1 Enoch is a pseudepigraphical work attributed to the Enoch of Genesis 5:18–24 but not written by him. "Pseudepigrapha are falsely attributed works, texts whose claimed author is not the true author, a work whose real author attributed it to a figure of the past"1. Apart from the Ethiopian Church, it is not recognised as canonical Scripture by any Christian group. Most probably Jude quoted from this book because he believed that the selected portion clearly represented God’s truth. Why he did not refer to another part of Scripture instead is not clear. It may be that the individuals who infiltrated the church (Jude 1:4) had a high regard for the book and therefore Jude uses their own ammunition against them. However, there is no hint that Jude merely regards this text as authoritative for his opponents and the letter is directed to the church as a whole, not to the heretics.
Jude is thus quoting from the book as a true statement without implying that he accepted 1 Enoch as being inspired Scripture, but his use of this quotation is inspired and authoritative.2
14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones,