Reference: Jude, Epistle Of
Easton
The author was "Judas, the brother of James" the Less (Jude 1:1), called also Lebbaeus (Mt 10:3) and Thaddaeus (Mr 3:18). The genuineness of this epistle was early questioned, and doubts regarding it were revived at the time of the Reformation; but the evidences in support of its claims are complete. It has all the marks of having proceeded from the writer whose name it bears.
There is nothing very definite to determine the time and place at which it was written. It was apparently written in the later period of the apostolic age, for when it was written there were persons still alive who had heard the apostles preach (ver. 17). It may thus have been written about A.D. 66 or 70, and apparently in Palestine.
The epistle is addressed to Christians in general (ver. 1), and its design is to put them on their guard against the misleading efforts of a certain class of errorists to which they were exposed. The style of the epistle is that of an "impassioned invective, in the impetuous whirlwind of which the writer is hurried along, collecting example after example of divine vengeance on the ungodly; heaping epithet upon epithet, and piling image upon image, and, as it were, labouring for words and images strong enough to depict the polluted character of the licentious apostates against whom he is warning the Church; returning again and again to the subject, as though all language was insufficient to give an adequate idea of their profligacy, and to express his burning hatred of their perversion of the doctrines of the gospel."
The striking resemblance this epistle bears to 2PE suggests the idea that the author of the one had seen the epistle of the other.
The doxology with which the epistle concludes is regarded as the finest in the New Testament.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus;
and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon of Cana,
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the called, loved in God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ:
Hastings
This short epistle is an earnest warning and appeal, couched in vivid and picturesque language, addressed to a church or a circle of churches which have become suddenly exposed to a mischievous attack of false teaching.
1. Contents
(1) Text.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Is not this the carpenters son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
And as he was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be? and what will be the signs of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answering said to them, See that no one deceive you. read more. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many.
For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many. And ye are to hear of wars, and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled; for these things must come to pass; but not yet is the end. read more. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines and earthquakes in divers places. But all these things are the beginning of travailpains. Then will they deliver you up to distress, and will kill you; and ye will be hated by all nations on account of my name. And then will many fall away; and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. And many false prophets will arise, and will deceive many.
And many false prophets will arise, and will deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of the many will wax cold.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of the many will wax cold. But he that endureth to the end will be saved. read more. And these glad tidings of the kingdom will be published throughout the whole world for a testimony to all the nations; and then will come the end. When, therefore, ye see the abomination of desolation, spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, (let him that readeth understand,) then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains; let not him that is on the housetop go down to take away the things belonging to his house; and let not him that is in the field turn back to take his garment. And woe to the women with child, and to those with children at the breast, in those days! And pray that your flight be not in winter, nor on a sabbath. For there will then be great distress, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor shall ever be. And were not those days to shortened, no flesh would be saved; but, for the sake of the chosen, these days will be shortened. Then if any one say to you, Lo! here is the Christ; or there, believe him not. For there will rise up false Christs, and false prophets, and will show great signs and wonders, so that, if possible, even the chosen will be deceived. Lo! I have told you beforehand.
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judah, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they took offence at him.
The former narrative I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus both did and taught from the beginning
And when they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were making their abode, namely, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the zealot, and Judas the brother of James.
But before their arrival a certain man, named Simon, was in the city, a man practising sorcery, and amazing the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was some great person; to whom they gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the Power of God, which is called Great. read more. And to him they gave heed, because they had for a long time been amazed by his sorceries. But when they believed Philip, publishing the glad tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. And Simon himself also believed, and having been baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed when he beheld the miracles and signs which were wrought. And the apostles at Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria had received the word of God, sent to them Peter and John; who, having come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For it had not yet fallen upon any of them; but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. But Simon, seeing that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles hands, offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, Thy money perish with thee! because thou didst think to obtain the gift of God with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter; for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if haply the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. And Simon answering said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of the things which ye have spoken may come upon me.
And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain magian, a Jewish false prophet, whose name was Barjesus, who was with the proconsul of the country, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. He, having called for Barnabas and Saul, desired to hear the word of God. read more. But Elymas the magian (for so is his name interpreted) withstood them, seeking so turn away the proconsul from the faith. But Saul (who is also called Paul), filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on him and said, O full of all deceit, and of all mischief, son of the Devil, enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou wilt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and darkness; and going about he sought to find some who would lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul, when he saw what had taken place, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul bad laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied. read more. And the men were about twelve in all.
And many of the believers came, confessing and declaring their practices. Many also of those who had practised magical arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
and hope will not disappoint us; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which hath been given to us.
In like manner the Spirit also helpeth our weakness; for we know not what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedeth with groans which cannot be expressed in words.
Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which for eternal ages was unrevealed, but is now made manifest, and through the writings of the prophets, by the command of the everlasting God, is made known to all the nations to bring them to obedience to the faith, read more. to God, the only wise, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever! Amen.
But the unspiritual man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot know them; because they are spiritually discerned.
certainly not meaning the fornicators of this world, or the covetous and extortioners, or idolaters; for to do this ye must go out of the world.
But I give you this charge, not praising you, because ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
Then, fourteen years after, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus also with me.
and when they knew the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the gentiles, and they to the circumcised;
For before certain persons came from James, he used to eat with the gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew, and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
in the body of his flesh through his death, to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable in his sight;
rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
since we know, brethren beloved of God, that he hath chosen you;
Let no one deceive you in any manner; for [that day will not come] unless the apostasy shall have come first and the man of sin have been revealed, the son of perdition;
As I besought thee, when I set out for Macedonia, to remain still in Ephesus, that thou mightst charge certain persons not to teach other doctrine,
Now to the King eternal, the imperishable, invisible, only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Some mens sins are openly manifest, going before them to judgment; and some men they follow after.
incessant disputings of men corrupted in their minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that godliness is gain.
For the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own desires will they heap to themselves teachers; because they have itching ears;
Use diligence to come to me shortly.
Put them in mind to submit themselves to governments, to authorities, to obey magistrates, to be ready for every good work,
which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour,
True is the saying; and these things I desire that thou affirm earnestly, that they who have believed in God may be careful to practise good works. These things are good and profitable to men;
Zenas the lawyer and Apollos forward on their journey diligently, that nothing may be wanting to them.
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the called, loved in God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ:
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the called, loved in God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: Mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you. read more. Beloved, while giving all diligence to write to you, I found it necessary to write to you concerning the common salvation, exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. For there have stealthily crept in certain men who were of old appointed beforehand for this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into wantonness, and denying the only Sovereign, and our Lord Jesus Christ. But I wish to remind you as once knowing it all, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who believed not;
But I wish to remind you as once knowing it all, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who believed not;
But these rail at the things which they know not; but what things they understand naturally, as brute beasts, in these they corrupt themselves.
These are they that separate themselves, sensual, not having the Spirit. But do ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, read more. keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And some rebuke when they contend; and others save, snatching them out of the fire; and on others have compassion
And some rebuke when they contend; and others save, snatching them out of the fire; and on others have compassion with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. But to him that is able to keep them from falling, and to present them faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, read more. to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, is glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and for ever. Amen.
I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy endurance, and that thou canst not bear evil men; and thou didst try those who say they are apostles, and are not, and didst find them liars;
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
But I have a few things against thee; thou hast there them that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumblingblock in the way of the sons of Israel, and to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. So thou also hast men holding the teaching of the Nicolaitans, in like manner.
Morish
Written by Jude the brother of James, and apparently the same person as the apostle JUDAS, q.v. The Epistle is addressed to "the called ones, beloved in God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ." Apostasy had set in, and the saints are exhorted to contend for the faith divinely delivered. Ungodly ones had crept in, who abused the grace of God, and denied their only Master and Lord Jesus Christ.
Three instances are produced to show how apostasy had been punished:
1. Some of those saved out of Egypt were yet destroyed.
2. Fallen angels are kept in eternal chains for judgement.
3. Sodom and Gomorrha, which lie under the abiding effect of the judgement on them. Then the railers are put to shame by the conduct of Michael the archangel, who when rightly contending with Satan about the body of Moses did not rail against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke thee."
Three stages of departure from the way of truth are mentioned, with a woe upon those who are found in them:
1. The way of Cain
See Verses Found in Dictionary
not as Cain was of the Evil One, and slew his brother. And wherefore did he slay him? Because his own works were evil, and his brothers righteous.
Smith
Jude, Epistle of.
Its author was probably Jude, one of the brethren of Jesus, the subject of the preceding article. There are no data from which to determine its date or place of writing, but it is placed about A.D.
65. The object of the epistle is plainly enough announced ver. 3; the reason for this exhortation is given ver.
4. The remainder of the epistle is almost entirely occupied by a minute depiction of the adversaries of the faith. The epistle closes by briefly reminding the readers of the oft-repeated prediction of the apostles --among whom the writer seems not to rank himself --that the faith would be assailed by such enemies as he has depicted, vs.
exhorting them to maintain their own steadfastness in the faith, vs.
while they earnestly sought to rescue others from the corrupt example of those licentious livers, vs.
and commending them to the power of God in language which forcibly recalls the closing benediction of the epistle to the Romans. vs.
cf. Roma 16:25-27 This epistle presents one peculiarity, which, as we learn from St. Jerome, caused its authority to be impugned in very early times --the supposed citation of apocryphal writings. vs.
The larger portion of this epistle, vs.
is almost identical in language and subject with a part of the Second Epistle of Peter.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But there arose false prophets also among the people, as there will be false teachers among you also, who will stealthily bring in destructive factions, even denying the Lord that bought them; bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their dissolute ways, by reason of whom the way of truth will be evil spoken of; read more. and in covetousness will they with feigned words make merchandise of you; for whom the judgment long ago ordained lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not. For if God spared not angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them over to chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; and spared not the old world, but saved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning into ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, condemned them to overthrow, making them an example for those who in after time should live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, distressed by the lewd conduct of the lawless men; (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing tormented his righteous soul from day to day with their lawless deeds;) the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unrighteous under punishment to the day of judgment; but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise dominion. Presumptuous, selfwilled, they are not afraid to rail at dignities; whereas angels, who are greater in strength and power, bring not against them a railing accusation; but these, as brute beasts, by nature born to be taken and destroyed, railing at things which they understand not, shall even perish in their own corruption, receiving the wages of unrighteousness. Counting it pleasure to riot in the daytime, spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceits while they feast with you, having eyes full of an adulteress, and that cannot cease from sin, alluring unstable souls, having a heart exercised in covetousness, children of a curse, they have forsaken the right way, and have gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but was rebuked for his iniquity; the dumb ass, speaking with mans voice, restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, and mists driven by a tempest; for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved. For speaking great swelling words of vanity, they allure in the lusts of the flesh, by dissolute ways, such as were in some measure escaping from those who live in error; promising them liberty, while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by the same is he also brought into bondage.
Beloved, while giving all diligence to write to you, I found it necessary to write to you concerning the common salvation, exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. For there have stealthily crept in certain men who were of old appointed beforehand for this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into wantonness, and denying the only Sovereign, and our Lord Jesus Christ. read more. But I wish to remind you as once knowing it all, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who believed not; and the angels which kept not their principality, but left their own dwellingplace, he hath kept in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day; even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, in like manner with them giving themselves over to fornication, and going away after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of everlasting fire. Yet in like manner these dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and rail at dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the Devil he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but said: The Lord rebuke thee.
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the Devil he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but said: The Lord rebuke thee. But these rail at the things which they know not; but what things they understand naturally, as brute beasts, in these they corrupt themselves. read more. Woe to them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and rushed on in the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. These are the rocks in your feasts of love, feasting together without fear, feeding only themselves; clouds without water, carried away by winds; trees in late autumn, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. Yea, and against these Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord cometh in the midst of his holy myriads,
Yea, and against these Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord cometh in the midst of his holy myriads, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly among them of all the deeds of their ungodliness which they committed; and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners spoke against him."
to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly among them of all the deeds of their ungodliness which they committed; and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners spoke against him." These are murmurers, complaining of their lot, walking according to their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words; admiring mens persons, for the sake of profit. read more. But do ye, beloved, remember the words which were before spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; that they told you that at the last time there would be scoffers, walking according to their own ungodly lusts. These are they that separate themselves, sensual, not having the Spirit. But do ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And some rebuke when they contend; and others save, snatching them out of the fire; and on others have compassion with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. But to him that is able to keep them from falling, and to present them faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, is glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and for ever. Amen.