1 Enoch 8:1

Pseudepigrapha

1 And Azâzêl taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals 〈of the earth〉 and the art of working them, and bracelets, and ornaments, and the use of antimony, and the beautifying of the eyelids, and all kinds of costly stones, and all colouring tinctures. 2 And there arose much godlessness, and they committed fornication, and they were led astray, and became corrupt in all their ways. Semjâzâ taught enchantments, and root-cuttings, Armârôs the resolving of enchantments, Barâqîjâl, (taught) astrology, Kôkabêl the constellations, Ezêqêêl the knowledge of the clouds, 〈Araqiêl the signs of the earth, Shamsiêl the signs of the sun〉, and Sariêl the course of the moon. And as men perished, they cried, and their cry went up to heaven . . .

Irenaeus Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching 18

Patristic

18 And for a very long while wickedness extended and spread, and reached and laid hold upon the whole race of mankind, until a very small seed of righteousness remained among them and illicit unions took place upon the earth, since angels were united with the daughters of the race of mankind; and they bore to them sons who for their exceeding greatness were called giants. And the angels brought as presents to their wives teachings of wickedness, in that they brought them the virtues of roots and herbs, dyeing in colors and cosmetics, the discovery of rare substances, love-potions, aversions, amours, concupiscence, constraints of love, spells of bewitchment, and all sorcery and idolatry hateful to God; by the entry of which things into the world evil extended and spread, while righteousness was diminished and enfeebled.

 Notes and References

"... Irenaeus exhibits his familiarity with the angel story in several passages of his Against Heresies. The following were cited above in the first part of the chapter: 1.10.1; 1.15.6; 4.16.2; and 4.36.4. He also mentions it in 'In Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching' 18 ..."

VanderKam, James C. The Jewish Apocalyptic Heritage in Early Christianity (p. 66) Fortress Press, 1993

 User Comments

Do you have questions or comments about these texts? Please submit them here.