About Enoch

It is worth instructing that you go through this with an unbiased mindset.

Genesis 5:18-24(KJV)

18. And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:

19. And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

20. And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.

21. And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

22. And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

23. And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

24. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; FOR GOD TOOK HIM.

"Took" in the Hebraic lexicon means to carry from one position to another.

Enoch's body wasn't found. Moses, who though his body wasn't found as well (Deut. 34:5-6), was confirmed to have died. Unlike Moses (who made this record in the first place), Enoch was said to have been taken away by God, without a record of death.

Now let's examine this

Hebrews 11:13(KJV)

THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Now prior to this statement, the names mentioned were Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob. So isn't it logical that this verse doesn't exclude Enoch?

Follow closely

After reference to Abel, Enoch, and Noah, the writer talks about Abraham.

Hebrews 11:8(KJV)

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Following the context and order of Hebrews 11, Abraham was the first to be said to have been called from a place to another (reference from Genesis 12:1-4). With this instruction, he received a promise from God.

Hebrews 11:9-12(KJV)

9. By faith he sojourned in THE LAND OF PROMISE, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles WITH ISAAC AND JACOB, THE HEIRS WITH HIM OF THE SAME PROMISE:

10. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, SO MANY AS THE STARS OF THE SKY IN MULTITUDE, AND AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEA SHORE INNUMERABLE.

This was the promise.

Who were the heirs with him of this exclusive promise? ISAAC and JACOB.

13. THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH, NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE PROMISES, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and CONFESSED THAT THEY WERE STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE SEARTH.

They confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Abraham said this (Genesis 23:1-4); when Isaac was blessing Jacob (28:1-4), he confirmed the promise was passed from Abraham to him, and he was passing same to Jacob. Jacob told Pharaoh when he moved to Egypt in the time of famine:

Genesis 47:9(KJV)

And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, THE DAYS OF THE YEARS OF MY PILGRIMAGE are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, AND HAVE NOT ATTAINED UNTO THE DAYS OF THE YEARS OF THE LIFE OF MY FATHERS IN THE DAYS OF THEIR PILGRIMAGE.

Which fathers? Abraham and Isaac. This confession of pilgrimage was done by these men.

Let's go ahead

Hebrews 11:14-16(KJV)

14. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15. AND TRULY, IF THEY HAD BEEN MINDFUL OF THAT COUNTRY FROM WHENCE THEY CAME OUT, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: WHEREFORE GOD IS NOT ASHAMED TO BE CALLED THEIR GOD: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God. This refers to these same men. GOD PROCLAIMED HIMSELF AS THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB in the Old Testament writings. Jesus did so in the Gospels (Matthew 22:31-32). Even in the New Testament, Peter did same (Acts 3:13).

So Hebrews 11:13 refers exclusively to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You'd notice that in verse 17 down to 21, the writer makes reference to them again, before going ahead to talk about others.

This explains why I was silent about this portion of the verse in my teaching, THE NEW COVENANT series.

So about Enoch, the writer was clear.

Hebrews 11:5(KJV)

By faith Enoch was translated that he SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Same words in the Greek lexicon were used for Simeon, however with a point of expiry:

Luke 2:25-26(KJV)

25. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

26. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, THAT HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH, BEFORE he had seen the Lord's Christ.

In other words, he would not die UNTIL he saw Jesus Christ, hence his confession afterwards:

Luke 2:29-30(KJV)

29. LORD, NOW LETTEST THOU THY SERVANT DEPART IN PEACE, according to thy word:

30. FOR MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THY SALVATION.

Much more than Enoch's translation, the proof of his faith is the testimony that he pleased God.

So, if the biblical analysis above mean anything, Enoch truly never died like others. God took him away.

Victor Ibosiola © 2019