Jude
Reading 0,05 - 1 Chapter - 25 verses - 613 words
Vital Statistics
| Purpose: | To remind the church of the need for constant vigilance - to keep strong in the faith and to oppose heresy |
| Author: | Jude, brother of Jesus and James |
| Original audience: | Jewish Christians |
| Date written: | Approximately A.D. 65 |
| Setting: | From the first century on, the church has been threatened by heresy and false teaching; we must always be on our guard |
| Key verse: | Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. (1:3) |
| Key people: | Jude, James, Jesus |
Author
The author identifies himself as Jude (v.1), which is another form of the Hebrew name Judah (Greek "Judas"), a common name among the Jews. Of those so named in the NT, the ones most likely to be author of this letter are: (1) Judas the apostle (Lk 6:16; Ac 1:13) - not Judas Iscariot - and (2) Judas the brother of the Lord (Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3). The latter is more likely. For example, the author does not claim to be an apostle and even seems to separate himself from the apostles (v.17). Furthermore, he describes himself as a "brother of James" (v. 1). Ordinarily a person in Jude's day would describe himself as someone's son rather than as someone's brother. The reason for the exception here may have been James's prominence in the church at Jerusalem (see Introduction to James: Author).
Although neither Jude nor James describes himself as a brother of the Lord, others did not hesitate to speak of them in this way (Mt 13:55; Jn 7:3-10; Ac 1:14; 1Co 9:5; Ga; 1:19). Apparently they themselves did not ask to be heard because of the special privilege they had as members of the household of Joseph and Mary.
Possible references to the letter of Jude or quotations from it are found at a very early date: e.g., in Clement of Rome (c. A.D. 96). Clement of Alexandria (115-215), Tertullian (150-222) and Origen (185-253) accepted it; it was included in the Muratorian Canon (c. 170) and was accepted by Athanasius (2898-373) and by the Council of Carthage (397). Eusebius (265-340) listed the letter among the questioned books, though he recognized that many considered it as from Jude.
According to Jerome and Didymus, some did not accept the letter as canonical because of the manner in which it uses non canonical literature (9,14). But sound judgment has recognized that an inspired author may legitimately make use of such literature - whether for illustrative purpose or for appropriation of historically reliable or otherwise acceptable material - and such use does not necessarily endorse that literature as inspired. Under the influence of the Spirit, the church came to the conviction that the authority of God stands behind the letter of Jude. The fact that the letter was questioned and tested but nonetheless was finally accepted by the churches indicates the strength of its claims to authenticity.
Date
There is nothing in the letter that requires a date beyond the lifetime of Jude the brother of the Lord. The error the author is combating, like that in 2 Peter, is not the heretical teaching of the second century, but that which could and did develop at an early date (cf. Ac 20:29-30; Ro 6:1; 1Co 5:1-11; 2Co 12:21; Gal 5:13; Eph 5:3-17; 1Th 4:6). There is, moreover, nothing in the letter that requires a date after the time of the apostles, as some have argued. It may even be that Jude's readers had heard some of the apostles speak (17-18). Likewise, the use of the word "faith" in the objective sense of the body of truth believed (v. 3) does not require a late dating of the letter. It was used in such a sense as early as Gal 1:23.
The question of the relationship between Jude and 2 Peter has a bearing on the date of Jude. If 2Pe 2 makes use of Jude - a commonly accepted view - then Jude is to be dated prior to 2 Peter, probably c. A.D. 65. Otherwise, a date as late as c. 80 would be possible.
Recipients
The description of those to whom Jude addressed his letter is very general (v. 1). It could apply to Jewish Christians, Gentile Christians, or both. Their location is not indicated. It should not be assumed that, since 2Pe 2 and Jude 4-18 appear to describe similar situations, they were both written to the same people. The kind of heresy depicted in these two passages was widespread.
Occasion and Purpose
Although Jude was very eager to write to his readers about salvation, he felt that he must instead warn them about certain immoral men circulating among them who were perverting the grace of God (v. 4). Apparently these false teachers were trying to convince believers that being saved by grace gave them license to sin since their sins would no longer be held against them. Jude thought it imperative that his readers be on guard against such men and be prepared to oppose their perverted teaching with the truth about God's saving grace.
It has generally been assumed that these false teachers were Gnostics. Although this identification is no doubt correct, they must have been forerunners of fully developed, second-century Gnosticism.
How to read Jude
Ever disconnect the smoke detector or the seatbelt buzzer because you didn’t want to be bothered with the irritating noise? Ignoring such warnings could cost you your home or your life. But ignoring spiritual warnings could be even worse. That’s why we should pay close attention to this book. Jude sounds a short sharp warning siren we dare not ignore.
Jude doesn’t waste words as he describes what’s wrong and what to do about it. He makes it crystal clear that we’ve got to take a stand for the truth and contend for the faith. As you read, you might want to flip back and forth with 2 Peter. Observe how many parallels there are between these two books as they both seek to combat false teaching in the church.
As you read Jude’s compelling words, be attentive to the warnings, but also notice the promises and the encouragement to live genuine Christian lives. You would think that with the need to contend against so much false teaching, Jude would be somewhat discouraged. Just the opposite is true! He’s more impressed with God’s capacity to keep us in his ways than with the enemy’s attempts to divert us. His final song of praise exudes great joy and confidence: “Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen” (verses 24-25).
Jude Interpretive Challenges
Because there are no doctrinal issues discussed, the challenges of this letter have to do with interpretation in the normal process of discerning the meaning of the text. Jude does quote from non-canonical, pseudepigraphal (i.e., the actual author was not the one named in its title) sources such as 1 Enoch (v. 14) and the Assumption of Moses (v. 9) to support his points. Was this acceptable? Since Jude was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 1:20, 21) and included material that was accurate and true in its affirmations, he did no differently than Paul (c.f. Ac 17:28; 1Co 15:33; Titus 1:12).
Outline
I. Greetings (1-2) |
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II. Occasion for the Letter (3-4) | A. The Change of Subject (3) B. The Reason for the Change: The Presence of Godless Apostates (4) |
III. Warning against the False Teachers (5-16) | A. Historical Examples of the Judgment of Apostates (5-7) Unbelieving Israel (5) Angels who fell (6) Sodom and Gomorrah (7)
B. Description of the Apostates of Jude’s Day (8-16) Their character graphically portrayed (11-13) Their destruction prophesied (14-16)
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IV. Exhortation to Believers (17-23) |
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V. Concluding Doxology (24-25) |
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1:1 - Jude, a servant |
1:1b - Those who are called |
1:2 - Mercy, people and love |
1:3 - Certain intruders have stolen |
1:5 - Desire to remind you |
1:8 - Dreamers defile the flesh |
1:14 - Grumblers and malcontents |
1:17 - Remember the predictions |
1:24 - To the only God |
