Monday, March 29, 2010

Was Enoch taken to heaven?

Question:  Show me anywhere in the entire bible it says Enoch want to heaven. Can you?
Reply: 
First off, it should be noted that by asking this question you are avoiding the question I asked. Nevertheless, to I will address the issue you raise and use it to reformulate my question.
I suspect that if most people were to read Genesis 5:24 without reference to John 3:13, as one would normally read a book -- from the beginning to the end -- they would understand it to mean that Enoch, in his old age, did not die but "was seen no more" because he was taken away by God to heaven.
Now, as you so astutely note, Genesis does not say he was taken "to heaven." (2 Kings 2:1, however, does specifically state that Elijah was taken to Heaven. I hope you do not ignore the more difficult case to argue about an easier one.) Perhaps Enoch was taken to Argentina or the moon. But, such possibilities seem fanciful given what was said about Enoch. It is noted that the reason that Enoch was seen no more is that he, in his life, walked with God. One would naturally assume a causal relationship between Enoch walking with God and God taking him away. In light of this, it is a natural reading to assume that God took Enoch to be with Him in Heaven.
This is what a narrative reading of the Bible would suggest.
On the other hand, if the Bible isn't a story, but a series of true propositions, then in order for John 3:13 to be true, Gen 5:24 must not be understood to say that Enoch was taken to heaven. This seems to be your view. My question is, why do you propose that the Bible is a series of true propositions as opposed to a collection of stories. What is your scriptural warrant for such a claim?

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