Greeting and Call to Contend for the Faith
Study note
Jude identifies himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, writing to those who are called, loved by God the Father, and kept safe in Jesus Christ. He had intended to write about their shared salvation but felt compelled to urge them to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. The reason for this urgency is that certain ungodly people have crept in unnoticed, distorting God's grace into moral license and denying the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 From Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. To everyone who has been called by God the Father, who is held close in his love and kept safe by Jesus Christ. Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
2 May mercy, peace, and love be poured into your life over and over again. Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
3 Dear friends, I wanted to write to you about the salvation we all share. But I felt it was more important right now to urge you to fight hard for the faith that God gave to his people once and for all. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 Some ungodly people have sneaked in among you without you even noticing. They were marked for this judgment a long time ago. They twist God's grace into an excuse to sin, and they reject the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Three Examples of Divine Judgment
Study note
Jude presents three Old Testament warnings. First, though the Lord saved his people out of Egypt, he later destroyed those who did not believe. Second, angels who abandoned their proper position are kept in eternal chains under darkness for the great judgment day. Third, Sodom and Gomorrah and surrounding cities, which gave themselves over to sexual immorality and unnatural desire, serve as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
5 I want to remind you of something you already know. The Lord rescued his people from Egypt, but later he destroyed those among them who refused to believe. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
6 And remember the angels who did not stay in their proper place but abandoned their real home. God has kept them locked up in chains in the deepest darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them gave themselves over to sexual sin. They chased after unnatural desires. They stand as a warning to everyone. They suffer the punishment of eternal fire. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
The Arrogance of False Teachers
Study note
Like the examples just cited, these false teachers defile the flesh, reject authority, and slander celestial beings. Jude contrasts them with the archangel Michael, who in his dispute with the devil over the body of Moses did not dare bring a slanderous accusation but simply said, 'The Lord rebuke you.' Yet these people blaspheme things they do not understand and are destroyed by what they know only by instinct, like irrational animals.
8 In the same way, these people pollute their own bodies with sin. They reject anyone in charge and they insult powerful heavenly beings. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
9 But even Michael, the top angel, did not dare to insult the devil when the two of them were arguing about the body of Moses. All Michael said was, "The Lord rebuke you." Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
10 These people, though, insult anything they do not understand. And the things they do understand by instinct, like animals without the ability to think, are the very things that destroy them. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
Woe to the Ungodly
Study note
Jude pronounces a triple woe: these false teachers have gone the way of Cain in murderous hatred, rushed headlong into Balaam's error for profit, and perished in Korah's rebellion against God-appointed authority. He describes them with vivid metaphors: hidden reefs at love feasts, shepherds feeding only themselves, waterless clouds blown by winds, fruitless autumn trees twice dead and uprooted, wild sea waves foaming up their shame, and wandering stars for whom the blackest darkness is reserved forever.
11 How terrible for them! They have gone down the same road as Cain. They have rushed headlong into the same mistake as Balaam, doing anything for money. They have been destroyed the same way Korah was when he rebelled. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These people are dangerous hidden rocks at your fellowship meals. They eat with you without a care in the world, feeding only themselves. They are clouds that blow by without dropping any rain. They are trees in fall that bear no fruit -- dead twice over and ripped out by the roots. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 They are wild ocean waves churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are wandering stars that have gone off course, and total darkness is reserved for them forever. Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Enoch's Prophecy and the Apostles' Warning
Study note
Jude cites the prophecy of Enoch, seventh from Adam, who foretold the Lord coming with ten thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the ungodly for all their ungodly deeds and harsh words. These grumblers and complainers follow their own desires, speak arrogantly, and flatter others for personal advantage. Jude reminds believers that the apostles of Jesus Christ predicted that in the last days mockers would come, following their own ungodly desires. These are the ones who cause divisions, are worldly-minded, and do not have the Spirit.
14 Enoch, who was seven generations from Adam, spoke about these people when he said, "Look! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones." And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 He is coming to judge everyone. He will hold every ungodly person to account for all their ungodly actions and for every harsh word they ever spoke against him. To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
16 These people are always grumbling and finding fault. They follow whatever they feel like doing. They talk big to make themselves sound important, and they flatter people to get what they want. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But you, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ told you would happen. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 They said to you, "In the last days, mockers will show up who only follow their own ungodly desires." How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These are the ones who stir up division. They are focused only on this world and do not have the Spirit of God. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Building Up and Showing Mercy
Study note
Jude turns to positive instruction for the faithful. They must build themselves up in their most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep themselves in the love of God, and look for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. They should show compassion to those who waver, save others by snatching them from the fire, and show mercy to still others while hating even the clothing stained by corrupt flesh. This balanced approach calls for both urgency and discernment.
20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith. Pray with the help of the Holy Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Stay wrapped up in God's love. Keep your eyes on the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, which leads to eternal life. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 Be tender and patient with people whose faith is shaky. And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 Pull others to safety like you are grabbing them out of a fire. Show mercy to still others, but be very careful not to let their sinful ways rub off on you. And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Doxology to the God Who Keeps
Study note
Jude closes with one of Scripture's most magnificent doxologies. He ascribes glory to the One who is able to keep believers from stumbling and to present them faultless before his glorious presence with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Savior belong glory and majesty, power and authority, both now and forever. This finale provides the ultimate assurance: the same God who calls and keeps his people will bring them safely into his eternal presence.
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 to the only wise God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.