The Epistle of Jude, a short but potent New Testament book, contains a passage that references a text not found within the canonical Hebrew Bible: the Book of Enoch. This ancient Jewish religious work is attributed to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. The connection arises from Jude 1:14-15, which quotes a prophecy attributed directly to Enoch.
The inclusion of Enochic material within Jude highlights the shared cultural and theological landscape between the New Testament writers and certain Jewish traditions prevalent during the Second Temple Period. It suggests that, despite not being considered scripture by mainstream Judaism (and subsequently Christianity), certain extracanonical texts held considerable influence and were regarded as authoritative or at least informative within specific communities. Furthermore, the reference demonstrates an awareness of and engagement with apocalyptic literature, which was characterized by visions, prophecies, and symbolic language, often concerning the end times and divine judgment.