C h a p te r 1 2

THE E N O C H lC SON OF MAN A t'l" D T H E A P O C A L Y F T lC B A C K G R O U N D

OF THE SON OF MAN S A Y T N G S I N J O H N 'S GOSPEL

Benjamin E. Reynolds

I t c a n n o lo n g e r b e d e n ie d th a t th e Parables of Enoch ( 1 Enoch 3 7 - 7 1 ) r e f le c ts

a p r e - 7 0 J e w is h m ilie u . I A lth o u g h th is is th e c a s e , w e s till c a n n o t b e a s b o ld
a s R . H . C h a r le s to c la im , " T h e in f lu e n c e o f 1 E n o c h o n th e N e w T e s ta m e n t
h a s b e e n g r e a te r th a n th a t o f a ll th e o th e r a p o c r y p h a l a n d p s e u d e p ig r a p h a l
b o o k s ta k e n to g e th e r .,,2 W h ile C h a r le s r e p r e s e n ts th e o p p o s ite e n d o f th e
s p e c tr u m f r o m J . T . M ilik , th e c o n s e n s u s n o w is th a t th e Parables of Enoch
s h o u ld b e u n d e r s to o d a s a J e w is h d o c u m e n t c o m p o s e d in th e H e r o d ia n p e r io d .
T h is v ie w p o in t r e q u ir e s r e th in k in g th e r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n th e Parables of
Enoch a n d th e N e w T e s ta m e n t d o c u m e n ts . O n e o f th e p la c e s w h e r e v a lu a b le
e x p lo r a tio n c a n b e m a d e is in a c o m p a r is o n b e tw e e n " th a t S o n o f M a n " in th e
Parables of Enoch a n d " th e S o n o f M a n " in th e G o s p e ls . 3
S c h o la r s h a v e d r a w l1 a tte n tio n to th e n o tic e a b le p a r a lle ls b e tw e e n th e
Parables of Enoch a n d th e S y n o p tic G o s p e ls , e s p e c ia lly in th e G o s p e l o f
M a tth e w a n d th e r e f e r e n c e to th e S o n o f M a n 's " th r o n e o f g lo r y .,,4 B u t w h a t
s h o u ld b e th o u g h t a b o u t J o h n , th e F o u r th G o s p e l? E v e r s in c e th e r is e o f
c r itic a l s c h o la r s h ip , th e r e h a s b e e n a s c h o la r ly " p a r tin g o f th e w a y s " b e tw e e n
J o h n a n d th e S y n o p tic G o s p e ls , a n d - th e G o s p e l o f J o h n h a s la r g e ly b e e n
5
a d d r e s s e d in is o la tio n . W h e r e a s th e S y n o p tic S o n o f M a n s a y in g s h a v e b e e n

1. S e e D . 1. B o c k 's Forschungsbericht a n d 1 . H . C h a r le s w o r th 's c h a p te r s in th is c o lle c tio n .

2. R . H . C h a r le s , The Book 0/ Enoch ( O x f o r d : C la r e n d o n , 1 8 9 3 ) , p . 4 1 ; idem, 1 9 1 2 [ 2 n d
e d n .] , p . x c v .
3. T h e c a p ita liz a tio n h in ts a t m y u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e titu la r u s e s o f " th e S o n o f M a n " in
th e G o s p e ls a n d " th a t S o n o f M a n ," in th e Parables o/Enoch. H o w e v e r , n o t a ll s c h o la r s th in k th a t
" th a t S o n o f M a n " is a title in th e Parables 0/ Enoch. S e e b e lo w . [ R e y n o ld s w is h e s to e m p h a s iz e
th a t in . r e n d e r in g E th io p ic , tr a n s la to r s a r e m o r e in te r p r e te r s th a n th e y a r e w h e n w o r k in g on
A r a m a ic a n d G r e e k . T h a t h a p p e n s b e c a u s e E th io p ic h a s n o m e a n s o f c la r if y in g th e d e f in ite a r tic le
o r c a p ita liz a tio n . I n th is b o o k , th e c o n tr ib u to r s te n d to c o n c lu d e th a t th e " S o n o f M a n " in th e
Parables 0/ Enoch h a s in s o m e p a s s a g e s b e c o m e a title . J H C .]
4. J . T h e is o h n , Der auserwiihlte Richter: Untersuchungen zum traditiongeschichtlichem
Ort der M enschensohngestalt der Bilden-eden des A'thiopischen Henoch ( S lJ N T 1 2 ; G o ttin g e n :
V a n d e n h o e c k & R u p r e c h t, 1 9 7 5 ) , p p . 1 5 3 - 5 4 ; 1. W . W a lc k , " T h e S o n o L M a n in th e Patables 0/
Enoch a n d th e G o s p e ls ," in Enoch and the M essiah Son o/M an: Revisiting the Book o/Parables,
p p .2 9 9 - 3 3 7 .
5. U n f o r tu n a te ly , th e o b v io u s d if f e r e n c e s b e tw e e n th e S o n o f M a n in M a tth e w , M a r k , L u k e ,
a n d J o h n h a v e to o o f te n h id d e n s im ila r itie s th a t a r e s h a r e d a m o n g th e G o s p e ls . F o r e x a m p le , a ll
 T h e E n o c h ic Son of M an 295

placed in three categories. of earthly sayings, suffering sayings, and corning or

apocalyptic sayings,6 the Johannine Son of Man cannot be successfully fitted
into these categories.7 The "corning" or "apocalyptic" Son of Man sayings. in
the Synoptic Gospels reveal a clear influence from Daniel 7 and refer to the
Son of Man corning at a climactic, end-time moment, on the clouds, with the
angels, and with great glory. Subsequently, the elect are gathered from the
four corners of the earth, implying the completion of judgment (M1< 13:26-27;
14:62 and parallels). The Gospel of Matthew makes explicit the Son of Man's
role in the judgment of the righteous and the wicked (Mt 19:28-30; 25:31-46):
The Son of Man sayings in the Gospel of John, on the other hand, do not
reflect such obvious influence from Daniel 7, and they do not speak of the
corning of the Son of Man with or without the clouds, the angels, or other
typical apocalyptic imagery. Since these descriptors are the primary pieces of
evidence for including sayings in the Synoptic corning / apocalyptic category,
there are legitimate questions concerning whether or not the Johannine Son of
Man can be said to have an "apocalyptic" background.
Numerous backgrounds have been suggested for the Johannine Son of
Man. The most common suggestions are: (a) that the Johannine Son of Man is
a reinterpretation of the Synoptic tradition;8 (b) that there is an Old Testament
background separate from or combined with Daniel 7 (e.g., Ps 8; Prov 31;
Ezek; WisSol, etc. );9 (c) that the background is found in the Gnostic Redeemer
myth lO or in a Primal Man myth;l1 (d) that the Johannine Son of Man is a
reflection of Heavenly Man speculations; 12 and (e) that Daniel 7 and / or other

four Gospels consistently present the phrase 6 u!o~ TOU a.vepW7J:OIJ as one used by Jesus alone (cf.
Lk 24:7; Jn 12:34) and as a reference to Jesus. See further, B. E. Reynolds, "The Johannine Son
of Man and the Historical Jesus: Shall Ever the Twain Meet? John 9:35 as a Test Case," J S H J 9
(2011), 23Q...42;see esp. pp. 232-33.
6. Rudolph Bultmann, T h e o lo g y o f th e N e w T e s ta m e n t, trans. K. Grobel (2 vols.; New York:
Charles Schribner's Sons, 1951, 1955), vol. 1, p. 30.
7. Walck, "Son of Man," p. 335. See the attempts by S. S. Smalley, "The Johannine Son of
Man Sayings," N T S 15 (1969),278-301; C. Ham, "The Title 'Son of Man' in the Gospel ofJohn,"
S to n e -C a m p b e ll J o u r n a l 1 (1998), 67-84.
8. M. Casey, T h e S o lu tio n to th e S o n o f A .fa n P r o b le m (LNIS 343; London: T&T Clark,
2007), p. 312. This position mayor may not include an apocalyptic understanding of the Synoptic
Gospels.
9. E. A. Abbot, " T h e S o n o f M a n " o r C o n tr ib u tio n s to th e S tu d y o f th e T h o u g h ts o f J e s u s
(D ia te s s a r ic a 8; Cambridge: CUP, 1910); R. G. Hamerton-Kelly, P r e -e x is te n c e . W is d o m , a n d th e
S o n o f k la n : A S tu d y o f th e Id e a o f P r e -e x is te n c e in th e N e w T e s ta m e n t (SNISMS 21; Cambridge:
CUP, 1973); R. Rhea, T h e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n (ATANI 76; ZUrich: Theologischer Verlag,
1990); D. Burkett, T h e S o n o f th e M a n in th e G o s p e l o f J o h n (JSNISup 56; Sheffield: Sheffield
Academic Press, 1991); M. Sasse, D e l' M e n s c h e n s o h n im E v a n g e liu m n a c h J o h a n n e s (TANZ 35;
Tiibingen, Basel: A. Francke Verlag, 2000).
10. Bultmarm, T h e o lo g y , vol. 2,p. 37.
11. Frederick H. Borsch, T h e S o n o f A la n in A fy th a n d H is to l)' (NIL; Philadelphia, PA:
Westminster, 1967).
12. C. H. Dodd, In te lp r e ta tio n o f th e F 0 U 1 1 h G o s p e l (Cambridge: CUP, 1953); A. J. B.
Higgins, J e s u s a n d th e S o n o f A la n (Philadelphia, PA: Fortress, 1964); C. Co1pe, "6 u!o~ TOU
a.vepW7J:OIJ," T D lv T 8 .4 0 0 -8 1 .
.296 P a r a b le s o f E n o c h

a p o c a ly p tic te x ts s u c h a s th e P a r a b le s o f E n o c h h a v e h a d s o m e ir if lu e n c e o n
th e J o h a n n in e p o r tr a it o f th e S o n o f M a n . 13

A lth o u g h th e s e v a r io u s o r ig in s o f th e e x p r e s s io n h a v e b e e n s u g g e s te d , th e
a r g u m e n t o f th is p a p e r is th a t th e b a c k g r o u n d o f th e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n
p r im a r ily e v id e n c e s a n a p o c a ly p tic b a c k g r o u n d . M o r e s p e c if ic a lly , b e c a u s e th e
J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n is p o r tr a y e d w ith s im ila r f u n c tio n il a n d c h a r a c te r is tic s
a s f ir s t- c e n tu r y in te r p r e ta tio n s . o f th e D a n ie lic s o n o f m a n , th e J o h a n n in e
f ig u r e c a n a ls o b e u n d e r s to o d to b e a n in te r p r e ta tio n o f th e " o n e lik e a s o n o f
m a n " a n d c a n lik e w is e b e c a lle d a n " a p o c a ly p tic S o n o f M a n .,,1 4 C o n s id e r in g
s p a c e a n d th e e m p h a s is o f th is v o lu m e , th is e s s a y w ill lim it th e s c o p e o f th is
a r g u m e n t to a c o m p a r is o n o f th e s o n o f m a n f ig u r e s in th e P a r a b le s o f E n o c h
a n d J o h n 's G o s p e l. T h e r e le v a n c e a n d n e e d f o r a c o m p a r is o r i b e tw e e n th e
P a r a b le s o f E n o c h a n d th e G o s p e l o f J o h n h a s b e c o m e a ll th e m o r e n e c e s s a r y
s in c e th e s c h o la r ly c o n s e n s u s o n th e d a te o f th e P a r a b le s o f E n o c h h a s s h if te d
a n d n o w m o s t S e c o n d T e m p le s p e c ia lis ts d a te th e P a r a b le s o f E n o c h e a r lie r
th a n m o s t N e w T e s ta m e n t s p e c ia lis ts d a te th e G o s p e l o f J o h n . 1 5
T h e f o c u s o f th is e s s a y w ill b e o n s im ila r itie s b e tw e e n th e s o n o f m a n
f ig u r e s in th e P a r a b le s o f E n o c h a n d th e G o s p e l o f J o h n . F ir s t, a d e s c r ip tio n
w ill b e g iv e n o f th e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n 's n m c tio n s a n d c h a r a c te r is tic s .
S e c o n d , th e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n 's f u n c tio n s a n d c h a r a c te r is tic s w ill b e
d e s c r ib e d , e s p e c ia lly th o s e b e a r in g s im ila r itie s w ith th o s e o f th e S o n o f M a n

13. S . S c h u lz , U n te r s u c h u n g e n z u r lv le n s c h e n s o h n -C h r is to lo g ie im J o h a n n e s e v a n g e liu m .
Z u g le ic h e in B e itr a g z u r 1 'v fe th o d e n g e s c h ic h te d e r A u s le g u n g d e s 4 . E v a n g e liu m s ( G o ttin g e n :
V a n d e n h o e c k & R u p r e c h t, 1 9 5 7 ) ; R . M a d d o x , " T h e F u n c tio n o f th e S o n o f M a n in th e G o s p e l
o f J o h n ," in R e c o n c ilia tio n a n d H o p e : N e w T e s ta m e n t E s s a y s o n A to n e m e n t a n d E s c h a to lo g y ,
e d . R . B a n k s ( G r a n d R a p id s , M I : E e r d m a n s , 1 9 7 4 ) , p p . 1 8 6 - 2 0 4 ; F . 1M o lo n e y , T h e J o h a n n in e
S o n o f } " fa n ( B ib lio te c a d i S c ie n z e R e lig io s e 1 4 ; R o m e : L A S , 1 9 7 8 [ 2 n d e d n .] ) ; J . P a in te r , " T h e
E n ig m a tic J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n ," in F o u r G o s p e ls 1 9 9 2 . F e s ts c h r ift F r a n s N e ir y n c k , e d . F . V a n
S e g b r o e c k , e t a l. ( 3 v o ls .; B E T L 1 0 0 ; L o u v a in : P e e te r s , 1 9 9 2 ) , p p . 1 8 6 9 - 8 7 ; B . E . R e y n o ld s , T h e
A p o c a ~ v p tic S o n o f M a n in th e G o s p e l o f J o h n ( W U N 'T 2 .2 4 9 ; T iib in g e n : M o h r S ie b e c k , 2 0 0 8 ) .
M o s t r e c e n tly J . H . E lle n s , ''W h a t is th e S o n o f M a n in J o h n : T h e S o n o f M a n L o g ia in J o h n a n d
in th e S y n o p tic G o s p e ls in th e L ig h t o f S e c o n d T e m p le J u d a is m T r a d itio n s " ( P h .D . D is s ., T h e
U n iv e r s ity o f M ic h ig a n , 2 0 0 9 ) , p u b lis h e d a s J e s u s a s S o n o f M a n in J o h n ( S h e f f ie ld : S h e f f ie ld
P h o e n ix P r e s s , 2 0 1 0 ) . F o r o th e r v ie w s , s e e P . B o r g e n , " S o m e J e w is h E x e g e tic a l T r a d itio n s a s
B a c k g r o u n d f o r S o n o f M a n S a y in g s in J o h n 's G o s p e l ( I n 3 ,1 3 - 1 4 a n d c o n te x t) ," in L 'E v a n g ile de
J e a n , e d . M . d e J o n g e ( G e m b lo u x , B e lg iu m : D u c u lo t, 1 9 7 7 ) , p p . 2 4 3 - 5 8 ; W R o th , " J e s u s a s th e
S o n o f m a n : T h e S c r ip tu r a l I d e n tity o f a J o h a n n in e I m a g e ," in T h e L iv in g T e x t: E s s a y s in H o n o r
o f E r n e s t W S a u n d e r s , e d . D . E . G r o h a n d R . J e w e tt ( L a n h a n 1 , M D : U n iv e r s ity P r e s s o f A m e r ic a ,
1 9 8 5 ) , p p . 1 1 - 2 6 ; a n d J .- A . B iih n e r , D e r G e s a n d te u n d s e in W e g im 4 . E v a n g e liu m . D ie k u l!w '-
u n d r e lig io n s g e s c h ic h tlic h e n G r u n d la n g e n d e r jo h a n n e is c h e n S e n d u n g s c h r is to lo g ie s o w ie ih r e
tr a d itio n s g e s c h ic h tlic h e E n tw ic k /u n g ( W U N 'T 2 .2 ; T iib in g e n : le B . M o h r, 1 9 7 7 ).
14. T h e p h r a s e " a p o c a ly p tic S .o n o f M a n " is c o m m o n ly u s e d to r e f e r to th e s o n o f m a n f ig u r e
in D a n ie l 7 a n d I o r th e in te r p r e ta tio n s o f th e D a n ie lic f ig u r e in J e w is h a p o c a ly p s e s s u c h a s th e
P a r a b le s o f E n o c h , 4 E z r a , a n d 2 B a r o c h . S e e M a d d o x , " F u n c tio n ," p . 1 9 7 , n . 3 ; a n d D . B u r k e tt,
T h e S o n o f M a n D e b a te : A H is to r y a n d E v a lu a tio n ( S N 'T S M S 1 0 7 ; C a m b r id g e : C U P , 1 9 9 9 ) , p p .
2 2 -3 3 .
15. T h is is e s p e c ia lly th e c a s e w ith r e g a r d to th e f in a l r e d a c tio n a n d n o t th e in itia l 'W T itin g
o f th e G o s p e l o f J o h n .
 T h e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n 297

in th e P a ra b le s o f E n o c h . T h ird , th e e ssa y w ill su m m a riz e th e sim ila ritie s and

d iffe re n c e s b e tw e e n th e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n a n d th e fig u re in th e P a ra b le s
of E noch and w ill c o n c lu d e w ith a d isc u ssio n c o n c e rn in g th e p o ssib le
re la tio n sh ip b e tw e e n th e G o sp e l o f Jo h n a n d th e P a ra b le s o f E n o c h .

The Enochic Son o f M a n

In th e P a ra b le s o f E n o c h , th e fig u re w ho is se a te d o n th e L o rd o f S p irits'
th ro n e in c h . 4 6 (a lso 5 1 :3 ; 5 5 :4 ; 6 2 :2 , 3 , 5 ) is c a lle d th e "C h o se n O n e " (3 9 :6 ;
4 0 :5 ; 4 5 :3 ; e tc .), "th a t S o n o f M a n " (4 6 :2 , 3 , 4 ; 4 8 :2 ; e tc .), "A n o in te d O ne"
(4 8 :1 0 ; 5 2 :4 ), and "R ig h te o u s O ne" (3 8 .2 ; 5 1 :3 ). T h e tw o m o st com m on
d e sig n a tio n s, w h ic h fu n c tio n a s title s,1 6 a re "C h o se n O ne" a n d "th a t Son of
M a n ."I? It is c le a r th a t a ll fo u r o f th e se d e sig n a tio n s re fe r to th e sa m e fig u re
a n d n o t fo u r se p a ra te fig u re s. J. C . V a n d e rK a m h a s p e rsu a siv e ly a rg u e d th a t
th is c a n b e se e n in th e w a y in w h ic h th e re is a n o v e rla p o f fu n c tio n s b e tw e e n
th e d e sig n a tio n s (c f. 4 5 :3 ; 4 9 :4 ; 6 2 :5 ; 6 9 :2 7 ). 1 8
"C h o se n O n e " m o st lik e ly d e riv e s fro m th e S e rv a n t S o n g s in Isa ia h w h e re
it is a c o m m o n d e sc rip tio n o f th e S e rv a n t o f th e L o rd in Isa ia h (4 2 : 1 ; c f. 4 1 : 8 ,
9 ; 4 3 :1 0 , 2 0 ; 4 4 :1 , 2 ; 4 5 :4 ; 4 9 :7 ).1 9 T h e "S o n o f M a n " la n g u a g e h a s its o rig in
in D a n ie l 7 , a s is a p p a re n t fro m o th e r te rm s and c o n c e p ts fro m D a n ie l 7:
A n c ie n t/ H e a d o f D a y s w ith h a ir w h ite a s w o o l (lE n 4 6 :1 ; D a n 7 :9 ); th o u sa n d
th o u sa n d s a n d m y ria d m y ria d s sta n d in g b e fo re th e H e a d of D ays (l E n 4 0 : 1;
D a n 7 :1 0 ); a th ro n e (lE n 4 5 :3 ; D a n 7 :9 ); b o o k s o p e n e d (lE n 4 7 :3 ; D a n 7 :1 0 );
th e o v e rth ro w o f k in g s (lE n 4 8 :8 -1 0 ; D a n 7 :1 7 -1 8 ); a n d ju d g m e n t (lE n 4 6 :5 ;
D a n 7 : 1 0 -1 2 ). B u t h o w d o e s th is fig u re w h o is c a lle d "C h o se n O n e ," "th a t S o n
o f M a n ," "A n o in te d O n e ," a n d "R ig h te o u s O n e " fu n c tio n in th e P a ra b le s o f
E n o c h ? A n d w h a t a re th is fig u re 's c h a ra c te ristic s?

16. S e e J. J. C o llin s, "T h e H e a v e n ly R e p re se n ta tiv e : T h e S o n o f M a n in th e S im ilitu d e s

o f E n o c h ," in Id e a l F ig u re s in A n c ie n t J u d a ism : P ro file s a n d P a ra d ig m s, e d . C o llin s a n d G . W .
E . N ic k e lsb u rg (S B L S C S 1 2 ; C h ic o , C A : S c h o la rs P re ss, 1 9 8 0 ), p p . 1 1 1 -3 3 ; se e p . 1 1 2 . C f. M .
C a se y , "T h e U se o f th e T e rm 'S o n o fM a n ' in th e S im ilitu d e s o f E n o c h ," J S J 7 (1 9 7 6 ), 1 1 -2 9 , a t
p .1 8 .
17. T h e re a re th re e se p a ra te p h ra se s tra n sla te d in to E n g lish a s "th a t S o n o f M a n ." T h e
c o m m o n u n d e rsta n d in g is th a t th e th re e G e' ez p h ra se s re fe r to th e sa m e fig u re . H o w e v e r, se e H . S .
K v a n v ig 's re c e n t q u e stio n in g o f th is lin e o f th in k in g ("T h e S o n o f M a n in th e P a ra b le s o /E n o c h ,"
in E n o c h a n d th e M e ssia h S o n ~ O ;fa n , p p .1 7 9 -2 1 5 ; se e e sp . 1 9 3 -9 7 ).
18. J. C . V a n d e rK a m , "R ig h te o u s O n e , M e ssia h , C h o se n O n e , a n d S o n o f M a n in 1 E n o c h
3 7 -7 1 ," in T h e M e ssia h : D e v e lo p m e n ts in E a rlie st J u d a ism a n d C h ristia n ity , e d . C h a rle sw o rth
(M in n e a p o lis, M N : F o rtre ss, 1 9 9 2 ), p p . 1 6 9 -9 1 .
19. S e e M . B la c k , T h e B o o k o /E n o c h o r 1 E n o c h (S V T P 7 ; L e id e n : B rill, 1 9 8 5 ), p p . 1 9 5 -
9 7 . B o th th e lsa ia n ic se rv a n t a n d th e E n o c h ic fig u re a re c a lle d "m y C h o se n O n e " o r "m y c h o se n "
(lsa 4 2 :1 ; 4 5 :4 ; lE n 4 5 :3 , 4 ; 5 5 :4 ), "rig h te o u s o n e " (Is a 5 3 :1 1 ; lE n 5 3 :6 ), a n d "a lig h t to th e
n a tio n s" (lsa 4 9 :6 ; lE n 4 8 :4 ).
298 P a r a b le s o f E n o c h

F u n c tio n s o f th e E n o c h ic S o n o f A la n

Judgm ent
The m ost o b v io u s f u n c tio n o f " th e Son of M an" f ig u r e in th e P a r a b le s of
E noch is h is r o le a s J u d g e . A lth o u g h th e " o n e lik e a s o n o f m a n " in D a n ie l is
n o t e x p lic itly s a id to ju d g e , ju d g m e n t p e r m e a te s th e d e p ic tio n s o f th e S o n o f
M a n in th e P a r a b le s of E noch. T h is is e s p e c ia lly n o tic e a b le in th e s ta te m e n t:
" th e w h o le ju d g m e n t w a s g iv e n to th e s o n o f m a n a n d h e w l1 l m a k e s in n e r s
v a n is h a n d p e r is h fro m th e f a c e o f th e e a r th " ( 6 9 :2 7 ) .2 0 " T h a t son of m an" is
d e s c r ib e d a s r ig h te o u s in h is ju d g m e n t ( 5 0 :4 ; c f . 6 2 :3 ) , a n d h is e x e c u tio n of
ju d g m e n t is c o n n e c te d w ith h is p r e s e n c e o n th e th r o n e o f g lo r y ( 5 5 :4 ; 6 1 :8 - 9 ;
6 2 :2 ; 6 9 :2 7 ,2 9 ) .
T h e p u n is h m e n t th a t e n s u e s fro m th e s o n o f m a n 's ju d g m e n t in d ic a te s - th e
e n d - tim e n a tu r e o f h is ju d g m e n t. F o r e x a m p le , a f te r h e is s e a te d o n th e th r o n e
o f g lo r y ( c h . 6 2 ) , th e k in g s o f th e e a r th b e c o m e te r r if ie d o n c e th e y r e c o g n iz e
th e S o n o f M a n a n d th a t h e s its o n th e th r o n e o f g lo r y a n d w ill ju d g e ( 6 2 :3 - 5 ) .
F o llo w in g th e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n 's p ro n o u n c e m e n t o f ju d g m e n t, th e k in g s o f
th e e a r th a r e le d b y th e a n g e ls to th e ir p u n is h m e n t ( 6 2 :9 - 1 2 ) . T h e p r e v a le n c e
o f ju d g m e n t in th e d e p ic tio n s o f " th a t S o n o f M a n h ig h lig h ts th e im p o r ta n c e
th e f ig u r e 's r o le a s J u d g e .

R e v e la tio n o f h id d e n th in g s
Second, th e E n o c h ic Son of M an r e v e a ls h id d e n th in g s ( 4 6 :3 ) and a ll th e
s e c r e ts o f w is d o m ( 5 1 :3 ) , w h ic h h a v e b e e n g iv e n to h im b y th e L o r d o f S p ir its
( 5 1 :3 ) . W h a t th e s e h id d e n th in g s e n ta il is n o t e n tir e ly c le a r . C o n s id e r in g th e
th in g s th a t E n o c h a n d th e W a tc h e r s r e v e a l, th e im p lic a tio n is th a t th e y in c lu d e
w h a t " th a t son of m an" h a s s e e n in h e a v e n . 2 1 T h e S o n o f M a n 's r e v e a lin g of
h id d e n th in g s is d e p e n d e n t o n h is b e in g chosen b y th e L o r d o f S p ir its ( 4 6 :3 ) ,
th e L o r d o f S p ir its g iv in g th e s e c r e ts o f w is d o m to h im , a n d h is e n th r o n e m e n t
o n th e th r o n e o f g lo r y ( 5 1 :3 ) .

S a lv a tio n
T h ir d , th e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n a ls o p la y s s o m e s o r t o f r o le in s a lv a tio n . T h e re
is n o e x p lic it s a lv if ic a c tio n th a t th e Son of M an c a r r ie s o u t. H o w e v e r , th e
s a lv a tio n o f th e r ig h te o u s a n d th e c h o s e n ta k e s p la c e o n th e d a y th a t th e S o n
of M an ju d g e s th e k in g s o f th e e a r th ( 6 2 :1 3 ) , and th e ir s a lv a tio n in c lu d e s
th e ir d w e llin g a n d e a tin g w ith th e S o n o f M a n fo re v e r ( 6 2 :1 4 ) . T hus, th e r e is
a n a p p a re n t c o n n e c tio n b e tw e e n ''th a t Son of M an" a n d th e s a lv a tio n o f th e
r ig h te o u s , b u t th e e m p h a s is o f th e P a r a b le s of E noch is o n th e S o n o f M a n 's act
o f ju d g m e n t c a r r ie d o u t o n th e k in g s o f th e e a r th . H o w e v e r , th e s a lv a tio n o f th e

20. A ll c ita tio n s a r e f r o m N ic k e ls b u r g a n d V a n d e rK a m , 1 E n o c h : A N e w T r a n s la tio n

( M in n e a p o lis , M N : F o r tr e s s , 2 0 0 4 ) .
21. S e e M . E . S to n e , " L is ts o f R e v e a le d T h in g s in th e A p o c a ly p tic L ite r a tu r e ," in M a g n a lia
D e i: T h e lv fig h ty A c ts o f G o d , e d . F . M . C r o s s , e t a l. ( G a r d e n C ity , N Y : D o u b le d a y , 1 9 7 6 ) , p p .
4 1 4 - 5 4 . C f . E lle n s , " W h a t is th e S o n o f M a n in J o h n ," p .. 2 2 3 .
 T h e E n o c h ic Son of M an 299

rig h te o u s o c c u rs a t th e sa m e tim e th a t th e k in g s a re ju d g e d . T h e im p lic a tio n is

th a t th e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n 's ju d g m e n t o fth e w ic k e d k in g s is sim u lta n e o u sly
v in d ic a tio n fo r th e rig h te o u s a n d c h o se n w h o w ill d w e ll w ith h im fo re v e r. 2 2

C h a r a c te r is tic s o f th e E n o c h ic S o n o j" } ,fa n

M e s s ia n ic
H a v in g d isc u sse d th e fu n c tio n s o f th e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n - a c tin g a s Ju d g e ,
re v e a lin g h id d e n th in g s, a n d p la y in g so m e p a rt in th e sa lv a tio n o f th e rig h te o u s
- w e w ill n o w a d d re ss th e c h a ra c te ristic s o f th is fig u re . T h e first c h a ra c te ristic
to b e n o te d is th a t th e S o n o f M a n is p o rtra y e d a s b e in g m e ssia n ic . H e is
e x p lic itly c a lle d "A n o in te d O n e " in 4 8 : 1 0 a n d 5 2 :4 a n d is d e p ic te d w ith ro y a l
a n d m e ssia n ic im a g e ry .
T h e in flu e n c e o f Isa ia h 1 1 w h ic h sp e a k s o f th e ro o t o f Je sse , th e D a v id ic
h e ir (2 S a m 2 :7 ; 4 Q I7 4 ), is n o tic e a b le in 4 9 :3 a n d 6 2 :2 . T h e fo rm e r te x t is
e sse n tia lly a c ita tio n o fIsa 1 1 :4 : "A n d in h im w ill d w e ll th e sp irit o f w isd o m
a n d th e sp irit o f in sig h t, a n d th e sp irit o f in stru c tio n a n d m ig h t, a n d th e
sp irit o f th o se w h o h a v e fa lle n a sle e p in rig h te o u sn e ss.,,2 3 In a d d itio n , th e
e n th ro n e m e n t im a g e ry c a rrie s ro y a l c o n n o ta tio n s a n d re fle c ts P s 1 1 0 . 2 4 T h e
rig h te o u s e a tin g w ith "th a t S o n o f M a n " m a y a lso e c h o m e ssia n ic b a n q u e t
tra d itio n s (lE n 6 2 : 1 4 ; c f Isa 2 5 :6 -8 ; 2 B a r 2 9 :8 ). A n d fin a lly , th e d e sig n a tio n
"R ig h te o u s O n e " m a y itse lf b e su g g e stiv e o f th e m e ssia n ic n a tu re o f th e
E n o c h ic S o n o fM a n . 2 5
T h e S o n o f M a n in th e P a r a b le s o f E n o c h is c le a rly p re se n te d a s th e M e ssia h
e v e n if th e d e sig n a tio n "A n o in te d O n e " is o n ly u se d o f th e fig u re tw ic e . 2 6 T h e
m e ssia n ic se n se is o b v io u s fro m th e u se o f te x ts su c h a s Isa ia h 1 1 a n d P sa lm
1 1 0 to d e sc rib e th e S o n o f M a n .

22. "T h a t S o n o f M a n " (o r "th a t so n o f m a n ") m a y b e th e a n te c e d e n t o f th e p ro n o u n in

4 8 :7 , in w h ic h c a se h e is a lso th e o n e w h o h a s "p re se rv e d th e p o rtio n o f th e rig h te o u s," "is th e
v in d ic a to r o f th e ir liv e s," a n d in w h o se "n a m e th e y a re sa v ~ d ." S e e C . A . G ie sc h e n , "T h e N a m e
o f th e S o n o f M a n in th e P a r a b le s o /E n o c h ," in E n o c h a n d th e M e s s ia h S o n o /M a n , p p . 2 3 8 -4 9 ,
e sp . p . 2 4 0 .
23. J. 1 . C o llin s, "T h e S o n o f M a n in F irst-C e n tu ry Ju d a ism ," iV T S 3 8 (1 9 9 2 ),4 4 8 -6 6 ;
W . H o rb u ry , A fe s s ia n is m A m o n g J e w s a n d C h r is tia n s : T w e lv e B ib lic a l a n d H is to r ic a l S tu d ie s
(L o n d o n : T :& T C la rk , 2 0 0 3 ), p . 1 3 9 .
24. M . H e n g e l, S tu d ie s in E a r z v C h r is to lo g y (E d in b u rg h : T & T C la rk , 1 9 9 5 ), p p . 1 8 5 -8 6 ;
B la c k , "M e ssia n ism o f th e P a r a b le s 0 / E n o c h : T h e ir D a te a n d C o n trib u tio n to C h risto lo g ic a l .
O rig in s," in T h e M e s s ia h , p p . 1 4 5 -6 8 .
25. Je r 2 3 :5 ; P ssS o l 1 7 :3 2 ,3 6 -3 7 ; A c ts 7 :5 2 . S e e G . S . O e g e rn a , "'T h e C o m in g o f th e
R ig h te o u s O n e ' in A c ts a n d 1 E n o c h ," in E n o c h a n d th e lv le s s ia h S o n o /A la n : R e v is itin g th e B o o k
o /P a r a b le s , pp. 2 5 0 -5 9 .
26. C f. K . K o c h , "Q u e stio n s R e g a rd in g th e S o -C a lle d S o n o f M a n in th e P a r a b le s o /E n o c h :
A R e sp o n se to S a b in o C h ia la a n d H e lg e K v a n v ig ," in E n o c h a n d th e A fe s s ia h S o n 0 / M a n , p p .
2 2 8 -3 7 .
300 P a r a b le s o jE n o c h

H e a v e n ly a n d p r e -e x is te n t
N o t o n ly is th e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n th e M e ssia h , b u t th e fig u re is fo u n d in
h e a v e n a n d a p p e a rs to h a v e e x iste d b e fo re th e c re a tio n o f th e w o rld . T h e S o n
o f M a n is " n a m e d " in th e p re se n c e o f th e L o rd o f S p irits ... e v e n b e fo re th e su n
a n d th e c o n ste lla tio n s w e re c re a te d , b e fo re th e sta rs o f h e a v e n w e re m a d e "
(4 8 :2 -3 ); h e w a s " h id d e n " in th e p re se n c e o f th e L o rd o f S p irits " b e fo re th e
w o rld w a s c re a te d " (4 8 :6 ); a n d h e w a s h id d e n a n d p re se rv e d in th e p re se n c e o f
th e L o rd o f S p irits " fro m th e b e g in n in g " (6 2 :7 ). T h e u se o fth e te rm s " n a m in g "
a n d e sp e c ia lly " h id in g " a n d " p re se rv in g " in th e se sa y in g s se e m to in d ic a te th a t
27
th e S o n o f M a n is p re -e x iste n t in h e a v e n .
S o m e sc h o la rs h a v e a rg u e d th a t th e se te x ts a c tu a lly re fe r to a p re -c re a tio n
e le c tio n o f th e S o n o f M a n a n d n o t to a p re -c re a tio n e x iste n c e o f th e fig u re . 2 8
In th e ir v ie w , " n a m in g " in d ic a te s e le c tio n a n d d o e s n o t re q u ire e x iste n c e .
V a n d e rK a m a d m its th a t " p re se rv in g " m a y m e a n m o re th a n " h id in g ," im p ly in g
so m e so rt o f e x iste n c e , b u t h e c o n te n d s th a t " fro m th e b e g in n in g " (6 2 :7 ) o n ly
re fe rs to th e b e g in n in g o f th e h id in g o f " th a t S o n o f M a n " a n d n o t to th e
b e g in n in g o f th e w o rld . 2 9
O n th e o th e r h a n d , th e h id in g o f th e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n " fro m th e
b e g in n in g " (6 2 :7 ) a p p e a rs to b e p a ra lle l to th e h id in g o f " th a t S o n o f M a n " in
th e p re se n c e o fth e L o rd o f S p irits " b e fo re th e w o rld w a s c re a te d " (4 8 :6 ). T h e
im p lic a tio n se e m s to b e th a t th e n a m in g a n d b id in g in d ic a te th e p re -e x iste n c e
o f th e S o n o f M a n a n d n o t m e re ly h is e le c tio n a n d c o n se q u e n t p ro te c tio n
3o In a d d itio n , th e se te x ts a lso re v e a l th a t " th a t S o n o f
d u rin g h is e a rth ly life .
M a n " is p re se n t in h e a v e n . T h e n a m in g , h id in g , a n d p re se rv in g a ll ta k e p la c e
in th e p re se n c e o f th e L o rd o f S p irits, a n d th e L o rd o f S p irits is c le a rly in
h e a v e n (3 9 :3 , 7 ; 7 0 :1 ; 7 1 :1 ).

S im ila r to G o d
A n o th e r c h a ra c te ristic o f th e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n is th a t th e fig u re is d e sc rib e d
31
in te rm s sim ila r to th o se u se d o fY H W H . In M ic a h 1 :4 , th e m O lm ta in s m e lt
lik e w a x a t th e c o m in g o f th e L o rd (P s 9 7 :5 ; N a h 1 :5 ), a n d in th e P a r a b l e s
of E noch, it is th e c o m in g o f th e E n o c h ic fig u re a t w h ic h th e m O llilta in s m e lt
(lE n 5 2 :6 ).3 2 T h e ju d g m e n t o f th e Ic in g s o f th e e a rth is a c c o m p lish e d b y th e
L o rd (Is a 2 4 :2 1 -2 3 ), b u t th e S o n o f M a n c a rrie s o u t ju d g m e n t in th e P a r a b l e s

27. E . S jo b e rg , D e r l v / e n s c h e n s o h n i m A i h i o p i s c h e n H enochbuch (S k rifte r U tg iv n a a v

K u n g l; H u m a n istik a V e te n sk a p ssa m fu n d e t 1 .4 1 ; L u n d : G le e ru p , 1 9 4 6 ), p . 9 0 ; C a se y , " U se o f
th e T e rm ," p . 1 3 . T h e iso h n , R i c h t e r , p p . 1 2 8 -3 9 , a n d m o re re c e n tly K v a n v ig , " S o n o f M a n ," p .
2 0 2 , se e a c o n n e c tio n b e tw e e n th e p re -e x iste n c e o f th e so n o f m a n a n d o f W isd o m in P ro v e rb s 8 .
28. T . W . M a n so n , " T h e S o n o f M a n in D a n ie l, E n o c h a n d th e G o sp e ls," B J R L 3 2 (1 9 5 0 ),
1 7 1 -9 3 ; V a n d e rK a riJ, " R ig h te o u s O n e ," p p . 1 7 9 -8 2 ; a lso E lle n s, < 'W h a t is th e S o n o f M a n in
Jo h n ," p p . 2 2 6 - n
29. V a n d e rK a m , " R ig h te o u s O n e ," p . 1 8 1 .
30. C a se y , " U se o f th e T e rm ," p . 1 3 ; C o llin s, " S o n o f M a n ," p . 4 5 5 ; W a lc k , " S ()n o f M a n ,"
p p . 3 0 4 .--0 5 .
31. S e e B u rk e tt ( D e b a t e , p . 1 0 0 ) fo r th e fo llo w in g e x a m p le s.
32. B la c k , B o o k o f E n o c h , p . 2 1 6 .
 The Enochic Son of Man 30l

of Enoch (49:4; 55:4; 61:8-9; 69:27). The Day ofJudgmentis typically known
as "the Day ofthe Lord" (Joel 1:15; Obad 15; Zech 14:1-21). In the Parables
of Enoch, the Day of Judgment is described as "the day of the Chosen One"
(61:5). In Ps 114:6, the mountains skip like rams at the coming ofYHW H. In
the Parables of Enoch, it is the enthronement of the Enochic figure and his
revelation of the secrets of wisdom that leads to the mountains leaping like
rams and hills skipping likel~mbs (51:4).
C. A. Gieschen has recently argued that both the Lord of Spirits and "that
Son of M an" possess the Divine Name. He states: "1 Enoch strengthens the
identification of the Ancient of Days and the Son of M an within the mystery
of the one YHW H by teaching that they share the one Divine Name.,,33 In
addition, "that Son of M an" sits upon the Lord of Spirits' throne of glory
(62:2).34 All of these descriptions ofYHW H are applied to the Enochic Son of
M an, suggesting, at the very least, a close association between the two, if not
some sort of identification.

Glorified and worshipped

The fourth and fifth characteristics of the Enochic Son of M an are closely
related. Following the naming of "that Son of M an" in the presence of the
Lord of Spirits, "all who dwell on the earth will fall down and worship
before him, and they will glorify and bless and sing hymns to the name of the
Lord of Spirits" (48:5).35 TIle figure's relationship with glory is additionally
highlIghted by the enthronement of the Son of M an on the "throne of glory"
(61:8; 62:5), which is elsewhere referred to as the "throne of his glory" (62:2,
3; 69:27, 29). Closely related to the glorification of the Enochic Son of M an is
the depiction of the Son of M an as worthy of worship. 36 In a passage similar
to the one cited above, we see that once the kings of the earth recognize "that
Son of M an" for who he is, they fall on their faces before him, and "they will
worship and set their hope on that son of man, and they will supplicate and
petition for mercy from him" (62:9).

Human
The possibility exists that the human figure Enoch is understood to be "that Son
of M an" in the Parables of Enoch. If so, the Son of M an is also characterized
as being a human being. Viewing Enoch as "that Son of M an" depends on how
lEn 70:1 and 71:14 are understood. lEn 70:1 states: "[Enoch's] name was
raised into the presence of that son of man and into the presence of the Lord of
Spirits from among those who dwell on the earth." In 71:14, Enoch is greeted
by M ichael the archangel and told: "You are that son of man who was born for

33. Gieschen, "Name of the Son of M an," p.242.

34. See D. Hannah, "The Throne of His Glory: The Divine Throne and Heavenly M ediators
in Revelation and the Similitudes of Enoch," ZNW94 (2003), 68-96.
35. The name of the Lord of Spirits most likely refers to the name with which "that Son of
M an" has been named (48:3). See Gieschen, "Name of the Son of M an," pp. 240, 242.
36. W alck, "Son of M an," pp. 304-D5.
3D2 Parables ojEnoch

rig h te o u sn e ss a n d rig h te o u sn e ss d w e lls o n y o u ." T h u s, 70: 1 se e m s to in d ic a te

th a t E n o c h a n d "th a t S o n o f M a n " a re se p a ra te fig u re s, w h ile 7 1 : 1 4 a p p a re n tly
p o rtra y s M ic h a e l id e n tify in g E noch a s "th a t S o n o f M a n ."
T h e re a re e sse n tia lly th re e w a y s o f a d d re ssin g th e re la tio n sh ip b e tw e e n 7 0 :1
a n d 7 1 : 1 4 : 3 7 1 ) C h a p te rs 7 0 -7 1 w e re n o t o rig in a l to th e Parables of Enoch a n d
th u s th e re is n o c o n n e c tio n b e tw e e n E n o c h a n d "th a t S o n o f M a n .,,3 8 2 ) E n o c h
is o n ly d e c la re d to b e a h u m a n b e in g o r "a so n o f m a n " b y M ic h a e l in 71: 14
39
(c f. E z e k 2 :1 ; D a n 8 :1 7 ). 3 ) In 7 0 :1 E n o c h is c a lle d "th a t S o n o f M a n " a n d
n o t ra ise d to "th a t S o n o f M a n ," in d ic a tin g th a t E n o c h m a y b e id e n tifie d w ith
"th a t S o n o f M a n " th ro u g h o u t th e Parables of Enoch.4o
B e c a u se o f re c e n t E th io p ic m a n u sc rip t d isc o v e n e s, th e th ird o p tio n m a y b e
41
th e m o re p la u sib le o p tio n o f th e a b o v e th re e . H o w e v e r, th e id e n tific a tio n o f
E noch w ith "th a t S o n o f M a n " w a s m o st lik e ly n o t h o w th e S o n o f M a n wis
in te rp re te d o n c e th e Parables of Enoch w a s tra n sm itte d b y C h ristia n c o p y ists,
b u t in th e e a rly Je w ish sta g e s o f tra n sm issio n , th e re isa g re a te r lik e lih o o d
th a t th is u n d e rsta n d in g w a s p o ssib le . If c h a p te rs 7 0 a n d 7 1 w e re p a rt o f th e
Parables of Enoch a t so m e p o in t p rio r to th e te x t's tra n sm issio n b y C h ristia n s,
it m a y b e p la u sib ly a rg u e d th a t th e re w a s a tim e w h e n "th a t S o n o f M a n " w a s
42
u n d e rsto o d to b e a h u m a n fig u re , n a m e ly E n o c h .

Summary
The Son of M an in th e Parables of Enoch is a fig u re ro o te d in th e O ld
T e sta m e n t im a g e s o f D a n ie l 7 a n d th e S e rv a n t Songs o f Isa ia h , a s w e ll as
m e ssia n ic p a ssa g e s fro m Isa ia h a n d P sa lm 1 1 0 . "T h a t Son of M an" is th e
M e ssia h o r A n o in te d O n e , is p re -e x iste n t in h e a v e n , sh a re s sim ila ritie s w ith
YHW H, is g lo rifie d a n d is w o rth y o f w o rsh ip , a n d w a s a t so m e p o in t m o st
lik e ly id e n tifie d w ith th e h u m a n fig u re E noch. The E n o c h ic Son of M an
n m c tio n s a s Ju d g e , re v e a le r o f h id d e n th in g s, a n d o ste n sib ly a s sa v io r o f th e
43
rig h te o u s.
N o w th a t w e h a v e h a d a b rie f o v e rv i e w o f th e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n , it is tim e
to tu rn o u r a tte n tio n to "th e S o n o f M a n " in Jo h n . A re th e re sim ila ritie s b e tw e e n
th e tw o fig u re s? C a n th e Jo h a n n in e S o n o f M a n b e c a lle d "a p o c a ly p tic "? W hat
re la tio n sh ip m ig h t e x ist b e tw e e n th e Parables of Enoch a n d th e G o sp e l o f
Jo h n ?

37. A lso , se e 1 . T . S tu c k e n b ru c k 's c h a p te r in th is b o o k .

38. M . A . K n ib b , "M e ssia n ism in th e P se u d e p ig ra p h a in L ig h t o f th e S c ro lls," DSD 2
(1 9 9 5 ), 1 6 5 -8 4 .
39. C o llin s, "S o n o f M a n ," p p . 4 5 6 -5 7 .
40. V a n d e rK a rn , "R ig h te o u s O n e ," p p . 1 8 2 -8 4 .
41. D . C . O lso n , "E n o c h a n d th e S o ~ o f M a n in th e E p ilo g u e o f th e -P a ra b le s," JSP i8
(1 9 9 8 ),2 7 -3 8 .
42. S e e K v a n v ig , "S o n o L M a n ," p p . 1 9 7 -2 1 0 .
43. T h e la st p o in t im p lie s th a t "th a t S o n o f M a n " is a lso a rig h te o u s fig u re a n d th e le a d e r o f
th e rig h te o u s. W a lc k ("S o n o f M a n ," p p . 3 0 9 ,3 1 1 ), p ro v id e s tw o se ts o f ta b u la te d c h a ra c te ristic s
th a t a re b o th b ro a d e r a n d m o re sp e c ific .
 The Enochic Son of Man 303

The Johannine Son of Man

The J ohannine Son of M an is m ost w ell-know n for the them es of ascending and
descending (1:51; 3: 13; 6:62), lifting up (3: 14; .8:28: 12:34), and glorification
(12:23; 13:31-32). This language connected w ith "the Son of M an" in John
is different from w hat is found in the Synoptic Son of M an sayings, and so
these them es stand out as distinctive Johannine features. A t the sam e tim e, it
is possible to discern som e sim ilarities w ith the Son of M an in the Parables of
Enoch. For exam ple, R . H . C harles saw a cO lm ection betw een In 5:27 and 1
Enoch 69:27. 44 D espite claim s that John;s G ospel lacks an apocalyptic sense,45
w e w ill see in the follow ing section that like the Enochic Son of M an, the
Johannine Son of M an can be described as apocalyptic. W hat that m ay m ean
for possible relationships betw een the Parables of Enoch and John's G ospel
is a separate question that w ill be addressed in the final section of this paper.

Functions of the Johannine Son of iV/an

Salvation
W hereas the Enochic Son of M an has an im plicit salvific role w ith the righteous
in the Parables of Enoch (62:13-14; 48:7), the Son of M an in the G ospel of
John is m ore clearly involved in salvation. Jesus says in In 6:27, "D o not w ork
for the food that perishes, but for the food that rem ains to eternal life, w hich
the Son of M an w ill give you." It is the Son of M an w ho provides this food that
brings eternal life, and further in chapter 6, w e find that the food that the Son
of M an w ill give is him self (6:35). Jesus even says that no one can have life
unless they eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of M an (6:53). These
passages draw attention to the dependence of salvation or eternal life on the
Johannine Son of M an.
A gain, we see the Son of M an's role in salvation in 3: 14-15 . Jesus
states that it is necessary for the Son of M an to b~ lifted up just as M oses
46
lifted up the serpent in the w ilderness. The Son of M an's lifting up w ill
occur so that everyone w ho believes m ight have eternal life in the Son of
47
M an. Further, it can be argued that it is the Son of M an w ho w ill raise
those in the grave to a resurrection of life or a resurrection of judgm ent in

44. C harles, Enoch, pp. 14Q -41.

45. D ouglas R . A . H are, The Son of Man Tradition (M inneapolis, M N : Fortress, 1990), p.
92; B urkett, Debate, pp. 68-81.
46. In 3:14 is the exegetical focus of C harlesw orth's The Good and Evil Serpent: How
a Universal Symbol Became Christianized (The A nchor Y ale B ible R eference Library, N ew
H aven, C T: Y ale U niversity Press, 2010).
47. ev IZUTW (also 20:31) and not el~ lZuT6v (as in 3:16, 36; etc.). See 1. B lank, Krisis.
Untersuchungen zur johanneischen Christologie und Eschatologie (Freiburg im B reisgau:
Lam bertus, 1964), p. 85; R . E. B row n, The Gospel According to John: Introduction, Translation,
and Notes (2 vols.; A B 29, 29A 2; N ew Y ork: D oubleday, 1966-70), p. 133.
304 P a ra b le s o f E n o c h

48
5 :2 7 -2 9 . T h u s , b o th th e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n a n d th e E n o c h ic S o n o f
M a n ta k e p a rt in s a lv a tio n , e v e n if th e J o h a n n in e fig u re is m o re e x p lic itly
in v o lv e d in s a lv a tio n .

Judgm ent
T h e S o n o f M a n in J o h n is d e p ic te d a s th e J u d g e b o th a t th e fu tu re , e n d -tim e .
ju d g m e n t a n d in th e p re s e n t. In J n 5 :2 7 , J e s u s th e S o n h a s th e a u th o rity to
e x e c u te ju d g m e n t b e c a u s e h e is " th e S o n o f M a n .,,4 9 H is fu tu re e s c h a to lo g ic a l
ju d g m e n t c a n b e s e e n in J n 5 :2 8 -2 9 w h e re th e d e a d w ill c o m e o u t o f th e g ra v e
e ith e r to a re s u rre c tio n o f e te rn a l life o r to a re s u rre c tio n o f ju d g m e n t a fte r
th e y h a v e h e a rd th e v o ic e o f th e S o n o f M a n (c f. 6 :4 0 ).5 0 T h e J o h a n n in e S o n
o f M a n 's ro le in p re s e n t ju d g m e n t is n o tic e a b le in J e s u s ' s ta te m e n t a s S o n o f
M a n : " F o r ju d g m e n t I h a v e c o m e in to th is w o rld " (9 :3 9 ).
S o m e s c h o la rs h a v e a rg u e d th a t J e s u s d o e s n o t ju d g e in J o h n b e c a u s e o f h is
s ta te m e n ts in 3 :1 7 a n d 8 :1 5 : " fo r G o d d id n o t s e n d th e S o n in to th e w o rld to
ju d g e th e w o rld b u t to s a v e it" a n d " I ju d g e n o o n e .,,5 1H o w e v e r, in 3 : 1 8 , J e s u s
s a y s th a t e v e ry o n e n o t b e lie v in g h a s a lre a d y b e e n ju d g e d . J e s u s th e S o n o f
M a n m a y h a v e c o m e fo r s a lv a tio n , b u t h is c o m in g fo rc e s a d e c is io n o f b e lie f
o r u n b e lie f. J u d g m e n t, w h ic h h e h a s th e a u th o rity to e x e c u te b e c a u s e h e is
th e S o n o f M a n , re s u lts fro m h is c o m in g , ju s t a s lig h t c o m in g in to th e w o rld
re v e a ls d a rk n e s s (3 :1 7 -2 1 ; c f. 1 :3 -5 ; 1 5 :2 2 ).5 2 It is a lre a d y w o rth n o tin g th a t
th e E n o c h ic fig u re h a s a lm o s t th e o p p o s ite fo c u s in th e P a ra b le s of E noch:
s a lv a tio n re s u lts fo r th e rig h te o u s a t th e c o m p le tio n o f th e E n o c h ic S o n o f
M a n 's ju d g m e n t o f th e w ic k e d .

R e v e la tio n o f h e a v e n ly th in g s
J e s u s in th e G o s p e l o f J o h n is k n o w n a s th e re v e a le r, th e o n e w h o b rin g s
re v e la tio n fro m G o d (1 :1 8 ; 1 4 :6 -8 ). A s th e S o n o f M a n , h e re v e a ls h e a v e n ly
th in g s , a n d h e g ro u n d s h is a b ility a n d a u th o rity to re v e a l h e a v e n ly th in g s in
h is o rig in fro m h e a v e n (3 :1 2 -1 3 ). J u s t a s th e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n is g iv e n th e
s e c re ts o f w is d o m b y th e L o rd o f S p irits , s o J e s u s a s th e S o n o f M a n re c e iv e s
in fo rm a tio n fro m th e F a th e r. J e s u s s a y s , " W h e n y o u h a v e lifte d u p th e S o n o f
M a n , th e n y o u w ill k n o w th a t! A m a n d th a t I d o n o th in g o n m y o w n , b u t ju st
a s th e F a th e r te a c h e s m e , th e se th in g s I sp e a k ? ' (8 :2 8 ; c f. 5 : 1 9 -2 3 ).

48. 1 . F re y , D ie jo h a n n e ise h e E se h a to lo g ie . B a n d e 1 -3 (W U N T 1 .9 6 , 1 1 0 , 1 1 7 ; T iib in g e n :

M o h r S ie b e c k , 1 9 9 7 , 1 9 9 8 ,2 0 0 0 ), v o l. 3 , p p . 3 8 2 , 3 8 6 .
49. T h e re is d e b a te c o n c e rn in g w h e th e r o r n o t th e a n a rth ro u s p h ra s e u io C ; avepW1tOU re fe rs
to " th e S o n o f M a n ." T h e c o n te x t o f J o h n 's G o s p e l in fe rs th a t it is J e s u s a s th e S o n o f M a n w h o
h a s th e a u th o rity to ju d g e a n d n o t J e s u s a s a h u m a n b e in g . F o r a m o re c o m p le te d is c u s s io n , s e e
R e y n o ld s , A p o e a zv p tie S o n o f M a n , p p . 1 3 2 -3 7 . C o n tra B u rk e tt, S o n o f th e M a n , p p . 4 1 -4 5 .
50. B la n k , K risis, p . 1 7 8 .
51. E lle n s (" W h a t is th e S o n o f M a n in J o h n ," p . 9 9 ) s ta te s th a t " th e S o n o f M a n is th e ju d g e
w h o re fu s e s to ju d g e o r p ro s e c u te b e c a u s e h e d o e s n o t n e e d to d o s o ."
52. M o lo n e y , J o h a n n in e S o n o f lv /a n , p . 8 5 .

____J
 T h e E n o c h ic Son of M an 305

C h a r a c te r is tic s o f th e J o h a n n in e Son of M an

T he above th re e fu n c tio n s o f sa lv a tio n , ju d g m e .n t, a n d re v e la tio n a re th re e

fu n c tio n s sh a re d b y th e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n a n d th e Jo h a n n in e Son of M an.
The fo llo w in g se c tio n h ig h lig h ts sim ila r c h a ra c te ristic s sh a re d b y th e tw o
fig u re s.

M e s s ia n ic
B o th th e E n o c h ic Son of M an a n d th e S o n o f M a n in Jo h n a re c a lle d th e
M e ssia h . In th e c o n te x t o f th e S o n o f M a n sa y in g in 1 :5 1 , th e d isc ip le s A n d re w
a n d P h ilip se p a ra te ly sp e a k o f Je su s a s th e M e ssia h . A n d re w u se s th e w o rd
ME(j(jia~ (1 :4 1 ), a n d P h ilip re fe rs to th e "o n e w h o m M o se s a n d th e p ro p h e ts
w ro te " (1 :4 5 ). N a th a n a e l a lso m a k e s m e ssia n ic c la im s fo r Je su s, c a llin g h im
"th e k in g o f Isra e l" (1 :4 9 ). T h e re fe re n c e to th e fig tre e in 1 :4 8 m a y a lso h a v e
53
m e ssia n ic im p lic a tio n s v ia Z e c h 3 : 1 0 . J. H a ro ld E lle n s d o e s n o t se e th e
m e ssia n ic c o n n e c tio n in 1 :5 1 . H e sa y s th a t w e sh o u ld "le t th e lo g io n sa y o n ly
as m uch a s it a c tu a lly sa y s."S 4 A t th e sa m e tim e , w e c a n n o t n e g le c t th e fa c t
th a t Jn 1 :3 5 -5 1 is fu ll o f m e ssia n ic e x p e c ta tio n a n d th a t th e lo g io n is th e fin a l
sta te m e n t o f th is se c tio n . N o t o n ly is Je su s th e S o n o f M a n , h e is a lso M e ssia h .
T h e c o n n e c tio n b e tw e e n "th e S o n o f M a n " a n d "M e ssia h " is a lso n o tic e a b le
in 1 2 :3 4 w h e re th e c ro w d does not appear to d istin g u ish b e tw e e n th e tw o
title s. T h e m a jo rity o f sc h o la rs se e so m e so rt o f sy n o n y m y b e tw e e n th e tw o
d e sig n a tio n s. T h is v ie w is illu stra te d b y R . L e iv e sta d 's sta te m e n t: "It is c le a rly
p re su p p o se d th a t a "S o n o f m a n " d iffe re n t fro m th e M e ssia h is q u ite u n h e a rd
o f. ,,5 5

H e a v e n ly a n d p r e - e x is te n t
N ot o n ly is th e Jo h a n n in e Son of M an th e M e ssia h , h e is a lso a h e a v e n ly
fig u re a n d a p re -e x iste n t fig u re . T h e p re -e x iste n t n a tu re o f th e Jo h a n n in e Je su s
is m o re th a n o b v io u s, e sp e c ia lly in su c h v e rse s a s 1 :1 , 1 4 , a n d 1 8 . H o w e v e r,
Je su s' p re -e x iste n c e c a n a lso b e o b se rv e d in th o se p a ssa g e s th a t sp e a k o f th e
S o n o f M a n 's a sc e n t a n d ! o r d e sc e n t. In 3 : 1 3 , Je su s sa y s: "N o o n e a sc e n d s to
heaven e x c e p t th e o n e w h o d e sc e n d s fro m h e a v e n , th e S o n o f M a n ." L e a v in g
a sid e th e q u e stio n o f w h e th e r o r n o t th e S o n o f M a n a sc e n d e d to h e a v e n , it
cannot b e d e n ie d th a t th e S o n o f M a n is th e o n e w h o h a s d e sc e n d e d fro m
heaven. F ra n c is M o lo n e y h a s sta te d th a t w e sh o u ld n o t m a k e to o m u c h o f th e
"m o v e m e n t" o f th e S o n o f M a n ,5 6 b u t in m y o p in io n , d e sc e n t fr o m heaven

53. C . K o ~ ste r, "M e ssia n ic E x e g e sis a n d th e C a ll o f N a th a n a e l (Jo h n 1 :4 4 -5 1 )," J S N T 3 9

(1 9 9 0 ), 2 3 -3 4 .
54. E lle n s, "W h a t is th e S o n o f M a n in Jo h n ," p . 5 3 .
55. R . L e iv e sta d , "E x it th e A p o c a ly p tic S o n o f M a n ," N T S 1 8 (1 9 7 2 ), 2 4 3 -6 7 ; se e p .
2 5 1 . C ( B u rk e tt; S o n o f th e lv ia n , p . 1 6 8 ; R . B a u c k h a m , "M e ssia n ism A c c o rd in g to th e G o sp e l
o f Jo h n ," in C h a lle n g in g P e r s p e c tiv e s o n th e G o s p e l o f J o h n , e d . J. L ie rm a n (W U N T 2 .2 1 9 ;
T u b in g e n : M o h r S ie b e c k , 2 0 0 6 ), p p . 3 4 -6 8 .
56. F . J. M o lo n e y , "E d ito r's N o te ," in R . E . B ro w n , A n I n tr o d u c tio n to th e G o s p e l o f J o h n ,
e d . M o lo n e y (N e w Y o rk : D o u b le d a y , 2 0 0 6 ), p . 2 5 7 , n . 8 7 .
306 P a r a b le s o f E n o c h

d em an d s p rev io u s ex isten ce in h eav en . In th e case o f th e S o n o f M an in Jn

3 :1 3 , th e S o n o f M an 's d escen t fro m h eav en im p lies h is h eav en ly an d p re-
ex isten t n atu re.
In Jesu s' statem en t in 6 :6 2 , th e S o n o f M an w ill o n e d ay b e seen ascen d in g
to w h ere h e w as b e fo r e . C o n sid erin g th at h e d escen d ed fro m h eav en (3 :1 3 ),
th e p h rase "w h ere h e w as b efo re" m u st refer to th e S o n o f M an 's p rio r
ex isten ce in h eav en . T h e h y p o th etical asp ect o f th is statem en t is n o t th e S o n
o f M an 's ascen t, b u t rath er w h eth er th e u n b eliev in g d iscip les w ill s e e th is
ascen t. 5 7 F u rth er h in ts o fth e S o n o f M an 's h eav en ly p re-ex isten ce can b e seen
in th e d escrip tio n s o fJesu s' g o in g aw ay as it retu rn to th e F ath er (1 3 :3 1 -3 3 ;
cf. 1 4 :2 -3 ).

S im ila r to G o d
L ik e th e S o n o f M an in th e P a r a b le s o f E n o c h , th e Jo h an n in e S o n o f M an
sh ares sim ilarities w ith G o d . F irst, b o th G o d an d th e S o n o f M an are d escrib ed
w ith th e ad jectiv e "liv in g " in th e co n tex t o f Jesu s' S o n o f M an statem en t in
6 :5 3 , in w h ich h e states: "u n less y o u eat th e flesh o f th e S o n o f M an an d d rin k
h is b lo o d , y o u d o n o t h av e life in y o u rselv es." In 6 :5 1 , Jesu s th e S o n o f M an
refers to h im self as "th e liv in g b read " (6 ap-rot; 6 ~wv), an d o n ly a few v erses
later, h e calls G o d "th e liv in g F ath er" (6 ~ w v 7raTIJP; 6 :5 7 ).
A lo n g w ith b ein g d escrib ed as "liv in g ," G o d an d th e S o n o f M an are b o th
said to b e g lo rified . "N o w is th e S o n o f M an g lo rified , an d G o d is g lo rified in
h im . If G o d is g lo rified in h im , G o d w ill g lo rify h im in h im self, an d h e w ill
g lo rify h im im m ed iately " (1 3 :3 1 -3 2 ). F ro m th is statem en t it can b e clearly seen
th at th e ?esp ectiv e g lo rificatio n s o f th e S o n o f M an an d G o d are in tertw in ed . 5 8
T h ird , in 8 :2 4 , 2 8 , th e sim ilarities b etw een th e S o n o f M an an d G o d to u ch
o n sh ared id en tity . H ere, Jesu s tells th e Jew ish lead ers, "W h en y o u h av e lifted
u p th e S o n o f M an , th en y o u w ill k n o w th at I am ... " T h e u se o f "I am " (EyW
£ illl) is m o st lik ely th e ab so lu te u se o f th e p h rase an d th u s a referen ce to th e
d iv in e n am e (see L X X E x 3 : 1 4 ; Isa 4 3 : 1 0 ).5 9T h e u se o f th e ex p ressio n in Jn
8 :2 8 im p lies th at G o d an d Jesu s th e S o n o f M an sh are th e sam e n am e.
F in ally , th e S o n o f M an sh ares th e fu n ctio n s o f ju d g in g an d g iv in g life w ith
G o d . In th e co n tex t o f th e ex p ressio n "th e S o n o f M an " in 5 :2 7 , w e see th at
Jesu s ju d g es an d g iv es life. A lth o u g h th ese are ty p ical actio n s o f G o d (5 :2 1 -
2 2 ), G o d th e F ath er h as g iv en Jesu s th e au th o rity to d o th ese actio n s (5 :2 4 -2 7 ;
cf.9 :3 9 ).

57. P ain ter, "E n ig m atic," p . 1 8 8 3 . C o n tra M o lo n ey , "T h e Jo h an n in e S o n o f M an R ev isited ,"

in T h e o lo g y a n d C h r is to lo g y in th e F o u r th G o s p e l: E s s a y s b y th e A /e m b e r s o f th e S lV T S J o h a n n in e
W r itin g s S e m in a r , ed . G . V an B elle, et al. (B E T L 1 8 4 ; L eu v en : L eu v en U n iv ersity P ress, 2 0 0 5 ),
p p . 1 7 7 -2 0 2 ; see esp . p . 1 9 5 .
58. H . D ieck m an n , "D er S o h n d es M en sch en im Jo h an n esev an g eliu m ," S c h o la s tik 2 (1 9 2 7 ),
2 2 9 -4 7 ; see esp . p . 2 4 1 .
59. C . H . W illiam s, I a m H e : T h e In te lp r e ta tio n o f ~ 4 n fH C t'in J e w is h a n d E a r ~ v C h r is tia n
L ite r a tu r e (W U N T 2 .1 1 3 ; T u b in g en : M o h r S ieb eck , 2 0 0 0 ), p p . 2 6 6 -7 5 . S ee also In 4 :2 6 ; 8 :5 8 ;
1 3 :1 9 ; 1 8 :5 ,6 ,8 .
 T h e E n o ch ic S o n o f lV la n 307

G lo rified
A s m e n tio n e d a b o v e , th e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n is g lo r if ie d . T h e S o n o f M a n 's
g lo r if ic a tio n is f ir s t m e n tio n e d in 1 2 :2 3 w h e n Jesus says, "T he hour has com e
f o r th e S o n o f M a n to b e g lo r if ie d ." B u t it is n o t u n til J u d a s ' d e p a r tu r e in to th e
n ig h t in 1 3 :3 0 th a t J e s u s s a y s , " N o w is th e S o n o f M a n g lo r if ie d " { 1 3 :3 1 ) .,T h e
v e rse s f o llo w in g 1 2 :2 3 s p e a k o f a k e rn e l of w heat d y in g , th e o n e h a tin g h is
s o u l in th is w o r ld k e e p in g it to e te r n a l lif e , a n d th e im p o r ta n c e o f f o llo w in g
Jesus if o n e is to s e r v e h im ( 1 2 :2 4 - 2 6 ) . T hese v e rse s im p ly th e c o n n e c tio n
b e tw e e n th e Son o f M a n 's g lo r if ic a tio n and Jesus' d e a th o n th e c ro ss. th e
. r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n th e g lo r if ic a tio n o f th e S o n o f M a n a n d J u d a s ' d e p a r tu r e
a ls o p o in ts to th is c o r r e la tio n b e tw e e n g lo r if ic a tio n and c r u c if ix io n (1 3 ~ 3 0 -
3 1 ) . T h e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n 's g lo r y th e r e f o r e in c lu d e s th e d e g r a d a tio n and
s h a m e o f th e c r o s s .
H o w e v e r, th e c r u c if ix io n is n o t a ll th a t is m e a n t b y th e Son o f M a n 's
g lo r if ic a tio n ; th e r e s u r r e c tio n a p p e a rs to b e p a r t o f h is g lo r if ic a tio n a s w e ll.
F o r in s ta n c e , th e d is c ip le s ' m e m o r ie s a r e tr ig g e r e d a f te r h e is r a is e d ( 2 :2 2 )
and a f te r Jesus is g lo r if ie d ( 1 2 :1 6 ) . T h is c o r r e la tio n of Jesus' g lo r if ic a tio n
a n d h is r e s u r r e c tio n im p lie s th e in c lu s io n o f th e r e s u r r e c tio n in th e S o n o f
M a n 's g lo r if ic a tio n .
6o L ik e th e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n , th e S o n o f M a n in J o h n
is g lo r if ie d . I n J o h n , th e d if f e r e n c e is th a t th is g lo r y f ir s t in c lu d e s th e s u f f e r in g
a n d d e g r a d a tio n o f th e c r o s s b e f o r e th e S o n o f M a n is g lo r if ie d in h e a v e n . 6 1

W o rsh ip p ed
A n o th e r c h a r a c te r is tic o f th e J o h a n n in e Son of M an th a t is s h a r e d w ith th e
f ig u r e in th e P a ra b les a fE n o ch is th a t b o th a r e c o n s id e r e d w o r th y o f w o r s h ip .
A f te r th e m a n b o r n b lin d is th r o w n o u t o f th e synagogue because h e c la im s th a t
J e s u s is f r o m G o d ( 9 :3 3 - 3 4 ) , J e s u s f in d s th e m a n a n d a s k s h im if h e b e lie v e s
in th e S o n o f M a n ( 9 :3 5 ) . O n c e th e m a n r e a liz e s th a t J e s u s is th e S o n o f M a n ,
th e m a n s a y s " I b e lie v e " a n d f a lls d o w n a n d w o r s h ip s J e s u s ( 9 :3 8 ) . T h e G r e e k
w o rd tr a n s la te d a s " w o r s h ip " ('lT p 0 G 'X u v £ w ) is u s e d n in e tim e s in J n 4 :2 4 - 2 8 to
r e f e r to p r o p e r w o r s h ip o f G o d ( c f . 1 2 :2 0 ) . B a s e d o n th e u s a g e o f th e w o r d in
J o h n , th is is n o t s im p ly a n a c t o f r e s p e c t, b u t im p lie s th a t th is is w o r s h ip th a t
w o u ld n o r m a lly b e g iv e n to G o d .

H u m a n fig u re
F in a lly , a lth o u g h it is a lm o s tto o o b v io u s to m e n tio n , th e S o n o f M a n in J o h n 's
G ospel is a h u m a n b e in g , Jesus, th e s o n o f J o s e p h ( 1 :1 4 ; 6 :4 2 ) . The Son of
M an h a s f le s h a n d b lo o d ( 6 :5 3 ) , and Jesus is c o m m o n ly c a lle d a "hum an"
(avapW'lTO~) b y h is o p p o n e n ts ( 9 : 1 6 ,2 4 ; c f . 6 :4 2 ) .

60. B la n k , K risis, p . 2 6 7 ; P . E n s o r , " T h e G lo r if ic a tio n o f th e S o n o f M a n : A n A n a ly s is o f

J o h n 1 3 :3 1 - 3 2 ," T .vn B u /5 8 .2 (2 0 0 7 ), 2 2 9 -5 2 .
61. J e s u s ' g o in g a w a y to th e F a th e r m a y f u r th e r s u g g e s t th e in c lu s io n o f h is r e tu r n to th e
F a th e r a s p a rt a f h is g lo r if ic a tio n ( 1 3 :3 2 - 3 3 ; 1 7 : 1 - 5 ) .

-- j
308 Parablesof Enoch

Summary
T h e J o h a n n in .e S o n o f M a n is p o r tr a y e d a s a f ig u r e w h o a s c e n d s and descends,
is lif te d u p , g lo r if ie d , b e lie v e d in , g iv e s lif e , a n d ju d g e s . The Son of M an
f u n c tio n s a s th e g iv e r o f s a lv a tio n , Judge, a n d r e v e a le r o f h e a v e n ly th in g s . As
n o te d a b o v e , th e f ig u r e is c h a r a c te r iz e d a s th e M e s s ia h , a s h e a v e n ly a n d p re -
e x is te n t, a s s im ila r to G o d , a s g lo r if ie d a n d w o r s h ip p e d , and as a hum an b e in g .

The Son of Man in the Parables of Enoch and in the Gospel of John

Similarities between the Enochic and Johannine figures

F ro m th e a b o v e d is c u s s io n , it s h o u ld b e a p p a re n t th a t th e S o n o f M a n in th e
Parables of Enoch a n d th e J o h a n n in e Son of M an have a num ber o f s im ila r
f u n c tio n s and c h a r a c te r is tic s . A lth o u g h em phases b e tw e e n th e tw o te x ts a re
d if f e r e n t, b o th f ig u r e s ta k e p a rt in ju d g m e n t, s a lv a tio n , and th e r e v e la tio n
o f h id d e n th in g s , and b o th a r e d e p ic te d a s th e M e s s ia h , a s b e in g h e a v e n ly
a n d p r e - e x is te n t, a s s h a r in g s im ila r itie s w ith G od, a s g lo r if ie d , a s w o r th y of
w o r s h ip , and as a hum an f ig u r e .
T h e a b o v e s im ila r itie s d o n o t re p re se n t th e o n ly f u n c tio n s a n d c h a r a c te r is tic s
o f th e s e f ig u r e s , b u t m e r e ly speak to th o s e w h e re o v e r la p is a p p a r e n t. Som e
f u r th e r s im ila r itie s w o r th m e n tio n in g a re th e tw o f ig u r e s ' c o n n e c tio n to a
d o u b le r e s u r r e c tio n o f th e w ic k e d a n d th e r ig h te o u s (In 5 :2 8 - 2 9 ; lE n 5 1 :1 -
5 ) , a n d th e r e c o g n itio n o r a c k n o w le d g e m e n t o f th e S o n o f M a n ( I n 8 :2 8 ; lE n
6 2 :3 - 5 ) . T h e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n sh a re s th e d iv in e nam e " I A m " w ith G od
( 8 :2 8 ,5 8 ) , a n d it a p p e a r s th a t th e E n o c h ic f ig u r e m a y a s a ls o s h a r e G o d 's n a m e
( 4 8 :5 ; 6 9 :2 6 ; c f . 4 8 :7 ) .

Differences between the Enochic and Johannine figures

W h ile th e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n a n d th e S o n o f M a n in th e Parables of Enoch
sh a re s im ila r itie s ; th e r e a r e im p o r ta n t d if f e r e n c e s in th e w a y th e y f u n c tio n
a n d in th e d e ta ils o f th e ir c h a r a c te r is tic s . T h e E n o c h ic Son of M an is c le a r ly
p o r tr a y e d a s th e J u d g e o f th e w ic k e d a n d is lo o s e ly r e la te d to th e s a lv a tio n of
th e r ig h te o u s ( 6 2 :9 - 1 4 ) . T h e J o h m m in e S o n o f M a n is m o r e c lo s e ly c o n n e c te d
to th e s a lv a tio n o f th e . r ig h te o u s because h e is th e one w ho g iv e s th e fo o d
th a t p r o v id e s e te m a l lif e ( 6 :2 7 ) . H o w e v e r, th e J o h a n n in e f ig u r e is n o t as
u n a s h a m e d ly p o r tr a y e d as Judge. I n s te a d , h is ju d g m e n t is th e r e s u lt o f h is
b r in g in g o f s a lv a tio n . H e c a m e to s a v e , b u t ju d g m e n t r e s u lts a s th e n e g a tiv e
re sp o n se to th a t s a lv a tio n ( 3 : 1 7 - 2 1 ; 1 5 :2 2 - 2 4 ; c f . 5 :2 7 ; 9 :3 9 ) . F u r th e r , a lth o u g h
e a tin g a n d / o r f e a s tin g a r e c o n n e c te d to th e d e p ic tio n s o f b o th f ig u r e s (In
6 :2 7 ; lE n 6 2 :1 4 ) , th e J o h m m in e Son of M an is s a id to b e th e f o o d w h ic h th e
r ig h te o u s e a t ( 6 :5 3 ; 6 :2 7 w ith 6 :3 3 , 3 5 ) .6 2

62. T h is is n o t n e c e s s a r ily J o h a n n in e ; it is C h r is tia n ( M k 1 4 :2 1 - 2 5 ; M t 2 6 :2 4 - 2 9 ; c f . L k

2 2 :2 2 ) .
 The Enochic Son of Man 309

B o th th e J o h a n n in e a n < ;lE n o c h ic fig u re s a p p e a r to b e p re -e x is te n t in h e a v e n ,

b u t th e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n n e v e r s e e m s to le a v e h e a v e il. T h e J o h a n n in e
S o n o f M a n , in c o n tra s t, d e s c e n d s fro m h e a v e n to e a rth a n d w ill a s c e n d to
w h e re h e w a s b e fo re (3 :1 3 ; 6 :6 2 ). A n d w h ile b o th fig u re s a re g lo rifie d , th e
g lo rific a tio n th a t th e y re c e iv e is d iffe re n t. T h e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n re c e iv e s
g lo ry fo llo w in g h is b e in g s e a te d o n th e L o rd o f S p irits ' th ro n e , th e " th ro n e
o f g lo ry " (6 2 :2 -6 ). T h e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n 's g lo ry is n o t s a id to in c lu d e
a g lo rio u s e n th ro n e m e n t (c f. 1 2 :4 1 ),6 3 b u t ra th e r it e n c o m p a s s e s J e s u s ' d e a th
o n th e c ro s s , a s w e ll a s h is re s u rre c tio n a n d re tu rn to h is F a th e r in h e a v e n .
T h e s u ffe rin g o f th e S o n o f M a n is a n e x tre m e ly im p o rta n t a s p e c t o f J e s u s
a s " th e S o n o f M a n " in th e S y n o p tic G o s p e ls , e s p e c ia lly L u k e . J o h n a ls o
m a in ta in s th a t th e S o n o f M a n e x p e rie n c e s s u ffe rin g , a lth o u g h it is e x p re s s e d
w ith th e la n g u a g e o f " liftin g u p " a n d " g lo rific a tio n " (c f. Is a 5 2 :1 3 ). A n y h in t
o f s u ffe rin g is la c k in g in th e p o rtra it o f " th a t S o n o f M a n " in th e Parables of
Enoch.64
F u rth e r d iffe re n c e s c a n b e d e te c te d in th e w a y in w h ic h e a c h fig u re e m b o d ie s
th e M e s s ia h . T h e E n o c h ic fig u re is th e M e s s ia h w h o w ill a p p e a r a t th e e n d o f
tim e to ju d g e w h ile b e in g s e a te d o n " h is th ro n e o f g lo ry ." T Ile J o h a n n in e S o n
o f M a n is th e M e s s ia h w h o b rin g s s a lv a tio n a n d ju d g m e n t in th e p re s e n t, a n d
in c o n tra s t w ith th e c ro w d 's e x p e c ta tio n , h e d o e s n o t " re m a in fo re v e r" (1 2 :3 4 ).
T h e re la tio n s h ip o f e a c h fig u re to th e e n d -tim e ju d g m e n t h ig h lig h ts
im p o rta n t d iffe re n c e s . T h e E n o c h ic S o n o f M a n is re v e a le d a t th e fin a l e n d -
tim e ju d g m e n t (6 2 :1 -8 ; 6 9 :2 7 -2 9 ). F o llo w in g th e ju d g m e n t, th e w ic k e d a re
p u n is h e d (6 2 :9 -1 2 ; 6 3 :1 1 -1 2 ), a n d th e rig h te o u s d w e ll w ith th e S o n o f M a n
fo re v e r (6 2 :1 4 ). T h e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n is o n e a rth ju d g in g in th e p re s e n t
b y b rin g in g s a lv a tio n in to th e w o rld . T h o s e w h o d o n o t b e lie v e a re a lre a d y
ju d g e d (3 : 1 8 ), a n d th o s e w h o d o b e lie v e h a v e a lre a d y c ro s s e d o v e r in to life
(5 :2 4 ). T h e re w ill b e a fu tu re c o n s u m m a tio n o f ju d g m e n t a n d s a lv a tio n (5 :2 8 -
2 9 ; c f. 6 :3 9 , 4 0 , 4 4 ), b u t th e a c tu a lity o f ju d g m e n t is b e in g c a rrie d o u t b y th e
S o n o f M a n in th e p re s e n t (3 :1 9 -2 1 ; 9 :3 9 ; c f. 1 5 :2 2 ).
A n d a t th e ris k o f a g a in s e e m in g to o o b v io u s , th e Parables of Enoch a n d th e
G o s p e l o f J o h n n a m e tw o d iffe re n t h u m a n b e in g s a s th e S o n o fM a n . 6 5

The apocalyptic background of the Johannine Son of Man

T h e s im ila ritie s b e tw e e n th e fig u re s a re b e s t d e s c rib e d a s g e n e ra l c o n c e p ts o r
p a tte rn s , w h ile th e d iffe re n c e s o c c u r a t a d e ta ile d le v e l w ith in th e s e c o n c e p ts . 66
T h e d iffe re n c e s b e tw e e n th e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n a n d th e E n o c h ic fig u re
s e e m to b e e x a m p le s o f v a rie d in te rp re ta tio n s w ith in a g e n e ra l u n d e rs ta n d in g o f

63. H o w e v e r, s e e W . T h u s in g , Die Erhohungund Verherrlichung Jesu imJohannesevangelium

(N IA b h 2 1 ; M U n s te r: A s c h e n d o rffs c h e V e rla g s b u c h h a n d lu n g , 1 9 7 9 [3 rd e d n .]), p p . 3 -3 7 .
64. W a lc k , " S o n o f M a n ," p . 3 3 5 .
65. T h e n a m in g o f s o n o f m a n fig u re s is n o t e n tire ly c o m m o n in in te rp re ta tio n s o f D a n ie l 7
(s e e 4 E z ra 1 3 ; 2 B a r 2 9 -3 0 ; c f. T A b A 1 3 ).
66. C £ W a lc k , " S o n o f M a n ," p . 3 3 6 .
310 P a r a b le s if E n o c h

w h o th e D a n ie lic " o n e lik e a s o n o f m a n " is a n d w h a t th a t f ig u r e d o e s . F lu id ity

in in te r p r e ta tio n o f th e d e ta ile d f u n c tio n s and c h a r a c te r is tic s c a n b e f u r th e r
s e e n in 4 E z r a , 2 B a r u c h , th e S y n o p tic G o s p e ls , a n d R e v e la tio n . T h is is n o t to
p e r p e tu a te th e id e a o f a " S o n o f M a n C o n c e p t" th a t w a s a s s u m e d p a r tic u la r ly
in o ld e r G e n n a n s c h o la r s h ip .6 7 I n s te a d , th e n u m b e r o f c o m m o n a litie s s u g g e s ts
th a t th e r e a p p e a rs to b e a t le a s t a g e n e r a l u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e D a n ie lic son of
m a n in S e c o n d T e m p le J u d a is m , e v e n th o u g h th e d e ta ils o f th e s e in te r p r e ta tio n s
68
v a rvJ'

T h a t th e s e tw o f ig u r e s s h a r e s im ila r f u n c tio n s a n d c h a r a c te r is tic s , a lth o u g h

th e r e a r e s lig h t d if f e r e n c e s b e tw e e n th e m , in d ic a te s th a t th e J o h a n n in e Son
of M an can be d e s c r ib e d as an 'a p o c a ly p tic ' f ig u r e . The E n o c h ic f ig u r e is
o b v io u s ly a p o c a ly p tic s in c e th e f ig u r e is a n in te r p r e ta tio n o f th e " o n e lik e a
son of m an" in D a n ie l 7 a n d a p p e a rs in a n a p o c a ly p s e . The G ospel of John
is n o t n e c e s s a r ily a n a p o c a ly p s e ,6 9 b u t th e s ig n if ic a n t o v e r la p o f f u n c tio n s
and c h a r a c te r is tic s b e tw e e n th e tw o f ig u r e s ( b o th o f w h ic h d e r iv e fro m th e
D a n ie lic f ig u r e ) 7 o s u g g e s ts th e h ig h p la u s ib ility o f d e s c r ib in g th e J o h a n n in e
f ig u r e a s " a p o c a ly p tic .,,7 1 F u r th e r e v id e n c e f o r th is c o n c lu s io n can be seen
in th e a p o c a ly p tic in tr o d u c tio n o f th e J o h a lm in e Son of M an f o llo w in g th e
o p e n in g of heaven in 1 :5 1 ( c f . E z e k 1 :1 ; R e v 4 :l- 2 ~ 1 9 :1 1 ; T L e v i 2 :6 ) .7 2

Is John a Response to the Parables of Enoch?

I f th e s e p a r a lle ls e x is t b e tw e e n th e tw o f ig u r e s in th e P a r a b le s o f E n o c h a n d
th e G o s p e l o f J o h n , w h a t d o e s th is m e a n f o r th e r e la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n th e tw o
te x ts ? I s th e G o s p e l o f J o h n 's p o r tr a y a l o f th e S o n o f M a n a re sp o n se to th e
P a r a b le s o f E n o c h o r is th e r e a p a r a lle l u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e D a n ie lic f ig u r e ?
D e v e lo p in g a p e r s p e c tiv e in tr o d u c e d by C h a r le s w o r th , E lle n s has r e c e n tly
a rg u e d th a t th e G o s p e l o f J o h n is a d ir e c t r e s p o n s e to th e P a r a b le s o f E n o c h .
He c o n te n d s th a t th e a u th o r of John w as a w a re o f th e P a r a b le s o f E n o c h ,
b u t r e a c te d n e g a tiv e ly to th e p o r tr a y a l o f th e E n o c h ic Son of M an. E lle n s

67. B u ltm a n n , N e w T e s ta m e n t T h e o lo g y , v o l. I , p p . 2 8 , 3 1 ; H . E . T e d t, T h e S o n o f M a n in
th e S y n o p tic T r a d itio n , tr a n s . D . M . B a r to n ( L o n d o n : S C M P r e s s , 1 9 6 5 ) , p p . 2 2 - 3 1 .
68. J . J . C o llin s , " S o n o f M a n ," p p . 4 4 8 - 6 6 ; T . B . S la te r , " O n e L ik e a S o n o f M a n in
F ir s t- C e n tu r y C E J u d a is m ," N T S 4 1 ( 1 9 9 5 ) , 1 8 3 - 9 8 . C o n tr a B u r k e tt, D e b a te , p p . 1 1 3 - 1 4 ; C a s e y ,
S o lu tio n , p p . 8 2 - 1 1 5 .
69. J . A s h to n , U n d e r s ta n d in g th e F o u r th G o s p e l(O x fo r d : OUP, 2 0 0 7 [ 2 n d e d n .] ) , p . 3 2 8 -
2 9 , r e f e r s to J o h n a s a n " a p o c a ly p s e - in r e v e r s e , u p s id e d o w n , in s id e o u t." S e e a ls o C . R o w la n d
a n d C . R . A . M o r r a y - J o n e s , T h e M y s te l} ' o f G o d : E a r ly J e I1 ,'is hM y s tic is m a n d th e N e v .' T e s ta m e n t
( C R I N T 1 2 ; L e id e n : B r ill, 2 ( 0 9 ) , p p . 1 2 3 - 3 6 .
70. I n 5 :2 7 - 2 9 s h a r e s th r e e c h a r a c te r is tic s w ith D a n 7 - 1 2 : I ) v e r b a l s e m b la n c e b e tw e e n I n
5 :2 7 a n d D a n 7 :1 3 - 1 4 ; 2 ) s h a r e d ju d g m e n t th e m e ( I n 5 ; D a n 7 ) ; a n d 3 ) d o u b le r e s u r r e c tio n o f th e
r ig h te o u s a n d th e w ic k e d ( I n 5 :2 8 - 2 9 ; D a n 1 2 :2 ) .
71. T h is c a n b e f u r th e r s u b s ta n tia te d b y a n e x a m in a tio n o f th e f ig u r e s in 2 B a r a n d 4 E z r a .
S e e R e y n o ld s , A p o c a ~ lp tic S o n o f M a n , p p . 4 9 - 6 1 .
72. R e y n o ld s , A p o c a 1 ;p tic S o n o f ] v fa n , p p . 9 2 - 9 5
 The E nochic Son of M an 311

concludes: "John's gospel is a broadside attack against any possibility that

the Son of Man as represented in 1 E noch 37-71 could ever be the true Son
of Man.,,73
There are some noticeable parallels between the P arables of E noch and the
Gospel of John that may suggest some sort ofliterary dependence. First, there
is a possible verbal parallel between Jn 5:27 and 1 E noch 69:27. This is the
closest evidence of any verbal parallel between the P arables of E noch and the
Gospel of John (italics mine):

lEn 69:27: And he sat on the throne ofhls glory, and the whole judgm ent was given
to the son of m an, and he will make sinners vanish and perish from the face of the
e~. -

In 5:27: And he gave him authority to execute judgm ent because he is the'Son of
lv/an.

Although thereis some overlap in the language of "giving," 'judgment," and

"Son of Man," there are discernible differences in the P arables of E noch's
reference to the "whole judgment" and in John's to the "authority to execute
judgment." Rather than positing some sort of dependence, these differences
and similarities may be more easily explained as a common derivation from
Dan 7:13-14. In Daniel 7, the Ancient of Days gives the "one like a son of
man" authority. The concept of judgment is most likely an implication from
the larger context of Daniel 7 (w. 10-12,22,26), and the P arables of E noch's
use of "whole" may possibly be understood as originating from the word "all"
in the Danielic phrase "all peoples, nations, languages should serve him"
(7: 14).7 4 However, "whole" could just be an Enochic addition or interpretation.
Thus, while there is possible verbal semblance present between Jn 5:27 and
lEn 69:27, literary dependence does not provide the best explanation for the
similarities between the texts.
A second potential piece of evidence for the Johannine Son of Man being
a response to the Enochic figure is Jesus' statement in Jn 3:13: "No one has
ascended to heaven, except the Son of Man the one wh~ descended.,,75 On
the one hand, this declaration is commonly recognized as a polemic against

73. Ellens, "';\r11atis the Son of Man in John," pp. 221-33,248-51; see p. 250. Ellens is
developing a concept suggested by Charlesworth in "Did the Fourth Evangelist Know the Enoch
Tradition?" in Testim ony and Intelpretation: E arly C hrist% gy and Its Judeo-H ellenistic M ilieu,
Studies in H onor of P etr P okorn:v, ed. J. Mrazek and J. Roskovec (London, New York: T&T
Clark, 2004), pp. 223-39,
74. 00 Dan 7:14 reads: Xal ea6el'J fIU'l'W ~OUO'{fI, XfIl 7l'£tY'l'fI'l'Ct eevl'J 'l'5j, y5j, XfI'l'Ct yMj
xal 7rfi.O'a a6~a au'l'w Aa'l'pEuouO'a (A. Rahlfs and R. Hanhart, Septuaginta [Stuttgart: Deutsche
Bibelgesellschaft, 2006 (2nd edn.)D.
75. This verse is the one that prompted Charlesworth's "Did the Fourth Evangelist Know
the Enoch Tradition?" He argued that the Fourth Evangelist may have composed a polemic
against the claim that Enoch ascended into heaven and that he is the Son of Man.
312 ParablesojEnoch

heavenly ascent.76 Jesus' claim that no one has ascended to heaven could
be understood as a specific response to Enoch's ascent(s) in the Parables of
Enoch (lEn 39:3; 70:1).77 On the other hand, there are numerous examples
throughout the Old Testament and Second Temple Jewish literature of figures
who ascended to heaven (e.g., Abraham, M oses, Elijah, Isaiah, Levi, etc.~.78
These multiple ascent traditions make it difficult to claim that Jesus' polemic
against ascent to heaven in Jn 3: 13 applies only to Enoch. In contrast, 3: 13
would seem to have a more wide-ranging application.79
In addition, Jesus makes another polemical statement similar to that in
3:13 when he says that no one has ever seen God (1:17-18; 6:46),80'This
proclamation could be argued to be a claim against M oses (Ex 33: 18-23),
Elijah (lKgs 19:9-13), and even Isaiah. (Isa 6:1; cf. Jn 12:41).
Considering that Jesus mak-.esmore than one polemical statement (3: 13;
6:46) and that the Gospel ofJohn actually names M oses (1:17; 3:14; 5:45-46;
6:32; 9:28)81 and Abraham (8:33-58) in contexts that draw attention to Jesus'
superiority, it seems highly unlikely that Jesus' declaration in 3: 13 is directed
specifically against Enoch. However, it may be plausible to include Enoch in
the polemic against ascent to heaven, but even this does not require that the
author of John's Gospel had a knowledge of the Parables of Enoch (Gen 5 :24;
lEn 14:8),82
Regarding a possible literary dependence between the Gospel of John and
the Parables of Enoch, I think we can only confidently say that the Johannine
Son of M an and the Son of M an in the Parables of Enoch are analogous
presentations of the Danielic son of man. There does not appear to be enough
evidence to suggest a literary dependence,83 W e cannot entirely rule out the
possibility that John is a response to the Parables of Enoch, but it seems more
plausible that we are dealing with a parallel process of interpretation.

76. M oloney, Johannine Son oflvlan, pp. 54-55; Ashton, Understanding, p. 253.
77. Ellens ("Vihat is the Son of M an in John," p. 222) states: "It [3:13] throws down the
gauntlet between Enochic Judaism, on the one hand, and the Jesus M ovement, on the other. The
author is intending to stake out a bold position for the Jesus M ovement as the authentic Judaism."
78 .. Abraham ([AbA 10-15); M oses (Ex 19:3, 20; 24:9; Philo, Aloses 1.158); Elijah (2Kgs
2; IM ac 2:58; Sir 48:9); Isaiah (M artis 7-11); Levi (TLevi 2-5). On M oses, see W . A. M eeks,
The Prophet-King: }v1oses Traditions and the Johannine Christo logy (NovTSup 14; Leiden: Brill,
1967), pp. 122-25. M eeks sees the polemic in 3:13 as a response to the M oses ascent traditions
(pp.297-301).
79. [One could add to the discussion that in early Jewish texts, only Enoch is claimed to be
the Son of M an. In Jn 3:13, the Fourth Evangelist adds "Son of M an." mC]
80. M oloney, Johannine Son of Man, p. 57.
81. See T. Thatcher, "Remembering Jesus: John's Negative Christology," in The lvlessiah in
the Old and New Testaments, ed. S. Porter (Grand Rapids, M I: Eerdmans, 2007), pp. 165-89; see
esp. pp. 177-83. Thatcher points to John's "M ore than M oses" Christology.
82. See Charlesworth, "Did the Fourth Evangelist Know the Enoch Tradition?" in Testimony
and Interpretation. pp. 223-39.
83. W alck, "Son of M an," p. 336.
 T h e E n o c h ic S o n o f 1 '" f a n 313

Conclusion

In h is b o o k T h e S o n o f t h e M a n i n t h e G o s p e l o f J o h n , D . B u rk e tt s ta te s th a t " th e
c h ie f s u p p o rt fo r th e e x is te n c e o f a p re -C h ris tia n ' S o n o f M a n " th e S im ilitU d e s
of 1 E n o ch , c a n n o lo n g e r b e c o n s id e re d p re -C h ris tia n .,,8 4 H is c o n te n tio n is
p rim a rily dependent upon J . T . M ilik 's la te d a tin g o f th e P a r a b l e s of E noch.
S o m e o f B u rk e tt's o th e r re a s o n s in c lu d e th e la c k o f th e P a r a b l e s of E noch at
Q u m ra n a n d th e la c k o f c ita tio n s o f th e P a r a b l e s of E noch in e a rly J e w is h and
C h ris tia n w ritin g s . F o r th e s e re a s o n s , B u rk e tt c o n c lu d e s th a t th e S o n o f M a n
in J o h n 's G o s p e l is n o t a n a p o c a ly p tic Son of M an. 85
H o w e v e r, a s th e w o rk o f re c e n t s c h o la rs h ip has show n, th e P a r a b l e s of
E noch a re m o s t lik e ly J e w is h , p re -C h ris tia n , and d a te fro m th e e n d o f th e
86
firs t-c e n tu ry BCE to th e 'b e g in n in g o f th e firs t-c e n tu ry CE. A s s u c h , th e a p p e a l
to M ilik a n d th e la c k o f m a te ria l a t Q u m ra n c a n n o lo n g e r d e fe n d th e v ie w
th a t th e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n is n o t a n a p o c a ly p tic fig u re . In fa c t, th e P t:e -
C h ris tia n o rig in o f th e P a r a b l e s of E noch a n d th e c o m m o n re fe re n c e to th e
D a n ie lic s o n o f m a n re q u ire s a c o m p a ris o n b e tw e e n th e E n o c h ic Son of M an
a n d th e S o n o f M a n in e a c h o f th e G o s p e ls .
T h is c h a p te r h a s h ig h lig h te d th e re s e m b la n c e o f th e s o n o f m a n fig u re s in th e
P a r a b le s of E noch a n d th e G o s p e l o fJ o h n . B o th fig u re s fu n c tio n in ju d g m e n t,
s a lv a tio n , a n d in th e re v e la tio n o f h e a v e n ly th in g s . F u rth e r, b o th fig u re s a re
d e s c rib e d a s m e s s ia n ic , h e a v e n ly a n d p re -e x is te n t, s im ila r to G o d , g lo rifie d ,
w o rs h ip p e d , a n d h u m a n . T h e re a re o b v io u s d is tin c tio n s in th e p o rtra y a ls o fth e
tw o fig u re s , s u c h a s in th e fig u re s ' ro le s in ju d g m e n t a n d s a lv a tio n , th e tim in g
o f th a t ju d g m e n t a n d s a lv a tio n , a n d in th e n a m in g o f th e S o n o f M a n a s e ith e r
E noch o r J e s u s , b u t th e g e n e ra l c a te g o rie s o f s im ila rity b e tw e e n th e E n o c h ic
S o n o f M a n a n d th e J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n s till e x is t. T h e s e s im ila ritie s do not
in d ic a te lite ra ry d e p e n d e n c e b e tw e e n th e P a r a b l e s of E noch a n d J o h n 's G ospel
in e ith e r d ire c tio n . In s te a d , b o th in te rp re ta tio n s re fle c t a b ro a d u n d e rs ta n d in g
o f th e " o n e lik e a s o n o f m a n " in th e firs t c e n tu ry CEo

W ith th e c u rre n t consensus o n th e e a rlie r d a tin g o f th e P a r a b l e s of E noch

a n d th e s im ila ritie s th a t th e S o n o f M a n in th e P a r a b l e s of E noch s h a re s w ith
th e J o h a n n in e Son of M an, th e e v id e n c e c o n c e rn in g th e b a c k g ro u n d o f th e
J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n in d ic a te s a n a p o c a ly p tic b a c k g ro u n d . In o th e r w o rd s ,
th e Son of M an in J o h n c a n b e u n d e rs to o d to fit w ith in th e tra je c to ry of
in te rp re ta tio n o f D a n ie l 7 in J e w is h a p o c a ly p tic lite ra tu re a n d e a rly C h ris tia n
lite ra tu re (lE n , 4 E z ra , 2 B a r, th e S y n o p tic G o s p e ls , a n d R e v ).
T hus, th e J o h a n n in e Son of M an c a n b e c a lle d a n " a p o c a ly p tic " Son of
M a n . T h e im p lic a tio n s o f th is c o n c lu s io n fo r th e G o s p e l o f J o h n a re th a t th e
J o h a n n in e S o n o f M a n is a h e a v e n ly a n d p re -e x is te n t fig u re w h o is th e M e s s ia h

84. B u rk e tt, Son o f th e M a n , p. 39.

85. I b id ., p. 45.
86. S e e P . S a c c h i, "T he 2005 C a m a ld o li S e m in a r o n th e P a r a b l e s of E noch: S u m m a ry and
P ro s p e c ts fo r F u tu re R e s e a rc h ," in E n o c h and t h e l 'V i e s s i a h S o n o f } v i a n , p p . 4 9 9 -5 1 2 . A ls o , see
B o c k 's a n d C h a rle s w o rth 's c h a p te rs in th e p re s e n t book.
314 Parables a/Enoch

and has come to earth to bring salvation to believers and judgment to those
who do not believe. Through his crucifixion, resurrection, and return to the
Father, he will be lifted up, glorified, and worshipped .

..