The Book of Enoch

Project GutenbergProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 225K words
Chapters: 23

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Das Buch Henoch by Andreas Gottlieb HoffmannAuthor: ,Language: German, Class: BS: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Christianity: The Bible, Old and New Testament, Release Date: May 1, 2003

Editor's review

This book is the German translation of the Book of Enoch, translated by Andreas Gottlieb Hoffmann and belonging to the Project Gutenberg free eBook series. Its value lies not in casual reading but in providing a directly accessible German text for those studying early Jewish apocalyptic literature, biblical apocrypha, and related theological traditions. The book touches on visions, angelology, and eschatological judgment, and is also useful for understanding the historical background of certain ideas in the New Testament. Because it is a public-domain eBook, the edition information is minimal: readers get the core text itself, not scholarly notes or an introduction. Reading it is more like facing a primary source, requiring readers to work through the content with their own questions in mind. It is suitable as supplementary material in courses on religious history, classical literature, or German reading, and can also be browsed by readers curious about the Enochic tradition.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students of religious history studying early Judaism and biblical apocrypha
Readers who need the German original for comparative reading of Enochic literature
Those interested in the historical background of angelology and eschatology
Readers with strong German reading ability who want to engage with a public-domain religious text

Not a good fit for

Beginners expecting modern scholarly notes or an introduction
Readers who only want light stories and have no interest in religious texts
Readers with weak German who are unwilling to consult reference works

Reading tips

First understand the place of the Book of Enoch in Second Temple period literature, then enter the main text.
Take brief notes by chapter, recording recurring themes of visions, angel names, and judgment.
Read alongside relevant passages from Daniel or the New Testament to observe conceptual connections.
When German is difficult, consult a reliable Chinese or English translation in parallel.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book the original Hebrew or Aramaic text?

No. According to the information, this book is Andreas Gottlieb Hoffmann's German translation; readers read a German translation, not the original-language text.

Does the Project Gutenberg edition include scholarly notes?

The information shows this is a public-domain eBook released by Project Gutenberg with minimal edition information, mainly providing the text itself. It does not state that modern scholarly notes or an introduction are included, so readers should not expect the level of support found in an annotated edition.

Can someone without a background in religious studies read this book?

It can be browsed, but it will be difficult. The book contains extensive visions, angels, and eschatology, and readers can easily get lost without background knowledge. It is advisable to read an introductory overview first or use it alongside an annotated edition.

Why is the publication information listed as Project Gutenberg?

Because this eBook was released by Project Gutenberg. The information shows its Release Date as May 1, 2003, and the platform mainly provides free public-domain eBooks, so the publication field appears as the platform name.

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