1 Enoch and the Son of Man
Parables of Enoch, often dated 1st century BCE–1st century CE
Before the gospels, some Jewish writers pictured a human-and-more figure called the Son of Man. Christians later heard Jesus’ own words in that register. The point for Yahad is not to flatten the difference, but to remember Jesus spoke a living Jewish language of hope.
1 Enoch 71:14 (R.H. Charles, 1912)
This is the Son of Man who is born unto righteousness, and righteousness abides over him, and the righteousness of the Head of Days forsakes him not.
Meaning
A human figure so aligned with God’s justice that righteousness abides over him: that is the hope. Later Christian ears heard Jesus. The faithful move is to learn the earlier hope rather than to erase it or to collapse every difference.
Historical context
The Parables are often dated from the late first century BCE into the first century CE. They were not among the Qumran finds, so the dating stays contested. Daniel 7’s human-like figure is the clearer, older root. “Head of Days” is this book’s picture of God.
“Son of Man” was a Jewish title-in-motion before the gospels. Charles’s 1912 translation is what the page prints. The speech’s identification of the figure has kept specialists arguing, including lines that seem to name Enoch. You do not need a winner in order to hear the hope of righted human life.
Ways to interpret
Historical
A Second Temple composition with a difficult text and a famous phrase. Treat the date as argued. Treat Daniel as background you can actually point to.
Contemplative
Let righteousness mean repair in one relationship, a covering rather than a public grade.
Jewish hope
Hearing the gospels’ “Son of Man” after Enoch is a way of keeping Jesus inside Israel’s language. Skipping Enoch makes the title sound newly invented.
Related readings
1 Enoch 1:8 (R.H. Charles, 1912)
But with the righteous He will make peace, and will protect the elect, and mercy shall be upon them. And they shall all belong to God, and they shall be prospered, and they shall all be blessed. And He will help them all, and light shall appear unto them, and He will make peace with them.
1 Enoch 71:14 (R.H. Charles, 1912)
And he came to me and greeted me with His voice, and said unto me: ‘This is the Son of Man who is born unto righteousness, and righteousness abides over him, and the righteousness of the Head of Days forsakes him not.’