Jude Introduction
Introduction
The General Epistle of Jude is very brief, only twenty-five verses. It was written to combat false teachers and the heresies by which they are distorting the Christian faith. The letter suggests that these ungodly people have “crept in unawares” among us, “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness” (verse 4), ever seeking to distort and mislead. Jude says that their appearance and their evils fulfill earlier prophesies from the Hebrew scriptures (verse 4), as well as the warnings of ancient Enoch (verse 14), and of the apostles themselves (verse 17), that false teachers would appear to cause chaos and testing for the faithful. The faithful are cautioned to hold fast to the true faith and be patient, because God's judgment on these false teachers is coming near and they will receive what they deserve. To show this, Jude then cites a number of examples from the Hebrew scriptures illustrating the judgment that comes to the unbelieving and unfaithful: Cain, Balaam, Korah, the rebellious wilderness generation, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the fallen angels. The author then quotes from First Enoch 1.9, one of the popular apocalyptic writings of the period that never became canonical, to show the readers yet again that this kind of ungodliness was foreseen. Following warnings about the last days, and an appeal for compassion for those struggling with their faith, the letter concludes with a beautiful doxology.
Outline
Greetings and a Prayer (1,2)
Defending the Faith against False Teachers (3-23)
Doxology (24,25)
Currently Selected:
Jude Introduction: KJVAAE
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.
Jude Introduction
Introduction
Jude
Jesus had several brothers, including James and Jude. James is better known, since he was a prominent leader in the church at Jerusalem (see p. 1761). Much less is known about Jude, but he too was clearly a church leader, since he wrote to believers with authority in this letter that bears his name. Itʼs not clear exactly who was meant to receive this letter, although the references to angels, to the history of Israel and to specific writings suggest that it was addressed to Jews who believed in Jesus as their Messiah.
But the problem that occasioned the letter is quite clear. Jude warns his readers about certain individuals who have secretly slipped in among you, whose teaching and example are threatening the faith that was once for all entrusted to Godʼs holy people. These false teachers, on the basis of supposedly inspired dreams, reject authority and pollute their own bodies, engage in immorality and refuse discipline. Even though they claim to bring Godʼs message, they really follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
The believersʼ response to them must be active resistance. They must contend for the faith by rejecting both the teaching and the example of these men and cleansing their community. Be merciful to those who doubt, Jude instructs them, save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear. He assures them that as they do these things, they can entrust themselves to God their Savior.
It appears that the apostle Peter received a copy of Judeʼs letter and wrote a similar one of his own to show that Jude was faithfully presenting the teaching of the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ (see p. 1807).
Jude
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Books of the Bible™
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.