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.
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Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James, the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, called Thaddeus;
JUDAS, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the beloved in God the Father, and the called who are 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.
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Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
And as he sat on the Mount of Olives the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us when these things shall be; and what shall be the sign of your coming, and of the consummation of the world? And Jesus answered and said to them, See that no man deceives you; read more. for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and shall deceive many.
for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and shall deceive many. And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you be not terrified, for all things must be accomplished; but the end is not yet. read more. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in different places; but all these things are the beginning of sorrows. Then they shall deliver you to affliction, and kill you, and you shall be hated by all nations on my account; and then many shall be offended, and shall betray one another, and hate one another; and many false prophets shall be raised up and deceive many,
and many false prophets shall be raised up and deceive many, and because wickedness shall abound the love of the many shall become cold:
and because wickedness shall abound the love of the many shall become cold: but he that endures to the end shall be saved. read more. And this good news of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a testimony to all nations; and then shall the end come. When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place??et him that reads understand,??16 then let those in Judea flee to the mountains.
Let not him that is on his house come down to take the things from his house; and let not him that is in the field return back to take his clothes; read more. and woe to those with child and giving nurse in those days! But pray that your flight may not be in the winter, nor on the Sabbath; for at that time there shall be great affliction, such as has not been from the beginning of the world even till now, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened no flesh would be saved: but on account of the elect those days shall be shortened. Then if one says to you, Behold, here is the Christ, or there! believe it not. For false Christs and false prophets shall be raised up, and shall show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you before.
Is not this the carpenter? the son of Mary? and a brother of James, and Joset, and Judas, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended with him.
Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor,
I WROTE my first account, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus did and taught,
And when they came, they went up into the upper room where staid Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the [brother] of James.
And there was a man by the name of Simon who formerly practised magic in that city, and astonished the nation of Samaria, saying that he was some great person, to whom all from the least to the greatest attended, saying, This is the power of God which is called great. read more. And they attended to him because for a long time he had astonished them with his magic arts. But because they believed Philip preaching the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women. And Simon also himself believed, and being baptized attended constantly on Philip; and beholding the mighty works and miracles that were performed, he was astonished. And the apostles at Jerusalem hearing that Samaria had received the word of God, sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. And Simon seeing that the Holy Spirit was given by the imposition of the hands of the apostles, offered them money, saying, Give me this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hand he may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, Your money go to perdition with you; because you have thought to purchase the gift of God with money. You have no part nor inheritance in this work; for your heart is not right before God. Turn your mind therefore from this your wickedness, and pray the Lord if perhaps the thought of your mind may be forgiven you; for I see you are in the gall of bitterness and bond of wickedness. And Simon answered and said, Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have said may come upon me.
And having gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found a certain magian, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus, who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man having called for Barnabas and Saul desired to hear the word of God; read more. but Elymas the magian, for so his name is interpreted, opposed them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith. But Saul, [called] also Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looking steadily at him said, O full of all deceit and all craft, son of a devil, enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell upon him a mist and darkness, and going about he sought guides. Then the proconsul seeing what was done believed, and was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
And hearing this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus: and Paul putting his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. read more. And all the men were about twelve.
and many of those who believed came and confessed, and showed their practices. And many of those who practised secret arts brought their books, and burnt them before all; and they computed the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand [didrachmas] of silver [$8,333].
and the hope makes not ashamed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given us.
And in like manner also the Spirit helps our weakness. For we know not what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings unutterable;
And to him that is able to confirm you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery not revealed in ancient times, but made manifest now by the scriptures of the prophets, by the command of the eternal God, for the obedience of the faith among all nations, read more. to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to him be the glory forever; amen.
But the natural man receives not the [things] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot know them, for they are spiritually discerned.
not altogether the fornicators of this world, or the covetous and rapacious, or idolaters, since then you would have to go out of the world.
But I tell you this, not to praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse.
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking also Titus;
For before some came from James he eat with the gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself; fearing those of the circumcision;
by the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blame and without fault before him,
founded and built up in him, and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
knowing, brothers beloved by God, your election,
Let no one deceive you in any way, for [he shall not come] unless the apostacy comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction,
As I requested you to remain at Ephesus, when going into Macedonia, that you might charge some not to preach another doctrine,
And to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever; amen.
The sins of some men are manifest, going before to judgment; but some they follow;
and wranglings of men of unsound judgments and destitute of the truth, supposing that piety is gain.
for the time will come when they will not endure sound instruction, but will accumulate for themselves teachers according to their desires, pleasing their ear,
Make haste to come to me quickly;
Admonish them to be subject to principalities, to powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready for every good work,
which he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
The word is true, and I wish you to insist strongly concerning these things, that those who have believed in God may be careful to maintain good works. For these things are honorable and useful to men.
Send forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with diligence, and let nothing be wanting to them;
JUDAS, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the beloved in God the Father, and the called who are kept by Jesus Christ.
JUDAS, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the beloved in God the Father, and the called who are kept by Jesus Christ. Mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you. read more. Beloved, giving all diligence to write to you concerning the common salvation, I was under a necessity to write and exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. For some men have come in by deception, who were of old appointed to this judgment, impious, changing the grace of our God into lewdness, and denying our only master and Lord, Jesus Christ. But I wish to remind you, though you once knew all, that the Lord having saved his people from Egypt, afterwards destroyed those that believed not,
But I wish to remind you, though you once knew all, that the Lord having saved his people from Egypt, afterwards destroyed those that believed not,
But these blaspheme what they do not understand, and what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.
These are they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith, pray with the Holy Spirit. read more. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And reprove some, separatists,
And reprove some, separatists, and some save, plucking them from the fire, but have mercy on others with fear, hating even the garment that is defiled by the flesh.
and some save, plucking them from the fire, but have mercy on others with fear, hating even the garment that is defiled by the flesh. And to him that is able to keep you without falling, and to present you blameless before his glory, with great joy, read more. to God our only Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power and authority before all worlds, both now and for ever more; amen.
I know your works and your labor and your patience, and that you cannot bear the wicked, and you tried those who say they are apostles and are not, and found them false;
But you have this, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
But I have a few things against you; you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put an occasion of sin before the children of Israel, both to eat things offered to idols and to commit fornication. So in like manner you have also those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.
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
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not as Cain was of the evil one and killed his brother; and why did he kill him? because his works were evil, and his brother's 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.
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But there were also false prophets among the people, as there shall also be false teachers among you, who shall bring in by stealth destructive heresies, even denying the master that bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction; and many shall follow their lewdness, on account of whom the way of truth shall be reviled, read more. and with covetousness they will make a gain of you with feigned words, whose judgment a long time lingers not, and their destruction slumbers not. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but plunging them into Tartarus delivered them up in chains to be kept in darkness till the judgment, and spared not the old world, but preserved Noah a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, bringing the flood on the world of the ungodly, and condemned Sodom and Gomorrah to be overthrown, reducing them to ashes, making them an example to those who should afterwards be wicked, and delivered righteous Lot, vexed by the lewd conduct of the wicked;??8 for that righteous man living among them vexed his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their wicked deeds;??9 the Lord knows how to deliver the pious from trial, and to keep the wicked to the day of judgment to be punished,
but especially those who walk after the flesh, in corrupt desires, and despise goverment. Presumptuous, self-complacent, they fear not to revile glories, where the angels who are greater in strength and power do not bring against them a reproachful judgment; read more. but these, like irrational animals, brutes made to be taken and destroyed, reviling things which they do not understand, will also be destroyed in their depravity, receiving the wages of wickedness, accounting luxury in the day-time a pleasure, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceptions while feasting with you, having eyes full of an adulteress, and unable to cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart exercised in covetousness, cursed children, having left the right way they have gone astray, following in the way of Balaam the son of Beor who loved the wages of wickedness, but had a rebuke of his transgression; the dumb ass, speaking with a man's voice, forbade the madness of the prophet. These are fountains without water, clouds driven by a tempest, to which is reserved the blackness of darkness. For speaking extravagant words of vanity, they entice with carnal desires of lewdness those scarcely escaped from them, those living in error, promising them liberty, when they themselves are servants of corruption; for by whatever a man is overcome, to this is he made a servant.
Beloved, giving all diligence to write to you concerning the common salvation, I was under a necessity to write and exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. For some men have come in by deception, who were of old appointed to this judgment, impious, changing the grace of our God into lewdness, and denying our only master and Lord, Jesus Christ. read more. But I wish to remind you, though you once knew all, that the Lord having saved his people from Egypt, afterwards destroyed those that believed not, and the angels who kept not their own province, but left their habitation, he has kept under darkness in eternal chains, for the judgment of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them, committing fornication in the same manner as these and going after unnatural lewdness, are made an example, enduring the punishment of eternal fire. In like manner also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject government, and blaspheme glories. But Michael the arch-angel, when disputing with the devil he reasoned about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a charge of blasphemy, but said, The Lord rebuke you.
But Michael the arch-angel, when disputing with the devil he reasoned about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a charge of blasphemy, but said, The Lord rebuke you. But these blaspheme what they do not understand, and what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. read more. Woe to them; for they have gone in the way of Cain, and rushed into the error of Balaam for a reward, and perished in the contradiction of Korah. These are breakers at your love-feasts, feasting with you without fear, feeding themselves, clouds without water driven about by winds, autumnal trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots, wild waves of the sea foaming with their own shame, wandering stars to which is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of them, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousand of his saints
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of them, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousand of his saints to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the wicked among them of all the deeds of impiety which they have impiously committed, and of all the hard speeches which impious sinners have spoken against him.
to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the wicked among them of all the deeds of impiety which they have impiously committed, and of all the hard speeches which impious sinners have spoken against him. These are complainers, censorious, walking after their inordinate desires, and their mouth speaks proud words, showing admiration of persons for the sake of gain. read more. But do you, beloved, remember the words spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they said to you, That in the last time there shall be scoffers, walking in their own impious desires. These are they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith, pray with the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And reprove some, separatists, and some save, plucking them from the fire, but have mercy on others with fear, hating even the garment that is defiled by the flesh. And to him that is able to keep you without falling, and to present you blameless before his glory, with great joy, to God our only Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power and authority before all worlds, both now and for ever more; amen.