Evil spirits offspring of the Giants Enoch 15

1st enoch 15 

And He answered and said to me, and I heard His voice: 'Fear not, Enoch, thou righteous 2 man and scribe of righteousness: approach hither and hear my voice. And go, say to the Watchers of heaven, who have sent thee to intercede for them: "You should intercede" for men, and not men 3 for you: Wherefore have ye left the high, holy, and eternal heaven, and lain with women, and defiled yourselves with the daughters of men and taken to yourselves wives, and done like the children 4 of earth, and begotten giants (as your) sons? And though ye were holy, spiritual, living the eternal life, you have defiled yourselves with the blood of women, and have begotten (children) with the blood of flesh, and, as the children of men, have lusted after flesh and blood as those also do who die 5 and perish. Therefore have I given them wives also that they might impregnate them, and beget 6 children by them, that thus nothing might be wanting to them on earth. But you were formerly 7 spiritual, living the eternal life, and immortal for all generations of the world. And therefore I have not appointed wives for you; for as for the spiritual ones of the heaven, in heaven is their dwelling. 8 And now, the giants, who are produced from the spirits and flesh, shall be called evil spirits upon 9 the earth, and on the earth shall be their dwelling. Evil spirits have proceeded from their bodies; because they are born from men and from the holy Watchers is their beginning and primal origin; 10 they shall be evil spirits on earth, and evil spirits shall they be called. [As for the spirits of heaven, in heaven shall be their dwelling, but as for the spirits of the earth which were born upon the earth, on the earth shall be their dwelling.] And the spirits of the giants afflict, oppress, destroy, attack, do battle, and work destruction on the earth, and cause trouble: they take no food, but nevertheless 12 hunger and thirst, and cause offences. And these spirits shall rise up against the children of men and against the women, because they have proceeded from them

**Biblical Understanding of the Origin of Evil Spirits in the Book of Enoch**

**1. Symbolism of the Fallen Watchers**

In the Book of Enoch, Chapter 15 describes the Watchers as heavenly beings who descend to earth, take human wives, and father giants, who later become evil spirits:

"Wherefore have ye left the high, holy, and eternal heaven, and lain with women, and defiled yourselves with the daughters of men and taken to yourselves wives, and done like the children of earth, and begotten giants (as your) sons?" (Enoch 15:3).

Traditionally, this account is seen as a literal description of rebellious angels. However, from a symbolic biblical perspective, the Watchers may represent corrupt leaders within the Jewish priesthood, particularly from the time of Alexander the Great until 70 AD. Their actions—marrying non-Israelite women and producing giants—symbolize how these leaders corrupted their roles and spread moral degradation. The giants are not literal beings but represent the corrupt influence exerted by these leaders.

**2. The Concept of Evil Spirits**

Enoch 15:8-9 describes the offspring of the Watchers, the giants, as becoming evil spirits on earth:

"And now, the giants, who are produced from the spirits and flesh, shall be called evil spirits upon the earth, and on the earth shall be their dwelling. Evil spirits have proceeded from their bodies; because they are born from men and from the holy Watchers is their beginning and primal origin" (Enoch 15:8-9).

These "evil spirits" can be understood symbolically rather than as literal supernatural entities. The negative and destructive influences are the result of the corruption of the priesthood. This interpretation aligns with James 3:15, which describes a wisdom that is "earthly, born of the soul, demoniacal":

"This wisdom is not one, from above, coming down, but is earthly, born of the soul, demoniacal!" (James 3:15, Rotherham Emphasized Bible).

Here, "demoniacal" wisdom reflects the corrupted state of the physical body (soul), highlighting moral and spiritual decline manifested in physical and psychological conditions.

**3. Connection to James 3:15 and Biblical Terminology**

James 3:15 states, "This wisdom is not one, from above, coming down, but is earthly, born of the soul, demoniacal!" This connects with Enoch 15:8-9, where the giants become evil spirits on earth due to their mixed origin of humans and Watchers. The "earthly" and "demoniacal" wisdom reflects the negative influences arising from the corruption within human nature.

This perspective is supported by other biblical texts, such as Judges 9 and 1 Samuel 16, where spirits or evil influences are portrayed as coming from God or affecting mental attitudes rather than being literal supernatural entities.

**4. Corporeality of Evil Spirits**

The Book of Enoch describes the giants’ spirits as having a corporeal origin due to their mixed human and divine parentage:

"And now, the giants, who are produced from the spirits and flesh, shall be called evil spirits upon the earth, and on the earth shall be their dwelling. Evil spirits have proceeded from their bodies; because they are born from men and from the holy Watchers is their beginning and primal origin" (Enoch 15:8-9).

The giants, born from a union of divine beings and human women, are described as becoming evil spirits, suggesting that their nature has both physical and spiritual origins.

Theodotus, a figure in Valentinian Gnosticism, also discusses the nature of demons and souls in terms of corporeality:

"The demons are said to be incorporeal, not because they have no bodies (for they have even shape and are, therefore, capable of feeling punishment), but they are said to be incorporeal because, in comparison with the spiritual bodies which are saved, they are a shade" (Theodotus, Excerpta ex Theodoto).

Theodotus’s view that demons can feel punishment but are considered incorporeal compared to refined spiritual bodies supports the idea that they possess some form of corporeality, albeit different from spiritual bodies.

**5. Historical and Theological Implications**

From a biblical viewpoint, the Book of Enoch can be interpreted allegorically rather than as a literal account of fallen angels. The giants and evil spirits symbolize the corrupt influences and issues arising from the failures of the Jewish leadership. This interpretation reflects the historical and moral decline of the Jewish priesthood from the time of Alexander the Great to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

The "giants" and "evil spirits" in the text illustrate the destructive legacy of corrupt leadership and highlight the broader biblical concern with maintaining righteousness and purity. This perspective suggests that the narrative serves as a parable about the consequences of moral and religious corruption, rooted in the failures of the leaders rather than literal supernatural beings.