Source: Crispin Fletcher-Louis, Jesus Monotheism: Christological Origins: The Emerging Consensus and Beyond, vol. 1 (Eugene, OR: Whymanity Publishing, 2019), 3–30.
5A. Enoch_s_Divine_Messiah.mp4
5A. Messiah_Expectations_and_the_Son_of_Man.m4a
This scholarly topic investigates the connection between Jewish messianic expectations and the origins of "Christological monotheism," specifically focusing on the transcendent figure known as the "Son of Man" found in the Similitudes of Enoch (1 Enoch 37–71). While many scholars once dismissed a pre-Christian expectation of a divine messiah, the author argues that recent findings, particularly from the Enoch Seminar, compel a reassessment of the Similitudes as a pre-Christian Jewish document that describes an exalted messiah who is seated on God's throne, receives worship, and expresses or shares in the divine identity. The text suggests that this pre-existing "high" messianic eschatology provides a crucial historical precedent, or "golden key," for understanding why the earliest Christians, particularly in the Gospel tradition, identified Jesus as the Son of Man and began to include him in the divine identity of the Yhwh-Kyrios. Ultimately, the author contends that any current historical discussion of Christological origins must seriously consider the Similitudes of Enoch as a vital component in explaining the roots of Christ devotion.
The belief that Jesus of Nazareth was not just a human messiah but a divine figure—a pre-existent heavenly being worthy of worship—is a cornerstone of Christianity. For centuries, this idea has been seen as the great dividing line, a radical innovation that broke decisively from the Jewish thought of its time. As the influential scholar Richard Hays once summarized the common view:
"nowhere in pre-Christian sources is there any suggestion that the messiah was expected to be a supernatural or divine figure."
But what if this assumption, held for so long, is mistaken? What if a Jewish text, written before the time of Jesus, had already opened the case file on a divine savior who shared God's identity? A remarkable and long-neglected book known as the Similitudes of Enoch (or the Book of Parables) presents exactly this scenario. This ancient work challenges the narrative of a clean break between Jewish expectation and Christian belief. Let's explore the surprising takeaways from this text and what they reveal about the origins of Christianity.
In the Gospels, Jesus’s most common self-designation is "the Son of Man." Many have interpreted this as a simple, humble way of saying "a human being." However, the title likely pointed his audience to a much grander concept: a glorious, heavenly figure first seen in the book of Daniel and described in vivid detail in the Similitudes of Enoch.
This text presents a composite figure who is far more than an earthly king, identified by a collection of majestic titles: "the Messiah," "the Righteous One," "the Chosen/Elect One," and, most frequently, "the Son of Man." This figure possesses a stunning array of divine attributes: