The Letter of Jude: Beware and Contend
Introduction
to Jude
Author:
Jude Three
possibilities exist. The author may be either
1) Judas, a leader in the early church of
Jerusalem. This
latter Judas was sent to Antioch with Paul, Barnabas, and Silas (Acts 15:22).
His surname was Barsabbas, indicating that he could have been a brother of
Joseph Barsabbas, who was one of two "nominees" to replace Judas
Iscariot (Acts 1:23). Thus he would have been known in the church. But little
other evidence points to this individual as the author of this epistle.
But whose brother is he? (James) keep that in mind.
2) As to whether he was the Apostle Jude, verse 17 in his letter seems to
indicate that he did not consider himself to be an apostle, though modesty
could have led him to write as he did. However, the important subject that he
wrote about would probably have called for his identifying himself with the
other apostles, for authority's sake, if he really was an apostle.
So what title does he give himself? Servant. Note: personal authority.
The word denotes one who is
NT:1401 Greek word doulos meaning subservient,
subject. 1) Pertaining to a state of being completely controlled by someone or
something - 'subservient to, controlled by. 2) One who is a slave in the sense of
becoming the property of an owner (though in ancient times it was frequently
possible for a slave to earn his freedom) - 'slave, bondservant.' …When Paul
speaks of himself as a slave of Jesus Christ or of God in Rom 1:1; Gal 1:10,
and Titus 1:1, the term focuses
attention primarily upon his belonging to Christ or to God. There are probably
also important positive overtones, since in some languages of the ancient
Middle East a phrase meaning 'slave of the king' or 'servant of the king' had
become the title of an important person in the government.
3)
Judas,
a half brother of Christ. Matt 13:55 “Isn't this the carpenter's
son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon
and Judas”
Our Lord's brothers in the flesh did
not believe in Him while He was ministering (John 7:5). But after the
Resurrection, James was converted (see 1 Cor 15:7), and we have every reason to
believe that Jude was also saved at that time. Acts 1:14 informs us that
"His brethren" were part of the praying group that was awaiting the
Holy Spirit; 1 Cor 9:5 states that "the brethren of the Lord" were
known in the early church.
The most probable identification is
that the author Jude was a half brother of Christ, a son of Joseph and Mary
after Jesus. Why? The James referred to by Jude as his brother was thus also a
half brother of the Lord (Matt 13:55; Mark 6:3), as well as a leader of the
church at Jerusalem (Acts 15:13), and author of the epistle bearing his name
(James 1:1). Early *church tradition varied on which Jude wrote the letter, but
this is the only Jude known to us whose brother was called James.
Why break tradition of referring to
his father as his identification? Or even his kinship with Christ. James
prominent role in the early church was one that many in the church respected.
It is believed because of the very reason why he wrote this group of believers
warranted a dropping not only his servanthood status to the King, but his
kinship to the earthly leader at present in Jerusalem. It would give him
sufficient designation of himself and his right to address Christians in this
manner.
Background
Jude is
writing to all believers in whom God has
saved
v 1b. To those who are called, beloved in God the
Father and kept for Jesus Christ
·
All
three verbs are passive. They stress the action of God. God calls, God loves,
and God keeps. We are called, are loved,
and are kept. Jude is very eager to begin by stressing the security
of the believer in God's electing and preserving love
·
Called:NT:2822 kletos (klay-tos'); from the same as NT:2821;
invited, i.e. appointed, or (specifically) a saint: KJV - called.
Same Greek word in used when Jesus
said many are invited but few are chosen. In that context and I think in this
context we can say that God both invites and choses His elect. We have been
called with “a holy calling” - 2 Ti 1:9
This calling was not according to our meritorious works. It was
according to God’s own purpose and grace before time began.
·
Beloved
NT:25 to
demonstrate or show one's love - 'to show one's love, to demonstrate one's
love.' 'Let us show our love, but not by just word and talk, but by means of
action' 1 John 3:18.
·
Kept
NT:5083 tereo
(tay-reh'-o); from teros (a watch; perhaps akin to NT:2334); to guard (from
loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from.
Note later in v24 “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to
present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, “
Jesus is not only the author of your
Faith, electing, or chosing you to belong to himself and to experience the
actions of his love… to be the recipient of his affection care and attention
that is his beloved. But he is the one
who preserves his own. His people are kept. He is the Finisher of our faith
John 6:39-40
“And
this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has
given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father's will is that
everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and
I will raise him up at the last day." “
·
He
will lose none! He will save them and preserve them Guard them Keep them. For the
resurrection!
John 10:27-30
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and
they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never
perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to
me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I
and the Father are one."
Look at that eternal life… never
perish… no one can snatch them.. The Father is omnipotent and no one can snatch
his people from him.
Jude
is written between 67 a.d. and 80 a.d. Since it is a general letter with its recipients
not named and location not indicated. This makes dating it very tricky. But a
close look at the context compared with
a similar passage in 2 Peter 2. it appears that Peter’s letter was
written first and Jude written some time latter. It’s not based on the audience
but what overall the Church was dealing
with in Jude’s time of writing. Notice 2 Peter 2 :
But
there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce
destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them —
bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth
into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with
stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them,
and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell,
putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not
spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but
protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he
condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made
them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued
Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8
(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his
righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9 if this is so, then
the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous
for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10 This is especially true of those who
follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.
Bold
and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; 11 yet even
angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous
accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. 12 But these men
blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures
of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too
will perish.
13
They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of
pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes,
reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never
stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed — an accursed
brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of
Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked
for his wrongdoing by a donkey — a beast without speech — who spoke with a
man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness.
17
These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest
darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by
appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who
are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom,
while they themselves are slaves of depravity — for a man is a slave to
whatever has mastered him. 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world
by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and
overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It
would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness,
than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that
was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to
its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in
the mud."
2
Peter 2 holds the key to the background because, as we will see in our study,
Peter predicts and Jude in proclaims: False teachers among the church
The Main Theme of Jude is for the Christian to Beware of false teachers and Contend for the True
Faith.
Structure: Jude’s letter is a classic
introduction , body and end. Jude wrote in a dynamic style, using many figures
of speech (e.g., shepherds, clouds, and trees, v. 12; and waves and stars, v.
13). Jude frequently wrote in triads,
That is groupings of three ideas. We see
them in his introduction, greeting, his description of the apostates; his
examples of other apostates who were Judged; his description of these heretical
"dreamers": his description elaboration. Jude frequently referred to
the Old Testament as well.
Now
with all this background let’s look into.
So what is Jude about?
Jude…
… Calls
Out False Teachers
v. 3 Beloved, although I
was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary
to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all
delivered to the saints.
·
Jude
gets right to the point. He wanted to write about common salvation and instead
He wrote about a particular manner in the Church.
·
necessary- there was a compelling that showed a
need to write about this. This is obvious Holy Spirit led.
·
appealing NT:3870 parakaleo- to ask for
something earnestly and with propriety - 'to ask for (earnestly), to request,
to plead for, to appeal to, earnest request, appeal.
·
contend
for the faith- this
is an agonizing- a picture of a wrestler grappling with an opponent, determined
not to give up an inch of territory. Christians are to agonize for the faith-
that is the complete body of truth concerning God, salvation, Christ, the
Bible, sin, heaven, etc.
v. 4 For certain people
have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation,
ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our
only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
·
“certain
people”… “ungodly people” very
direct comment there. The rest of the letter he referes them as “these
people”.
·
crept
in NT:3921 pareisdyœ secretly penetrate, sneak in. Here is where we see the dating of this
letter. Peter predicted it but Jude is saying, “it’s happening beware!”
·
He
goes on to describe them and there ungodly actions. He starts out to give the
the motivation for the Christian to contend. What is it? v.4
·
Perverted
the grace of God. They
did this by turning this grace into a freedom to indulge the flesh without
guilt (Rom. 6:15-23)
·
Deny
our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ. They denied that
he was God in flesh . Scholars who identify this era’s false teachers say they
taught that Jesus only representated one of many stages on the way to God.
5
Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who
saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not
believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of
authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under
gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and
Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual
immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a
punishment of eternal fire.
Jude
begins to give reasons why not to follow “these people” First, because they are
under God’s judgement
·
Here in this passage we see another grouping of
three. Three examples to remember.
1) Egypt is mentioned as a reminder of the
fact that most Israelites who left Egypt were not faithful. An entire
generation perished in the wilderness because of their unbelief (cf. Heb
3:16-19).
2) This second example of God's
punishment of disobedience describes fallen angels. Once pure, holy, and
living in God's presence, they gave in to pride and joined Satan to rebel
against God. They left their positions of authority and their dwelling with
God, resulting in eventual doom. Peter explained that God "did not spare
the angels when they sinned" (2 Peter 2:4 NRSV).
o 2
Peter 2:4 Where are
these fallen angels now? We know that Satan is free and at work in the world (1
Peter 5:8), and that he has an army of demonic powers assisting him (Eph
6:10-12), who are probably some of the fallen angels. But Peter said that some
of the angels were confined to Tartarus ("hell"), which is a Greek
word for the underworld. Tartarus may be a special section of hell where these
angels are chained in pits of darkness, awaiting the final judgment. It is not necessary to debate the hidden
mysteries of this verse in order to get the main message: God judges rebellion
and will not spare those who reject His win. If God judged the angels, who in
many respects are higher than men, then certainly He will judge rebellious men.
Optional
·
Scholars
differ regarding to which rebellion Jude referred. This could refer either to
the angels who rebelled with Satan (Ezek 28:15), or
·
to
the sin of the "sons of God" described in Gen 6:1-4 (an
interpretation given in the book of Enoch in the Apocrypha, when angels came to
earth and took women as sexual partners; see also Rev 12:7). Though not in the
Bible, Jewish theology at this time held that some fallen angels (demons) were
held in chains and some were free to roam this world to oppress people. For
more on the book of Enoch, see verse 14. Jude's readers apparently understood
his meaning, as well as the implication that if God did not spare his angels,
neither would he spare the false teachers. Pride and lust had led to civil war
and to the angels' fall. The false teachers' pride and lust would lead to
judgment and destruction. God did not spare his angels; neither would he spare
them.
·
As
for these disobedient angels, God has kept them in eternal chains in deepest
darkness for the judgment of the great Day. (See 2 Peter 2:4 and 17 for more on
"chains in deepest darkness.") These angels were imprisoned in
Tartarus (see comments on 1 Peter 3:19-20; 2 Peter 2:4). Some scholars describe
the "eternal chains" as metaphors for the confinement of
"deepest darkness"; others take them to be literal chains in a dark
pit somewhere in this earthly sphere. Most likely this place of punishment is
in a heavenly realm that is set aside for punishment (see comments on 1 Peter
3:19). These sinful angels will be "kept" in a place of punishment
until the great Day of Judgment, when they will face their final doom (Matt
25:41). Jude 6.
3) Sodom and Gomorrah (v. 7). Both Peter and Jude state
that God made these cities an example to warn the ungodly that God does indeed
judge sin (see 2 Peter 2:6). When you combine their descriptions, you discover
that the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah (and the other cities involved) were:
ungodly, filthy, wicked, unlawful, unjust, and given over to fornication. They
did not occasionally commit unnatural sexual sins; they indulged in them and
gave themselves over to the pursuit of lust. The Greek verb is intensive:
"to indulge in excessive immorality." This was their way of life -
and death!
So because
these ungodly people were under God’s judgement, we are warned that we surely
would not follow someone down that road.
Jude goes on
in verse 8-10
“Yet
in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh,
reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel
Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he
did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord
rebuke you." 10 But these people
blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that
they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively”
Jude reason that Christians are not
to follow these people because they are blasphemers. Here we see a threefold
charge against them.
·
defile the flesh- They
pollute their own bodies. Like the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah, they follow
wherever their sinful desires lead them, even into homosexuality. Peter wrote
that they followed "the corrupt desire of the sinful nature" (2 Peter
2:10 NIV), referring to sexual promiscuity, looseness, and licentiousness (v.
4). These people taught that Christian freedom placed believers above moral
rules. No one living in such a way should attempt to speak for God. By doing
so, these false teachers brought great judgment on themselves.
·
reject authority- This
"authority" could refer to church leaders, angelic powers (as below),
or the Lord himself. Most likely, the false teachers rejected the authority of
all of these. They lived to please themselves and dismissed the prospect of a
Second Coming and judgment by God.
·
blaspheme the glorious ones- These
"celestial beings" (also translated "glorious ones") may
refer to church leaders, angels, or fallen angels. Many scholars say that Jude
was referring to the good angels. While angels are not to be worshiped, they
ought to receive respect and awe because of their position and authority. Jude
may have been describing the false teachers' flouting of belief in the power
and authority of Jesus Christ and of God's messengers, the angels. Just as the
men of Sodom insulted angels (Gen 19), these false teachers were insulting
God's angels. These scholars take verse 9 to mean that the archangel Michael
did not dare to slander even Satan; how arrogant that the false teachers would
dare to slander God's holy angels!
What do you think of verse 9?
Jude illustrates the magnitude of
their blasphemies with a story from the Assumption of Moses, an apocrypha book
familiar to his readers According to the account, the archangel Michael was
sent to bury Moses’ body. When Lucifer intercepted him to claim the body,
Michael showed no disrespect to Lucifer but left the matter with the Judge all
creatures , saying “The Lord rebuke you.” The point is, if Michael weighed his
words carefully when addressing the wickedest of angels, how presumptious it
was for these apostate people to rail against righteous angels.
Jude
is citing this extra biblical passage to add punch and relevance to his
point Just because he is citing it
doesn’t mean it Scriptural. Did this happen? It’s a mystery, all we know is
Jude mentions it here to increase the emphasis of his charge against them.
Then verse 10 say they
criticize all that they don’t understand (like the Incarnation for example).
They only accept things they can grasp with there fleshly minds. This shows what kind of spirit is in them
doesn’t say 1 Cor 2:9-12:
"No eye has seen, no ear has
heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love
him"— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches
all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the
thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one
knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the
spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what
God has freely given us.
Jude
continues to call out the apostate people, these false teachers, ungodly in
their spiritual license to sin. Jude reasons not to follow them because they
are spiritually empty
11
Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for
the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion.
·
Like
self sufficient Cain, they offer God the fruit of human works rather than trust
in the blood of the Lamb (Gen 4:1-7)
·
Like
the greedy Balaam they sell their prophecies for profit (Num 22; Deut 23:3,4)
·
Like
rebellious Korah, they defy the authority of God’s chosen vessels of
truth—Christ and his apostle
·
Apostasy
is diametrically opposed to Christ.
instead of the way of Christ. There is the way of Cain, instead of the
truth of Christ there is the error of Balaam. Instead of the life of Christ
there is the death of Korah.
12
These are blemishes on your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear,
looking after themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless
trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13
wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering
stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
·
In
these verses Jude vividly describes the dangers of their religion.
o
Like
hidden reefs, they shipwreck others faith in the most sacred area, the Lord’s
supper.
o
Like
clouds without water they have nothing real to offer a thirsting soul.
o
Like
autumn trees without fruit doubly dead and uprooted they don’t nourish the
spirit’s deepest hunger .
o
Like wild waves of the sea pounding a shoreline
they rode others character and send up a spray of immorality for all to see.
o
Like
wandering or shooting stars which shine
briefly and then vanish without producing light or giving direction they lead
others astray and then disappear in the darkness of judgment
Where
do we see teachers like that in the church today? Why do some still follow,
listen watch them?
Finally,
Jude reasons, their ways are ungodly. He again quotes an apocraphal book,
Enoch,
14
It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying,
"Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all
the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such
an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken
against him
·
Now
Jude in quoting the apocryphal book, he was affirming only the truth of that
prophecy and not endorsing the book in its entirety.
·
Enoch's
prophecy pointed to the glorious return of Christ to the earth with thousands
upon thousands of His angels (holy ones) (Matt 24:30; 2 Thess 1:10), when His
purpose will be to judge everyone (2 Thess 1:7-10) and to convict all the
ungodly with unanswerable evidence that their actions, manners, and words have
been ungodly
16
These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are
loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
·
v.
16. Here Jude
described the apostates in a fourfold way. These descriptions justify Enoch's
calling them "ungodly." (a) They were grumblers and faultfinders who
faulted others but saw no flaws in themselves; (b) they lustfully followed
their own evil desires (cf. vv. 8,10,18-19); (c) they bragged about themselves
(the word hyperonka, used only here and in 2 Peter 2:18, means to be
"puffed up" or "swollen"); and (d) they flattered others,
currying favor only when it was to their own evil advantage to do so. Vocally
discontented, sinfully self-centered, extravagantly egotistical, and
deceptively flattering - such are apostates, then and today.
So
in unflinching terms Jude clearly identified the apostates, while at the same
time exposing their character in order to warn believers of their true nature
and their final destiny. He was laying the groundwork to call his readers to
action against these ungodly men and their practices.
So what does Jude’s warning mean for us?
Jude Calls Christians to
Contend
The Letter of Jude: Beware and Contend
Introduction
to Jude
So what is Jude
about?
Jude…
… Calls
Out False Teachers
Don’t follow
these people because…
they are
under God’s ________________
because
they are _________________
they
are spiritually _______
their
ways are _________
.
So what does Jude’s warning mean for us?