Jude

Part One: Introduction to Jude

The Author

"Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James" (v1). Jude (the English form of Judas) was one of the half-brothers of Jesus, listed with James, Joses and Simon (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). His brother James was the well-known leader of the Jerusalem church and author of the letter of James. Like James, Jude did not believe in Jesus during His earthly ministry (John 7:5), but after the resurrection he was among the believers praying in the upper room (Acts 1:14). Paul mentions that "the brethren of the Lord" travelled in ministry with their wives (1 Corinthians 9:5). The early historian Hegesippus records that Jude's grandsons, humble farmers, were brought before the emperor Domitian as descendants of David, and released as harmless.

Like James, Jude humbly calls himself not "the brother of the Lord," but "the servant of Jesus Christ." The One he had once doubted, he now served as Lord.

Date and Setting

Jude was probably written between AD 65 and 80. It is closely related to 2 Peter 2-3 (see the parallels in the study of 2 Peter). Jude quotes the apostles' prediction that "there should be mockers in the last time" (v17-18), almost exactly the words of 2 Peter 3:3, which suggests that Jude wrote after 2 Peter, when the false teachers Peter had predicted had actually arrived.

The Recipients

Jude writes to "them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called" (v1). The letter does not name a location, but it was clearly written to believers familiar with the Old Testament and with Jewish tradition, threatened by false teachers who had slipped into their fellowship.

The Occasion

Jude had planned to write a letter about "the common salvation," but an urgent danger forced him to change his subject:

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude 3-4

False teachers had slipped secretly into the church. They twisted God's grace into a licence for immorality, arguing that since believers are saved by grace, sin does not matter (Romans 6:1-2). By their lives and teaching, they denied the lordship of Christ.

Purpose and Theme

Jude's purpose is to call believers to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." "Contend" is an athletic word for an intense struggle. "The faith" is the body of truth revealed through Christ and His apostles, "once delivered" (once for all, never to be added to or replaced). The theme is the certain judgment of apostates and the secure keeping of believers. Jude has been called the "vestibule" to Revelation, its warnings about apostasy preparing for the final book's picture of judgment and triumph.

Jude's Threes

Jude loves to group things in threes:

Jude's Use of Jewish Writings

Jude refers to two events not recorded in the Old Testament: Michael the archangel disputing with the devil over the body of Moses (v9), and a prophecy of Enoch (v14-15). Early Christian writers said the first came from a writing called The Assumption of Moses; the second appears in the book known as 1 Enoch. Jude was guided by the Holy Spirit to cite these true statements without endorsing everything in those books, just as Paul quoted true statements from pagan poets (Acts 17:28; Titus 1:12). Quoting a source does not make the whole source Scripture; but what Jude wrote is Scripture, and therefore true.

Outline of Jude

Part Two: Verse-by-Verse Analysis

Section I: Greeting (Verses 1-2)

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

Jude 1-2

Before warning about apostasy, Jude reassures true believers of their security. They are:

• "Sanctified by God the Father": set apart and loved by Him (some manuscripts read "beloved in God the Father").
• "Preserved in Jesus Christ": kept, guarded, watched over, for Christ.
• "Called": effectually summoned by God to salvation.

The letter begins and ends (v24) with God's keeping power. In between, believers are commanded to "keep" themselves (v21). Jude prays that mercy, peace and love will be multiplied to them.

Section II: The Purpose — Contend for the Faith (Verses 3-4)

Jude wanted to write about the salvation all believers share, but the need was urgent: "it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (v3).

• "Earnestly contend": fight hard, like an athlete straining in a contest, defending the truth against those who would corrupt it.
• "The faith": not personal trust, but the body of Christian doctrine.
• "Once delivered": given once for all, complete and final, through Christ and the apostles. No new revelation will add to or change it (Galatians 1:8-9; Hebrews 1:1-2).
• "Unto the saints": entrusted to all believers, not to a priestly class or an elite.

"For there are certain men crept in unawares" (v4). The false teachers had slipped in secretly, pretending to be believers. They:

• "Were before of old ordained to this condemnation": their judgment had long ago been written about in Scripture (as the following examples show).
• Were "ungodly men": the key word of the letter, used six times.
• Were "turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness": twisting grace into permission for immorality.
• Were "denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ": rejecting Christ's authority as Master and Lord, by their lifestyle as well as their teaching (Titus 1:16).

Section III: The Doom of the Apostates (Verses 5-16)

Verses 5-7 — Three Examples of Judgment

Jude reminds his readers of three examples showing that God judges those who rebel against Him:

Israel (v5). "The Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not." Privilege is no protection. Many who were outwardly delivered from Egypt perished in unbelief (1 Corinthians 10:1-11; Hebrews 3:16-19).

The angels (v6). These angels abandoned their proper position and dwelling. Some understand this as the original rebellion of Satan's angels; many connect it with Genesis 6:1-4, where "the sons of God" took human wives, a sin of crossing God's created boundaries, which would fit the comparison with Sodom in verse 7 ("in like manner"). Either way, these angels are imprisoned awaiting final judgment (2 Peter 2:4).

Sodom and Gomorrha (v7). "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Their sexual immorality included homosexual practice, "going after strange flesh" (Genesis 19:4-5). Their fiery destruction is a picture of eternal judgment.

Verses 8-10 — Their Arrogance

Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Jude 8

The false teachers were "dreamers," perhaps claiming visions to justify their behaviour, or living in a deluded fantasy. They defiled their bodies with immorality, despised authority (including Christ's lordship), and slandered angelic beings ("dignities"), mocking spiritual realities they did not understand.

Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Jude 9

Even Michael, the mighty archangel (Daniel 10:13; 12:1; Revelation 12:7), when disputing with Satan over Moses' body (God buried Moses secretly, Deuteronomy 34:5-6), did not presume to pronounce judgment on the devil himself. He left judgment to the Lord, using the very words of Zechariah 3:2. If Michael would not speak abusively of a fallen angel, how arrogant were these men who mocked what they did not understand! "But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves" (v10). Ignorant of spiritual things, they lived like animals driven by instinct, and destroyed themselves.

Verse 11 — Three Rebels

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Jude 11

The three verbs show progression: they "went" in Cain's way, "ran greedily" after Balaam's error, and "perished" in Korah's rebellion. Their destruction is so certain that Jude speaks of it as already done.

Verses 12-13 — Five Pictures from Nature

These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

Jude 12-13

Jude uses vivid images drawn from every part of creation:

• Spots (hidden reefs) in the love feasts: the "feasts of charity" were fellowship meals connected with the Lord's Supper. These men were like hidden rocks that wreck ships, dangerous though unseen, shamelessly "feeding themselves," like false shepherds (Ezekiel 34:2, 8).
• Clouds without water: promising refreshing rain but blown past, giving nothing (Proverbs 25:14).
• Fruitless trees, twice dead, uprooted: at harvest time they have no fruit; dead in themselves and doomed to final death; torn up by the roots (Matthew 7:17-20; 15:13).
• Raging waves: wild and restless, churning up the foam of their own shameful deeds, like the sea that "casts up mire and dirt" (Isaiah 57:20).
• Wandering stars: shooting stars that blaze briefly and then vanish into darkness, useless for navigation, headed for "the blackness of darkness for ever."

Verses 14-16 — Enoch's Prophecy

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Jude 14-15

Enoch, who "walked with God" and was taken without dying (Genesis 5:21-24), prophesied long before the flood of the Lord's coming in judgment. The Lord will come "with ten thousands of his saints" (holy ones, angels and believers; Deuteronomy 33:2; Zechariah 14:5; Revelation 19:14) to judge the ungodly. The word "ungodly" appears four times in one sentence, emphasising the reason for judgment: their deeds and their harsh words against the Lord.

"These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage" (v16). They grumbled against God, lived for their desires, boasted, and flattered people for personal gain.

Section IV: The Duty of Believers (Verses 17-23)

Verses 17-19 — Remember the Apostles' Words

But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Jude 17-19

The appearance of such men should not shake believers' faith; it confirms it, since the apostles predicted exactly this (2 Peter 3:3; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5). These men cause divisions, live by natural instinct ("sensual," literally "soulish," governed only by natural life), and do not have the Holy Spirit. They are not true believers at all (Romans 8:9).

Verses 20-21 — Keep Yourselves

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Jude 20-21

In contrast with the apostates, believers are to:

• Build themselves up on their most holy faith, growing through the Word of God (Acts 20:32; Colossians 2:7).
• Pray in the Holy Ghost: praying guided and empowered by the Spirit, in line with God's will (Romans 8:26-27; Ephesians 6:18).
• Keep themselves in the love of God: remaining where God's love can be enjoyed, through obedience (John 15:9-10). God keeps them (v1, 24); they must keep themselves in the sphere of His love.
• Look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ at His return, which will bring eternal life in its fullness.

Notice all three Persons of the Trinity: the Holy Ghost, the love of God (the Father), and the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verses 22-23 — Rescue Others

And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Jude 22-23

Believers must not only protect themselves but reach out to those affected by the false teachers, with discernment:

• Some need compassion: those who are doubting and wavering should be treated with mercy and patience.
• Others need urgent rescue: those close to destruction must be snatched from the fire (Zechariah 3:2; Amos 4:11).
• All require caution: believers must show mercy "with fear," "hating even the garment spotted by the flesh," taking care not to be contaminated by the sin they seek to rescue others from (Galatians 6:1; Zechariah 3:3-4).

Section V: Doxology (Verses 24-25)

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Jude 24-25

After all the warnings, Jude ends with one of the most glorious doxologies in Scripture. Apostates fall; but God is able:

• To keep you from falling: from stumbling into apostasy and ruin (John 10:28-29; 1 Peter 1:5).
• To present you faultless: without blemish, clothed in Christ's righteousness, before His glorious presence.
• With exceeding joy: the joy of God and of His people on that day.

To the only wise God our Saviour belong glory (His radiant excellence), majesty (His greatness), dominion (His sovereign rule) and power (His authority), before all time, now and for ever.

Part Three: Christ in Jude

God's Keeping and Our Keeping

The believer's security rests on God's keeping power, and it is expressed in the believer's continuing in God's love.

Part Four: Prophecies Fulfilled and Future

Part Five: Key Passages in Depth

Jude 3 — Contend for the Faith

Believers must vigorously defend the complete, final body of truth given once for all through Christ and His apostles.

Jude 4 — The Danger Within

False teachers creep in unnoticed, turning grace into a licence for sin and denying Christ's lordship.

Jude 5-7 — God Judges Rebellion

Unbelieving Israel, the angels who sinned and Sodom and Gomorrha prove that God judges those who rebel against Him, whatever their privileges.

Jude 9 — Michael's Restraint

Even the archangel left judgment to the Lord. Believers must contend for the faith without arrogance or reviling.

Jude 11-13 — Portraits of Apostasy

Like Cain, Balaam and Korah, apostates follow self-willed religion, greed and rebellion. They are hidden reefs, waterless clouds, dead trees, wild waves and wandering stars.

Jude 20-23 — Keeping Ourselves and Rescuing Others

Believers grow in the faith, pray in the Spirit, keep themselves in God's love, look for Christ's mercy, and rescue others with discernment, compassion and holy caution.

Jude 24-25 — The God Who Keeps

God is able to keep His people from falling and present them faultless before His glory with exceeding joy.

Part Six: The Major Teachings of Jude

1. The Security of Believers

Believers are called, sanctified, preserved, and kept by God's power (1, 24).

2. The Faith Once Delivered

The Christian faith is a complete and final body of truth (3).

3. Contending for the Faith

Believers must defend the truth (3).

4. Apostasy

False teachers creep in, abuse grace and deny Christ (4, 8-19).

5. Grace Is Not a Licence to Sin

Turning grace into lasciviousness is a mark of apostasy (4).

6. The Certainty of Judgment

God judged Israel, fallen angels and Sodom, and will judge the ungodly (5-7, 14-15).

7. Angels and Demons

Angels who sinned are imprisoned; Michael the archangel contends with the devil (6, 9).

8. Eternal Punishment

Eternal fire and the blackness of darkness for ever (7, 13).

9. The Second Coming

The Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints (14-15).

10. Spiritual Growth and Prayer

Build yourselves up, pray in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in God's love (20-21).

11. Rescuing the Straying

Show compassion, snatch from the fire, hate defilement (22-23).

12. The Glory of God

To the only wise God our Saviour be glory for ever (25).

Part Seven: Connections — How Jude Links to the Rest of the Bible

Jude and the Old Testament

Jude and the New Testament

Part Eight: Practical Lessons

• Rest in being called, sanctified and preserved (1).
• Earnestly contend for the faith (3).
• Accept no new revelation beyond the faith once delivered (3).
• Watch for those who creep in unnoticed (4).
• Never treat grace as permission to sin (4).
• Remember that privilege does not protect from judgment (5).
• Respect God's boundaries (6-7).
• Don't speak abusively, even about the devil; leave judgment to the Lord (9).
• Beware of self-willed religion, greed and rebellion (11).
• Recognise false teachers by their fruitlessness (12-13).
• Live in light of the Lord's coming in judgment (14-15).
• Don't be shaken by mockers; they were foretold (17-18).
• Build yourself up on your most holy faith (20).
• Pray in the Holy Ghost (20).
• Keep yourself in the love of God (21).
• Look for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life (21).
• Show compassion to the doubting (22).
• Rescue those near the fire (23).
• Hate even the garment spotted by the flesh (23).
• Trust God to keep you from falling (24).
• Give God all the glory (25).

Part Nine: Key Verses to Memorize

Conclusion

Jude, the half-brother of Jesus who once doubted Him but became His servant, intended to write about the salvation all believers share, but was compelled instead to urge them to contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Ungodly men had crept in, turning God's grace into a licence for immorality and denying the only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude reminded his readers that God judged unbelieving Israel after delivering them from Egypt, imprisoned the angels who left their proper place, and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha with fire. The apostates, like Cain, Balaam and Korah, followed self-willed religion, greed and rebellion. They were hidden reefs at the love feasts, waterless clouds, dead trees, raging waves and wandering stars, and Enoch long ago foretold that the Lord would come with ten thousands of His saints to judge such ungodly men. But believers need not fear. Remembering that the apostles predicted these mockers, they must build themselves up in their most holy faith, pray in the Holy Ghost, keep themselves in the love of God, and look for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life, while reaching out to rescue others with compassion and holy caution. Above all, they rest in the God who preserves them, and who alone is able to keep them from falling and present them faultless before His glory with exceeding joy.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Jude 24-25