Tell me more ×
Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 11 down vote favorite

I find this wording interesting in Genesis 5:24 (NIV) (my emphasis)

Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

To me, this means God took Enoch to heaven. So does this imply that Enoch was sinless?(assuming sinful mortals can't be around God?)

share|improve this question

3 Answers

up vote 15 down vote

No. Enoch sinned just like the rest of us.

He was taken to heaven because Christ's righteousness was imputed to him, just like it is imputed to us.

Christ's death and resurrection saved all believers past and present, there is no need for any other explanation of righteousness.

share|improve this answer
4  
In particular, we tend to get temporally hung up because "Christ hadn't been crucified, yet", but God is not so limited to our temporal experience. – Software Monkey Sep 8 '11 at 18:19
+1 While Paul is addressing Abraham, particularly, not Enoch, I think the sentiment of Romans 4:1-8 is applicable: 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." In the case of Abraham (as well all everyone else), it's not due to good works, but rather through faith by grace, that righteousness is counted to him. – Steven Oct 4 '11 at 19:43
This answer could probably benefit some more explicit connections between "Christ's [imputed] righteousness." Such a concept is anachronistic and would have been foreign to the author of Genesis. – swasheck Feb 2 '12 at 23:16
up vote 12 down vote

The best answer that I've ever heard was from Paul Washer who said this:

Enoch walked with God for so long that when it was time to go home, God said: "You know what Enoch, you've been walking with me for so long, look we're closer to my home then yours. Why don't you just come home with me."

We know that All men have sinned and all men fall short of the glory of God.

But faith (trust) in Christ and love for others is what pleases the lord.

share|improve this answer
up vote 3 down vote

Genesis 5:24 tell us a brief narration of a patriarch. Details are not available because the historical rigor was not important in the OT. Life and acts of Enoch were not mentioned by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews (11:5), who notes only the faith of the Patriarch the price to pay to "not see death". We can take the example of Eliah in 2 Kings chapter two: he was a man with fears and human deffects, but "God took him" (i.e. Genesis 5:22-29).

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.