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INTRODUCTION TO 1 ENOCH
I.
1 Enoch
A.
Jewish Story-Telling
1.
Genesis 5:18-24
18
When Jared had lived 162 years he fathered Enoch. 19 Jared lived after he
fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the
days of Jared were 962 years, and he died. 21 ¶ When Enoch had lived 65 years,
he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after he fathered
Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of
Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God
took him.
Q:
Q:
2.
Where did God take Enoch to?
What did Enoch do after that?
Genesis 6:1-8
1
When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born
to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And
they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall
not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years." 4 The
Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of
God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These
were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. 5 ¶ The LORD saw
that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that
he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the LORD
said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man
and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I
have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
Q:
Q:
3.
Who were the sons of God?
Who were the Nephilim & the mighty men of old?
1 Enoch 6-15
What the Bible does not tell us, we are naturally curious to know.
1 Enoch re-tells the Genesis stories and fill in the blanks of the
questions that hearers frequently asked.
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B.
An Overview of 1 Enoch
1.
Brief look at 2 Enoch & 3 Enoch (Slavonic Enoch)
2 Enoch (1st century BC-AD 10th century) is about how
Melchizedek is exalted to become the high priest of the CreatorGod.
3 Enoch (AD 2nd -5th century) is another version of the Enoch story.
It tells of Enoch’s transformation into an angel. As an exalted
angel, Enoch receives revelation of cosmos and secrets of creation.
2.
1 Enoch (Ethiopic Enoch)
A collection of writings by different authors over a wide span of time.
The data below is important because it explains why 1 Enoch was
never recognized and accepted as an inspired book.
Book I
Book II
Book III
Book IV
Book V
2nd century BC
40BC-AD 68;
3rd century BC;
175-171BC;
Early 2nd century BC)
Language
Ethiopic Translation
Aramaic, Greek & Latin
5 Major Sections (Content-Summary & Life-Situation)
Enoch I (Chapters 1-36)
(Note: I will only elaborate this part of the story. as for the other
sections of 1 Enoch, I shall just cover the contents quickly).
1-5
Introductory to 1 Enoch Contents
6-11
Story of Angels (the Watchers) cohabiting with human
females and producing giant offspring.
The giants begin to eat man and animals when food runs
out.
Noah is then instructed to build an ark.
2
Raphael is told to bind Asa’el , who is thrown into the
darkness, there to await judgment.
Gabriel is ordered to destroy the children of the Watchers.
Michael is instructed to bind the Watchers for seventy
generations until the final judgment.
12-16
God sends Enoch to pronounce judgment on the Watchers.
Under God’s judgment, the giants became evil spirits, who
afflict, oppress and attack humanity, and seek to destroy the
earth.
17-36 Enoch’s Journey to the West
Enoch’s First Journey to the West (17-19)
Lists of Archangels (20)
Enoch’s Second Journey (21-36)
Enoch goes to places in the cosmos normally inaccessible to
human beings. He sees many amazing sights, and learns of the
inner workings of the cosmos.
On his first journey to the west, Enoch sees the throne of
God (18:6-9), and a great abyss with pillars of fire beyond
the ends of the earth, where the heavens come to an end.
On his second journey Enoch travels to the west again (2125). He sees the place where the seven stars are imprisoned.
He visits the prison house of the fallen angels (21). He also
visits the place where the souls of the dead, both righteous
and wicked, remain until the Day of Judgment (22).
Enoch II (Chapter 37-71)
37-71 The Similitudes of Enoch
In the first similitude (38-44), Enoch sees the dwelling places of
the holy one, and sees the Elect One. In the final judgment the
righteousness will prevail.
In the second similitude (45-57), the Elect One will judge
sinners. Heaven and earth will be transformed, and the
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sinners will be destroyed from the face of the earth. Enoch
sees Son of Man appearing on earth to overthrow the strong.
In the third similitude (58-69) There will be a general
resurrection in the day of the Elect One. The Elect One will
be the judge. The Elect One is also called Son of Man, who
sits on the throne in glory. The righteous and elect ones will
receive eternal life.
Enoch III (Chapters 72-82)
72-82 The Book of Heavenly Lights
Enoch tours the heavens guided by the archangel Uriel. He
learns how the Sun, the Moon, the 4 seasons and the winds
function.
He learns that the Jewish calendar is ordained by God.
He learns about how angels control cosmos
Enoch IV (Chapters 83-90)
83-90 The Dream Visions
Vision of the Flood (83-84)
Animals Apocalypse (85-90)
The Animal Apocalypse is an allegorical depiction
of history focusing on Israel from Adam until the
last age. Individual human beings, nations and the
Watchers are represented as animals, with two
exceptions, Noah (89:1) and Moses (89:36), who
are transformed from animals into human beings.
Angels, however, appear the apocalypse as white
men.
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Enoch V (Chapter 91-107)
91-107 The Letter of Enoch
The Apocalypse of Weeks
(10 Weeks [i.e. Eras] of Human History)
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
The pre-flood period of righteousness;
The pre-flood period of wickedness
followed by the judgment (the flood).
The appearance of the plant of
righteousness (Abraham) and the eternal
plant of righteousness (Jacob);
The Law is given to Israel.
Time of the first Temple and David's
kingdom;
The time of Israel's first apostasy, the
destruction of the Temple and the
dispersion.
Another apostate generation arises: the
pro-Hellenistic Jews who conspire with
the Seleucids to eradicate Judaism.
The righteous will execute judgment on
all the wicked;
The wicked will be removed forever
from the earth and cast into the pit.
The judgment executed on the
Watchers; the old heaven shall be
removed and a new heaven revealed.
Enoch’s Letter to Sons
Enoch exhorts the righteous and pronouns woes on
the sinners.
C.
1 Enoch in Relation to the Old Testament Canon
(Note: This section is a review of common Bible Knowledge. Thus the allotted time is 5-7 minutes)
1.
The Christian Old Testament
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The Law (5)
The Historical Books (12)
The Poetry & Wisdom Literature (5)
The Major Prophets (5)
The Minor Prophets (12)
5
2.
The Jewish Scripture (The Tanakh)
a.
b.
c.
3.
The Torah (The Law)
The Nebhiim (The Prophets)
The Khethubhim (The Writings, see Evidence)
Intertestamental Jewish Literature
a.
Classification according to subject matter
Historical
e.g. I Maccabees; II Maccabees
Legendary
e.g. Tobit and Judith
Didactic
e.g Wisdom of Solomon and Ecclesiasticus
Apocalyptic
e.g II Edras; I Enoch
b.
Apocrypha (15 Books)
I Esdras; II Edras; Tobit; Judith; Additions to Esther; The Wisdom
of Solomon; Ecclesiasticus (Wisdom of Sirach); Baruch; Epistle of
Jeremiah; The Song of the Three Hebrew Children; Susanna; Bel
and the Dragon; I Maccabees; II Maccabees; and The Prayer of
Manasseh )
c.
Pseudepigrapha
I Enoch; Assumption of Moses; the Sibylline Oracles, Slavonic
Enoch; the Psalms of Solomon; the Testaments of the Twelve
Patriarchs; the Book of Jubilees; the Histories of Adam and Eve;
and the Ascension of Isaiah.
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4.
Place of the Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha in the Jewish Scripture
& the Bible
[Recommended text: Robert M. Solomon, The Enduring Word: The
Authority and Reliability of the Bible, (Singapore: Genesis Books, 2011)]
a.
The Protestant Bible
Our Bible contains 39 OT Books
b.
The Roman Catholic Bible
The RC Bible contains 39 OT Books (Canon)
+ 15 Apocryphal Books (Deutero-Canon)
c.
The Jewish Scripture
The Tanakh comprises 39 OT Books
The Apocryphal & the Pseudegrapha are not considered as
inspired writings.
D.
Midrashim – Stories Our Fathers Told Us
[“ What Are Midrashim, and What Are They Doing Here?” in The Storyteller’s
Companion to the Bible, Vol. One: Genesis, Michael E. Williams, ed., (Nashville:
Abingdon, 1991)].
Q:
1.
2.
If the Jewish community does not regard the intertestament literature as
inspired, why do some NT writers make allusions to some of those books?
Stories are medium by which theology is taught and traditions are passed
on.
Story-tellers employ Midrashim in story-telling.
a.
A Misdrash is used to fill up the gaps
Midrashim and story fragments answer questions about the biblical
stories that the Scripture leaves unanswered.
e.g. “Where did the dust come from to make the first human
being?” “How high did the Tower of Babel rise before God
decided to do something about it? When the rabbis answered such
questions, they revealed both their fertile imaginations and their
own understanding of God and human beings.
Example of our Midrashim- equivalence:
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Walt Disney Cartoon ‘Aladdin”
John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress
C.S. Lewis’s Narnia Chronicles
b.
A Misdrash is used to illustrate Torah teaching
(It functions as case-study, or ‘legal fiction’).
e.g. “Can we unclean meat when our lives are threatened?
The Rabbi will tell the story from II Maccabees 7 as a Midrash.
Story of King Antiochous forcing a Jewish mother and her seven
sons to eat swine flesh.
c.
Sometimes, a Rabbi’s clever answer is added to the Midrashim
tradition.
Someone asked a rabbi how is it that we know that Joseph didn’t
attack Potiphar’s wife, the rabbi reads two other stories of graphic
sexual disobedience (Reuben and Bilhah, Judah and Tamar) from
the Torah and asks, “If the Bible is so brutally honest about these
two, would it not tell us the truth about Joseph? (Genesis Rabbah
87.6).
3.
NT Writers did not tell Midrashim stories, but only made allusions to
familiar Midrashim.
A modern day example: Our familiarity with the “Journey to the West”
saga.
Summary
A.
The Jewish rabbi and fathers used stories from Intertestamental
Literature as Midrashim in story-telling, as we sprinkle salt and
pepper to spice up our food.
B.
Unfortunately, those “salts and peppers” were treated like vitamin
supplements and health food by undiscerning readers today.
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II.
Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare: A New Type of Demon
& A New Way of Fighting
[C. Peter Wagner, Warfare Prayer: How to Seek God’s Powerand Protection in the Battle to
Build His Kingdom, (Ventura, CA:Regal, 1992); Wagner, Confronting the Powers: How the
New Testament Church Experienced the Power of Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare,
(Ventura, CA:Regal, 1996); Wagner, “Territorial Spirits” in Wrestling with Dark Angels:
Towards a Deeper Understanding of the Supernatural Force in Spiritual Warfare, C. Peter
Wagner and F Douglas Pennoyer, eds., (Ventura, CA: Regal, 1990), 73-91; Wagner,
“Introduction” and “Summary: Mapping Your Community,” in Breaking Strongholds in Your
City: How to Use Spiritual Mapping to Make Your Prayers More Strategic, Effective and
Targeted, C. Peter Wagner, ed. (Venture, CA: Regal, 1993); Wagner, Churches That Pray:
How Prayer Can Revitalize Your Congergation and Break Down the Walls Between Your
church and Your Community, (Ventura, CA:Regal, 1993); John Dawson, Taking Our Cities
for God, (Lake Mary, FL: Creation House, 1989); Dawson, “Seventh Time Around: Breaking
Through a City’s Invisible Barriers to the Gospel” in Engaging the Enemy: How to Fight and
Defeat Territorial Spirits, C. Peter Wagner, ed., (Venture, CA:Regal), 1991.]
A.
A Popular Classification of Demons Today
[Wagner, Warfare Prayer, 18, 76-77; Confronting the Power, 21-22]
1.
2.
3.
B.
Ground Level
Occult Level
Territorial Level
Belief & Practices of Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare
1.
The Belief: Territorial Spirits Rules Over Towns, Cities and Nations.
[Wagner, “Territorial Spirits,” 76-85; Wagner, Warfare Prayer, 13,
65, 161-62; Dawson, “Seventh Time Around,” 139 ]
2.
Practices: ‘Magic-Formula-Like’ Rituals
a.
Spiritual Mapping
Wagner, “Introduction”, 14; Wagner, “Summary: Mapping
Your Communities”, 224]
b.
Prayer-Walks
[ Wagner, Churches That Pray, 144-145, 216-210]
Prayerwalk around the neighborhood
Praise marches in the cities
Prayer journeys for nations and regions
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c.
Warfare Prayer
[Wagner, Warfare Prayer, 77-79]
Seek the name of the ruling spirit
Identify its territory
Use the demon’s name to rebuke it directly
III.
Evaluation of Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare Teaching
A.
Selective Adaptations from Intertestamental Literature
[James, Charlesworth, ed., The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Vol. 1, (Garden
City, NY:Doubleday, 1983); Charlesworth, ed., The Old Testament
Pseudepigrapha, Vol. 1, (Garden City, NY:Doubleday, 1985)]
1.
1 Enoch
Some names & ranks of Angels
2.
The Testament of Solomon
The archangel Michael gives Solomon a ring that will enable him
to bind all demons and conscript them into the service of building
the temple. By the power of the ring, Solomon interrogates a
captured demon discovers the demon’s name, function, place of
residence in the heavens, and the name of the angel who can defeat
that demon. Then Solomon enslaves the demon to work on the
temple (1:1-8). Subsequently, Solomon uses the ring to capture
Beelzeboul, the prince of the demons, who serves as an informant,
introducing other demons one by one. Solomon identifies the
demons’ functions, residence, and opposing angels. He appeals to
the opposing angels for help (ch 3-25).
These are some of the things Solomon learns:
Asmodeus is the spirit who attacks newlyweds;
Kunopegos is the spirit of sea storms;
Barsafael is the spirits of headaches;
Katanikotael is the spirit of domestic violence;
Modebel is the spirit of divorce;
Rhyx Aleureth is the spirit of haemorrhoids;
Rhyx Aleureth is the spirit who causes people to swallow fish bones.
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3.
Medieval Classifications of Spirits (e.g. Pseudo-Dionysius)
[William Jurgen, ed., The Faith of the Early Fathers, 3 Vols., (Collegeville,
MN: Liturgical, 1979); Pseudo-Dionysius, The Complete Works, (NY:
Paulist, 1981)]
Variations of 9 classifications of spirits according to ranks:
a.
Pseudo-Dionysius (Late 5th century)
Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones; Dominations, Virtues,
Powers; Principalities, Archangels, Angels.
b.
Pope Gregory the Great (Late 6th century)
Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones; Dominations, Principalities,
Powers; Virtues, Archangels, Angels.
c.
Cyril of Jerusalem (mid 4th century)
Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones; Power, Principalities,
Dominations; Virtues, Archangels, Angels.
d.
Gregory of Nazianz (mid 4th century)
Virtues, Ascents, Splendours; Powers, Principalities,
Dominations; Thrones, Archangels, Angels.
e.
Basil the Great (mid 4th century)
Dominations, Thrones, Virtues, Powers, Principalities.
f.
Jerome (4th/5th century)
Dominations, Powers, Principalities, Archangel, Angel.
g.
St Augustine of Hippo (4th/5th century)
Thrones, Dominations, Principalities, Powers.
Augustine, “Let those who are able answer these questions
(about angels), if they can prove their answers to be true;
but as for me, I confess my ignorance.”
The Medieval church leaders were merely speculating, but many
SLSW proponents treat their opinions as truth.
B.
Dubious Reading of Uncertain Bible-Texts
An example of a text the SLSW proponents employed to teach that spirits
rule over geographical territories - Deuteronomy 32:8-9:
8
When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided
mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of sons of
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Israel [the sons of God].
allotted heritage.
9
But the LORD's portion is his people, Jacob his
The central idea of Deut 32:8-9 is that God divided all the nations and
their territories: He kept Israel for himself, and parceled out the other
nations to the ‘sons of Israel’ (whatever that phrase means).
The MT (AD 900 text) reads “sons of Israel”; The DSS (250BC) reads
“sons of God”; the LXX (200 BC) translation reads “angels of God”.
If the LXX version is original, then this verse means that God has
appointed angels to serve as guardians over the nations, while He looks
after Israel.
However, if the assumption is correct, then Deuteronomy 32:8-9 affirms
the existence of ruling angels, not demons.
We must always remember what Psalm 24:1-2 declares,
The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who
dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it
upon the rivers.
The whole earth and all the peoples are under the rule of the Creator-God.
C.
Repetition of Mistakes in History
[Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic: Studies in Popular
Beliefs in the Sixteenth- and Seventh-Century England, Harmondsworth:
Penguin, 1973]
1.
Belief in Patron Saints (16th-17th Century, England)
2.
RC Priest-Led Prayer March Around Field’s Border (Medieval
Church)
The English reformers condemned such beliefs and practices as
magic. They argued that prayer uttered within a church is just as
effective as outside in the fields.
3.
Audacious Cursing of the Evil Spirits
a.
The condemned practices of the Ascetic Jewish
Community at Qumran
Cursed be Satan for his sinful purpose and may he be
execrated for his wicked rule! Cursed be all the spirits of
his company for their ungodly purpose and may they be
execrated for all their service of uncleanness! (1QM xiii)
12
Be cursed, Angel of Perdition and Spirit of Destruction, in
all the thoughts of your guilty inclination and all your
abominable plots and your wicked design, and may you be
damned … Amen, amen. (4Q286-87; 4Q280-82).
b.
Jude Chides Those Who Derides Spirits (Jude 8-10)
8
Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams,
defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious
ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the
devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume
to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord
rebuke you."
c.
The LORD, Himself, is Worthy to Rebuke Satan
3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before
the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to
accuse him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke
you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!
Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?" 3 Now Joshua was
standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments.
d.
The Proper Use of “the Name of Jesus” in Exorcism
“In the Name of Jesus” should not be treated as a formula
in exorcism (e.g. The incident in Acts 19:15).
Power does not lie in the name, but in the person of Jesus
When we use the “Name of Jesus” in exorcism, we are
telling the demon(s) “The Lord Jesus commands you…”
D.
Views of Reformers
1.
Martin Luther (1483-1546)
[Hugh Kerr, A Compend of Luther’s Theology, (Philadelphia:Westminster,
1943); Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, J. Pelikan & Lehmann, eds. S (Louis:
Concordia, 1974)]
a.
Luther detests speculative theology, insisting that such
teaching belongs to hell (Luther’s Works 54.22, 112).
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2.
b.
Christians need not fear the fearsome and deceitful devil
because God is sovereign over him. Satan cannot do
anything without divine permission (Luther’s Works 54.83).
c.
Christ has defeated Satan on the cross. In Christ, ‘the devil,
and all evils [are] conquered’ (Luther’s Works 26.282).
d.
The preaching of Scripture ‘produces and strengthens faith,
conquers sin, the devil, death, hell, and all evil’ (Luther’s
Works 37.133).
John Calvin (1509-1564)
[John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, (London: Clarke, 1957)]
a.
Calvin infers that certain angels (not demons) are appointed
as rulers over nations and provinces. He understands them
to be guardian, not territorial (Institutes I.14.7)
b.
Calvin notes that Scripture offers only two angels’ names
(Michael & Gabriel) and two hierarchical levels (angel &
archangel). He is unwell to go beyond this revealed data
(Institutes I.14.8).
c.
God is sovereign over the devil. Satan’s power is curbed
and he executes only those things which God permits him.
Satan will obey his Creator, even if he is unwilling.
(Institutes I.14.17).
d.
We fight the demons through prayer by calling upon God.
God provides all we need in Scripture, prayer and faith
(John Calvin, The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians,
Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, (Grand Rapids,
Eerdmans, 1974), 221.
e.
Scripture does not tell us any more about the demonic
world than what we need to know.
The Holy Spirit could not deign to feed curiosity with idle,
unprofitable histories… Therefore, instead of dwelling on
superfluous matters, let it (what is revealed) be sufficient
for us ((Institutes I.14.17)
3.
John Wesley (1703-1791)
[John Wesley, The Complete Works, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979)]
a.
Wesley restricts his beliefs about angels to Scripture
14
Of angels, indeed, we know nothing with any certainty but
by revelation; the accounts which are left by the… ancients,
or given by the modern Heathens, being no better than silly,
self-inconsistent fables, too gross to be imposed even upon
children (Works 6.370-71).
E.
b.
Wesley restricts the demonic hierarchy to two levels: Satan
and the horde of demons. He si unwilling to affirm the
speculations of the medieval period (Works 6.371-79).
c.
Satan is subject to the sovereignty of God. Demons rule the
world, ‘so far as God permits’ (Works 6.374).
d.
When Satan attacks us, we turn to God, who is sovereign
over Satan; and to Christ, who has defeated him (Works
6.379-80).
What the Bible Actually Teaches
Ephesians 1-3 Teachings Concerning Victory of Christ Over Demons
[Andrew Lincoln, Ephesians, WBC, (Dallas: Word, 1990)]
1.
Ephesians 1:20-21
20
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and
seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above
all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every
name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
Jesus is now seated, at the right hand of God, in the heavenly
realms, far above the spirits.
2.
Ephesians 2:6
6
and [God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus,
Believers are seated with Christ in the heavenlies. In Christ, they
are now above all demons
3.
Ephesians 2:13-16; 3:6
2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been
brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who
has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall
of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in
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ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the
two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body
through the cross,
3:6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the
same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the
gospel.
God’s triumph over Satan brought all believers into one body,
whether Jew or Gentile. God’s people who were one small ethnic
group is now expanded to include all ethnic groups in many
nations. This marks the victory of Christ over evil.
F.
Some of the Dangers to Avoid
1.
The dangers of breeding fear and paranoia by exaggerating the power of
the devil and evil spirits.
Modern studies of spiritual warfare lay too much emphasis on the power
and influence of demonic forces. However, Scripture conveys a sense of
assurance and confidence.
2.
Danger of accepting beliefs and practices that are superstitious and subChristian.
It is essential that one’s critical faculties be used when evaluating claims
regarding experiences of the supernatural. Many popular writers appear to
be very naïve in the way they accept what is reported to them at face value
and promote views that are more at home in the world of magic than in the
world of Scripture.
3.
Danger of unrestrained speculation
The Bible is free of conjecture regarding the unseen realm. As a
consequence, there are many questions it simply does not answer.
Unfortunately, many seem to find it difficult to accept the silences of
Scripture and speculate about matters concerning which there is no
biblical foundation, it is foreign to the spirit of the bible.
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