1 enoch in jude and in the eotc “canon”

423 Pages·2015·3.4 MB·English

1 ENOCH IN JUDE AND IN THE EOTC “CANON”:
DEVELOPING AN ADEQUATE INSIGHT IN SECOND TEMPLE
LITERATURE (STL) IN THE VARIOUS ETHIOPIAN CHURCHES FOR
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER AND FOR THE
PROMOTION OF ECUMENISM AND MUTUAL COOPERATION

By
BRUK AYELE ASALE
209540376

Submitted in Fulfilment of the Academic Requirements for the Degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

In Subject of
NEW TESTAMENT (BIBLICAL STUDIES)
At the
UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL (UKZN)
School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics (SRPC) (Pietermaritzburg Campus)
SUPERVISOR
PROFESSOR PAUL BERNARD DECOCK
PIETERMARITZBURG
March 2015

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DECLARATION

As required by University regulations, I hereby state unambiguously that this work has not
been presented at any other University or any other institution of higher learning other than
the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics
(SRPC) (Pietermaritzburg Campus), and that unless specifically indicated to the contrary
within the text it is my original work.

BRUK AYELE ASALE
March 06, 2015

As candidate supervisor I hereby approve this thesis for submission

PROFESSOR PAUL BERNARD DECOCK
March 06, 2015

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DEDICATION

This thesis is dedicated to the many Ethiopian Christians who have strived and become part of
ecumenical movement in Ethiopia.

And

Among these Christians, Rev. Gudina Tumsa stood out in being instrumental for the practical
initiation of inclusive Ecumenical Council of Churches in Ethiopia. He was murdered for the
faith he believed in!
Rev. Gudina Tumsa believed not only in the possibility and inevitability of ecumenism, he
rather believed more in the God of the Bible Who has the power to miraculously bring
churches into unity. He said:
It seems to be necessary to remind ourselves of the mighty power of
the Bible’s God, because there are Christians who argue that there
cannot be a unity among the churches. Biblical faith is based on
the impossible, on miracles. … Miracles are contrary to the laws
of nature. Ours is still the God of miracles, and one of the miracles
he may perform today is to bring about unity among His churches.
Let us then talk about His Church rather than our churches
(Gudina Tumsa 2003:19).

It is, therefore, to this committed martyr, the Rev. Gudina Tumsa, this thesis is dedicated
with complements.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Most importantly, I would like to give incomparable thanks to the Triune God, who is worthy
of honour and glory, for His calling me to His Kingdom and ministry, for His providential
care during my study leave abroad, and for His abundant guidance in writing this thesis. He
has made everything possible through His matchless help and support. All glory be to God.
I am especially grateful to my advisor, Prof. Fr. Paul Bernard Decock, for his both
academically rigorous and fatherly supportive approach from the very beginning to the end in
going through all the drafts of my paper repeatedly, encouraging and challenging me to
attempt to be fair and open to the many views on my topic, and providing me with a number
of documents. It is both honour and privilege to be your student.
My gratitude also goes to the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology which trustfully
included me in its Faculty Development Plan and graciously facilitated my studies. In
addition, I owe my appreciation to those who supported me at various levels and times during
my research, both financially and in their prayers, which includes Scholar Leaders
International, WCC’s Program on Ecumenical Theological Education, and the Rev. Dr.
Staffan Grenstedt’s family. Needless to say that there are numerous people around me, family
members, friends, colleagues, interviewees and many others, who have been supportive in so
many diverse ways and my gratitude goes to all of them.
Besides my academic achievement during my stay in Pietermaritzburg, the family of Church
on the Ridge have immensely contributed in shaping my spiritual maturity by sharing their
lives and showing a meaningful fellowship, hence I am sincerely grateful.
Finally, above all, I wish to express my profound and heartfelt love and gratitude to my wife,
Charis (), who has taken all the responsibilities and burdens of our home and supported
me sharing all my academic pains patiently at every moment in my studies; and without her
help my success would have been impossible. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to
Behulum and Tamagne, God’s incredible gifts, our lovely two sons, who became my source of
inspiration, joy, shifting the mood of agony to a world of freedom and happiness.
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ABSTRACT
The Epistle of Jude not only used 1 Enoch and some Second Temple Literature as
authoritative Scripture, but also it has been significantly influenced by it. Until it disappeared
from the Church since the fifth and sixth centuries, except the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo
Church, 1 Enoch has been used as authoritative Scripture among many Jewish and Christian
communities. Unlike any other church, the EOTC is the Church that has preserved the text in
Ge’ez in its entirety and made 1 Enoch part of its canon, which is unique both in its concept
and extent.
As part of its Scriptures, which has been received as early as the reception of Christianity
itself, 1 Enoch has significantly influenced the EOTC directly and other Ethiopian churches
indirectly. However, the unifying factor of the Scriptures and the positive role 1 Enoch and
other STL would have played, have been misunderstood as a source of differences among
Ethiopian churches. This misunderstanding arises from the neglect and misrepresentation of
the concept and extent of the canon of the EOTC by the western scholarship, which is
permeated Ethiopian Evangelicalism.
So, the central question this thesis asks is: Why do the Ethiopian Churches, Orthodox and
Evangelicals, who have the Scriptures in common, who are considered as Trinitarian churches
and who have been shaped and influenced by 1 Enoch, hold strongly opposing views on the
STL in general and on 1 Enoch in particular? The tripolar African contextual approach,
complement by the history of reception approach, and an ecumenical appreciative approach,
is the best framework to this study. The tripolar African contextual approach helps us to see
this from an African/Ethiopian context, against the western approach which tends to assume
that all contexts as the same. Whereas the history of reception approach helps us to frame the
reception history of both the Scriptures and Christianity to Ethiopia, the ecumenical
appreciative approach directs us to positive impacts in cooperation and unity.
The findings suggest that (1) the concept of the canon of the EOTC refers more to the “rule of
faith” understanding than a “list of books”. (2) 1 Enoch has an impact in shaping the ancient
Ethiopian literature, culture, theology, spirituality, chronography and popular religious
practices. (3) With all the possible interpretive differences, the Scriptures have more of a
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unifying than a dividing effect in the Ethiopian churches, and if other dividing elements are
adequately and properly addressed, they can play a positive role in ecumenical unity. (4)
Ecumenical unity is indispensable for all Ethiopian churches not only to tackle the challenges
of the twenty-first century, but also for their very existence. It is suggested that these findings
should be taken positively and seriously for a better future of both citizens and churches in
Ethiopia.

Key Terms: 1 Enoch, Amharic Millennium Translation, Angels in Jude, Apocrypha,
Authoritative Status of 1 Enoch, Authority, Bible, Canon, Ecumenical Appreciative Approach,
Ecumenism, Ecumenism in Ethiopian Churches, Ethiopian Evangelical Churches, Ethiopian
Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), Ethiopian Manuscripts, History of Reception Approach,
Inspiration, Jude, Legacy of 1 Enoch, Pseudepigrapha, Scripture, Scriptures in Ethiopian
Churches, Second Temple Literature, Septuagint, Tripolar African Contextual Approach,

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ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
1. General Acronyms
AAU Addis Ababa University
ABD The Anchor Bible Dictionary
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation
BBE The Bible in Basic English
BNTC Black’s New Testament Commentaries
BSE The Bible Society of Ethiopia
B.S.P.E. Berhanena Selam Printing Enterprise
CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly
CCC The Crossway Classic Commentaries
CCCE The Council on the Cooperation of the Churches in Ethiopia
CMS Church Missionary Society
CTM Concordia Theological Monthly
DSS Dead Sea Scrolls
EBR Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception
ECFE Evangelical Churches’ Fellowship of Ethiopia
EDNT Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament
EEC Ethiopian Evangelical Churches
EECMY The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus
EGST The Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology
EKHC The Ethiopian Kale Hiwot Church
EMML The Ethiopian Manuscripts Microfilm Library
EOC The Ethiopian Orthodox Church
EOTC The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
EPRDF The Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front
FDRE The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
GTF Gudina Tumsa Foundation
HMML The Hill Museum & Manuscript Library
HTR Harvard Theological Review
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IBS The International Bible Society
IDB The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible
ISBE The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
IES The Institute of Ethiopian Studies
JBR Journal of Bible and Religion
JETS Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
JSJ Journal for the Study of Judaism
JSJSup Journal for the Study of Judaism Supplements
JSNT Journal for the Study of the New Testament
JSNTS(S) Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement (Series)
JSOTSS Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series
JSS Journal of Semitic Studies
JTS Journal of Theological Studies
LXX Septuagint
MT Masoretic text
NBD The New Bible Dictionary
NIB The New Interpreter’s Bible
NIDNTT The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology
NIV The New International Version
NRSV New Revised Standard Version
NT New Testament
NTC New Testament Commentaries
NTS New Testament Studies
NTT New Testament Theology
OT Old Testament
RCC The Roman Catholic Church
SIL The Summer Institute of Linguistics
SJOT Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament
SJSJ Supplements to the Journal for the Study of Judaism
SNTSMS Society of New Testament Studies Monograph Series
SOAS The School of Oriental and African Studies
STL Second Temple Period Literature
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TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
TNTC Tyndale New Testament Commentaries
UBS The United Bible Societies
UKZN University of KwaZulu Natal
VT Vetus Testamentum
WCC The World Council of Churches
ZPEB The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible
2. Abbreviations
AD Anno Domini (i.e. referring to years after Jesus Christ was born)
BC before Christ
B.C.E. before the Common Era
BTh Bachelor of Theology
c. (ca.) circa (i.e. approximately)
C.E. Common Era
cf. confer (i.e. compare)
ch(s) chapter(s)
diss. dissertation
E.C. Ethiopian Calendar
ed(s). editor(s); edition
e.g. for example
esp. especially
et al et alia (i.e., and others)
etc. et cetera (i.e., and other similar things)
f. (ff.) and the following page(s)
f.n. footnote
G.C. Gregorian Calendar
ibid. same as the above
idem. the same as previously cited, given or mentioned
i.e. that is
ill. Illustrated; illustration
MA Masters of Arts
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ms(s) manuscript(s)
MTh Masters of Theology
n. note
n.d. no date
no. number
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
p.(pp.) page(s)
r. ruled or reigned
repr. reproduced / reprinted
rvd. revised
trans. translator; translated
v.(vv.) verse(s)
vol(s). volume(s)

3. Biblical Books (Proto-canonical)
Gen Genesis Ex Exodus
Num Numbers Deut Deuteronomy
Judg Judges 1-2 Sam 1-2 Samuel
1-2 Kgs 1-2 Kings Est Esther
Job Job Ps(s) Psalm(s)
Prov Proverbs Isa Isaiah
Jer Jeremiah Ezek Ezekiel
Dan Daniel Joel Joel
Amos Amos Mic Micah
Nah Nahum Hab Habakkuk
Zeph Zephaniah Hag Haggai
Zech Zechariah Mal Malachi
Mt Matthew Mk Mark
Lk Luke Jn John
Act Acts Rom Romans
1(2) Cor 1(2) Corinthians Gal Galatians
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