Answer · confidence: partial
Why were books like Enoch and the Apocrypha left out of the Bible?
Research question: What texts were left out of the Bible (apocrypha, Enoch, Dead Sea Scrolls) and why?
The records show that the Book of Enoch was left out of both the Hebrew Tanakh and the Septuagint 6, and most Jewish movements and Christian branches still do not treat it as canonical, though some Ethiopian communities include it 1. One reason the sources offer is that Tertullian said around 200 AD that Jews had rejected the book because it seemed to contain prophecies about Jesus 3. Aramaic copies of earlier sections of 1 Enoch were preserved among the Dead Sea Scrolls 5, but the facts do not explain why those scrolls were excluded from the canon. The Council of Carthage in A.D. 419 decreed that only canonical scriptures could be read in church 10 and listed Tobit, Judith, and the two books of Maccabees as canonical 11. The facts also indicate that books were recognized as Scripture mainly by proving their worth in the experience of the churches, with scholarly approval coming afterward 14. The newest dated fact in the record is from A.D. 419 1011, so the evidence says nothing about the present day.
Checked 2026-10-23. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
Most Jewish movements and Christian branches do not treat 1 Enoch as canonical scripture, but some Ethiopian communities and churches include it in their biblical canon.
"1 Enoch is not considered to be canonical scripture by most movements of Judaism or branches of Christianity , although it is part of the biblical canon used by the Ethiopian Jewish community Beta Israel , as well as the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church ."Book of Enoch
[2] supported
The Book of Enoch is classed as an apocryphal book, and the document dates it to the 2nd–1st centuries BC.
"The apocryphal Books of Enoch (2nd–1st centuries BC) refer to both good and bad Watchers, with a primary focus on the rebellious ones."Watcher (angel)
[3] supported
Early Christian writer Tertullian stated around 200 AD that Jews had rejected the Book of Enoch because it seemed to contain prophecies about Jesus.
"who wrote c. 200 that the Jews had rejected the Book of Enoch because it purportedly contained prophecies about Jesus"Book of Enoch
[4] supported
The Second Book of Enoch, also called Slavonic Enoch, is described as a pseudepigraphon.
"The pseudepigraphon Second Book of Enoch ( Slavonic Enoch ) refers to the Grigori, who are the same as the Watchers of 1 Enoch."Watcher (angel)
[5] supported
Copies of the earlier sections of 1 Enoch in Aramaic were preserved among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Qumran Caves.
"Copies of the earlier sections of 1 Enoch were preserved in Aramaic among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Qumran Caves ."Book of Enoch
[6] supported
The Book of Enoch was left out of both the Hebrew Tanakh and the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.
"The Book of Enoch was excluded from both the Hebrew Tanakh and the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint. It was not considered canon by either Jewish or early Christian readers."Enoch
[7] supported
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not include 1 Enoch in its standard canon, though it believes an original Book of Enoch was inspired.
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not consider 1 Enoch to be part of its standard canon , although it believes that a purported "original" Book of Enoch was an inspired book."Book of Enoch
[8] supported
Early Church Fathers such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Tertullian spoke highly of Enoch and alluded to the Book of Enoch, sometimes arguing it should be used as Scripture, even though it was not canonical.
"Church Fathers such as Justin Martyr , Athenagoras of Athens , Irenaeus , Clement of Alexandria , Origen , Tertullian , and Lactantius all speak highly of Enoch and contain many allusions to the Book of Enoch"Enoch
[9] supported
The Book of Giants, a Jewish pseudepigraphal work resembling the Book of Enoch, dates from the third century BC and fragments of it were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.
"The Book of Giants is a Jewish pseudepigraphal work from the third century BC and resembles the Book of Enoch. Fragments from at least six and as many as eleven copies were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls collections."Enoch
[10] documented
The Council of Carthage decreed that nothing other than the Canonical Scriptures could be read in church under the name of divine Scripture.
"Item, that besides the Canonical Scriptures nothing be read in church under the name of divine Scripture ."Council of Carthage (A.D. 419), part 41 [Church Fathers: Council of Carthage (A.D. 419)]
[11] supported
The council's canon list includes Tobit, Judith, and the two books of Maccabees, so these books were treated as canonical rather than excluded.
"Daniel. Tobit. Judith. Esther. Ezra, ij. books. Macchabees, ij. books."Council of Carthage (A.D. 419), part 41 [Church Fathers: Council of Carthage (A.D. 419)]
[12] documented
The council justified its canon list by saying these were the books received from the fathers to be read in church, and asked that Bishop Boniface and other bishops confirm it.
"Let this be sent to our brother and fellow bishop , Boniface, and to the other bishops of those parts, that they may confirm this canon, for these are the things which we have received from our fathers to be read in church."Council of Carthage (A.D. 419), part 41 [Church Fathers: Council of Carthage (A.D. 419)]
[13] supported
There is no certainty about the exact interpretation that was adopted by the Jewish community at Jamnia.
"There is no certainty about the exact"Book, page 84
[14] supported
Books were recognized as Scripture mainly by proving their worth in the experience of the churches, and only afterward were they approved by scholars.
"The books approved by use in the churches were then approved by the judgment of the scholars."The birth of the Bible, page 206