The Son of Man in Dan. 7, Judaism, and the Synoptic Gospels [Part 2]

 

1 Enoch 37-71 (also known as the "Similtudes") is key in this issue of understanding the meaning of the "Son of Man" in Second Temple Judaism. The thing is is that it does not show up in the Qumran documents, and thus there is scholarly debate over whether it is pre-Christian or post-Christian, or whether it was written before or after A.D. 70. 

"There is a growing consensus among those who work most closely with 1 Enoch that the Similitudes are fully Jewish and were probably written before 100 or quite possibly before 70 C.E. But even if this material was composed after the Gospel traditions had been shaped, it is probably evidence for non-Christian reflection on the figure from Dan 7:13-14 that goes back to the time of Jesus." (F.H. Borsch, "Further Reflections on 'The Son of Man': The Origins and Development of the Title", in The Messiah: Developments in Earliest Judaism and Christianity. Edited by James H. Charlesworth, pg. 141)

"Hence, scholars debate whether the chapters are pre- or post-Christian. We cannot delve into that discussion here, though it seems to me that those who argue for a date before AD 70 are persuasive. Even if the chapters are post-Christian, they almost certainly represent independent tradition—perhaps in this instance a response to Christian tradition, for the Son of Man is not Jesus of Nazareth but may even be Enoch himself." (Thomas R. Schreiner, New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ, pgs. 216-217)

"Therefore we must conclude that while the date of the Similitudes is later than the rest of Enoch, it is a Jewish writing that reflects how certain Jewish circles interpreted the Danielic son of man in New Testament times. " (George Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament, pg. 147)

1 Enoch speaks of the "son of Man" has being preexistent in some sense:

"And at that hour that Son of Man was named In the presence of the Lord of Spirits, And his name before the Head of Days. Yea, before the sun and the signs were created, Before the stars of the heaven were made, His name was named before the Lord of Spirits....And for this reason hath he been chosen and hidden before Him, Before the creation of the world and for evermore." (1 Enoch 48:2-3, 6; source)

It also teaches that the Son of Man will be worshipped:

"And all the kings and the mighty and the exalted and those who rule the earth shall fall down before him on their faces, and worship, and set their hope upon that Son of Man, and petition him and supplicate for mercy at his hands." (1 Enoch 62:9)

1 Enoch portrays the Son of Man as one who executes judgment in some sense: 

"And after that their faces shall be filled with darkness and shame before that Son of Man, and they shall be driven from his presence, and the sword shall abide before his face in their midst." (1 Enoch 63:11)

Some have (such as Thomas Schreiner in New Testament Theology on pg. 217), claimed that the following passage refers to the Son of Man as being the Messiah: 

"And he said unto me: 'All these things which thou hast seen shall serve the dominion of His Anointed that he may be potent and mighty on the earth.' " (1 Enoch 52:4, some translations use the word "Messiah".)