The Reformed Olive Press

   A Case for the Book of Enoch  The Book of 1 Enoch occupies an unusual and often misunderstood position in the history of Judaism and Christianity. Although it lies outside most modern biblical canons, it was quoted, preserved, and treated with a level of seriousness that very few non-canonical texts ever achieved. When approached historically rather than devotionally, the evidence suggests that 1 Enoch held scriptural authority in certain ancient Jewish and Christian communities—sometimes more clearly than books that later became canonical. The New Testament itself offers the most striking evidence. Unlike other Second Temple Jewish writings that are merely echoed or alluded to, 1 Enoch is explicitly cited as prophecy. In Jude 14–15, the author writes, “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying…,” before quoting a passage that corresponds directly to 1 Enoch. This framing is unique. The New Testament never introduces the Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Tobit, or the ...

E rased Women of Early Christianity: How Female Leaders Were Written Out of Church History Modern Christianity often claims that women were never bishops, priests, apostles, or authoritative teachers in the early church. This claim is not supported by history. Instead, it reflects later theological restrictions retroactively imposed on an earlier, more diverse reality. From a historical-critical perspective, the evidence is clear: women held recognized leadership roles in early Christian communities, and those roles were gradually suppressed, redefined, or erased as Christianity became institutionalized. This was not a matter of divine revelation changing its mind—it was power consolidation, Roman patriarchy, and institutional memory management. Women Who Held Formal Church Titles Episcopa Theodora (Rome, 9th century) A mosaic in the Chapel of St. Zeno in Rome explicitly names EPISCOPA THEODORA. Linguistically, episcopa is the feminine form of bishop—not “bishop’s wife,” which would ha...