2 Enoch

2 Enoch / Book of the Secrets of Enoch — Morfill & Charles — Section 13

In Irenaeus contra Maer. v. 28. 3 we have the Jewish speculation in our text, xxxill. I, 2, reproduced to the effect that as the work of creation lasted six days so the world would last 6,000 years, and that there would be 1,000 years of rest corresponding to the first sabbath after creation. See text, xxxili. I, 2 (notes). In Origen (according to Methodius ; see Lommatzsch edition, Xxl. p. 59) we find a reference to this speculation: χιλίων yap ἐτῶν περιοριζομένων εἰς μίαν ἡμέραν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς θεοῦ, ἀπὸ τῆς τοῦ κόσμου γενέσεως μέχρι καταπαύσεως μέχρις ἡμῶν, ὡς οἱ περὶ τὴν ἀριθμητικὴν φάσκουσι δεινοί, ἐξ ἡμέραι συμπεραιοῦνται. “Ἑξακισχιλιοστὸν ἄρα ἔτος φασὶν ἀπὸ ᾿Αδὰμ εἰς δεῦρο συντείνειν" τῇ γὰρ ἑβδομάδι τῷ ἑπτακισχιλιοστῷ ἔτει κρίσιν ἀφίξεσθαί φασιν. Whether this passage argues a direct knowledge of the Slavonic Enoch is doubtful. There can be no doubt, however, with regard to the direct reference in the de Prixcip. 1. 3. 2 ‘Nam et in eo libello... quem Hermas conscripsit, ita refertur: Primo omnium crede, quia unus est Deus, qui omnia creavit atque composuit: qui cum nihil esset prius, esse fecit omnia. ... Sed et in Enoch libro his similia de- scribuntur. Now since there is no account of the creation in the Ethiopic Enoch, Origen is here referring to the Slav. Enoch xxiv—xxx ; xlvii. 3, 4. The fragment of the Apocalypse of Zephaniah preserved in Clement, Strom. v. 11. 77, is likewise to be traced to our text: ef. xviii. (notes). During the years 50-100 4.D. our text seems not to be without witness in the literature of that period. Thus in the Ascension of Isaiah, vill. 16, we read with regard to the angels of the sixth heaven: ‘Omnium una species et gloria aequalis,’ whereas the difference between the angelic orders in the lower heavens is repeatedly pointed out. Now in our text, xix. I, it is said of the seven bands of angels present in the sixth heaven that ‘there is no difference in their countenances, or their manner, or the style of their clothing,’ Introduction. xxi In 4 Ezra [vi. 71] the words ‘ut facies eorum luceant sicut sol’ are found in 1. 5 ‘Their faces shone like the sun.’