from the era of the OT, Archer writes,

It would be a logical fallacy to argue...that an inspired biblical author like Jude was strictly limited to the contents of the canonical Old Testament for all valid information as to the past. Both Stephen (in Acts 7) and the Lord Jesus (in Matt. 23) refer to historical episodes not recorded in the Old Testament. Apparently there was a valid and accurate body of oral tradition available to believers in the New Testament period; and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they were perfectly able to report such occurrences in connection with their teaching ministry (Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties [Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1982], p. 430).

Thus, the oral tradition that preserved these two events was either directly known by Jude, or he based his statements on these two books. The fact that The Book of Enoch preserves an accurate piece of history based on oral tradition does not mean that everything in that book is historically accurate or theologically valid.

Jude Quiz

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