In order to arrive at the truth of any subject in the scriptures, it is necessary to know the dictionary meaning of words and the context, which will determine the meaning of all the verses that address the subject. Those are the criteria that will be used to determine the correct meaning of and he was not; for God took him. The phrase he was not has to be viewed against he was which means he was alive because Enoch walked with God. Therefore, was not means he was dead at the end of his 365 years of life. A careful study of was not, (translation of the Hebrew 'ayin -- pronounced: ah') means that Enoch did not continue to exist in any form other than a dead body. 'Ayin is found in 13 other verses and the meaning is that the subject of the discourse does not exist, though the subject may have existed at one time. The context determines the exact meaning; it never means that someone is moved or transported from one state of existence to another. (At this point, the teaching of a well known TV preacher must be noted. Jimmy Swaggart says in his commentary bible that Enoch was one of the two men in history whom did not die, Elijah being the other. He was translated, and as Paul said, that he should not see death. He noted Hebrews 11:5 as proof. Jimmy Swaggart does not use the meaning of translate properly and ignores the Hebrew word ‘ayin in addition to taking Hebrews 11:5 from its context for proof. If he was faithful to the scriptures on the matter, such faithfulness would destroy his false doctrine.)

In addition, in verse 24 the Hebrew word for took is laqach -- pronounced: law-kakh' #H3947 and means to take, seize, take away and move among many other similar definitions. (Brown-Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Concise Addition) It does not in any manner suggest that Enoch went to heaven since the word simply means that Enoch went somewhere without identifying the new location. Neither does it mean that he went from one form of existence to another.    

In Part V, the question of where did he go was asked. Enoch went to a grave somewhere, which is the end for everyone. Paul wrote  in Romans 5:12-14 the following 12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come . In verse 12 Paul set forth four facts: 1-sin entered the world though one man-Adam; 2-sin caused death; 3-death came to all; 4- all have sinned. Then verse 14 tells us that death reigned on everyone even though the transgression was like Adam’s sin.

Enoch, a man, lived before Moses and Paul plainly told the Romans that death passed upon all men so Enoch had to be included in the all men who would die, did die and do die. Enoch didn’t walk (associate with, follow, be obedient to) with God until he was 65 years old. Therefore, he was also a sinner according to Paul in verse 12 … for that all have sinned. Again, the truth is Enoch died after living 365 years. The writer of Hebrews told the believers of that day and it is eternally true that And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:27-28)  Then in Hebrews 11:40 we read God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.  Who is included in the pronoun they and is Enoch in the group referred to by the pronoun?

The answer is given in the Hebrew letter beginning in Chapter 11:1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The verse begins the history of those who walked by faith that what God said would come true at some point. Verse 4 By faith Abel …; Verse 5 By faith Enoch …; Verse 7  By faith Noah, …; Verse 8 By faith Abraham, …; Verse 9 By faith he sojourned …; Then each of the following verses, 20-24; 27, 29-31 begin with By faith. Read verses 32-40 for a compete history of those who followed God. Now let’s go back to verse 5 and include verse 6. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Verse 5 is most generally appealed to by those who attempt to prove God took Enoch to heaven. Such appeal isn’t handling the word of truth properly as will be shown.

First, we see that faith was involved in what happened to Enoch. He began his walk of faith with God beginning at age 65, but the Bible does not reveal the reason he began to believe in God.

Part VII will begin with more explanation of the meaning of verses 5 and 6, Hebrews 11.  

© 12-07-2012 DEC

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