Jude
The Holy Writer
The Holy Writer of this epistle calls himself, “Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James” (1:1). Since there are six different Judes (or Judases) mentioned in the New Testament the question becomes: “Which Jude is the writer of this epistle?”
Some consider this Jude to be the brother of James the Less, the son of Alphaeus, who was one of the apostles and believe that Jude was also an apostle, but was referred to as Judas or Thaddeus in the Gospels (cf. Luke 6:16 and Matthew 10:3).
Others consider this Jude to be the brother of James who was the leader of the church in Jerusalem, and the brother of the Lord Jesus (cf. Matthew 13:55). This Jude seems more likely since the writer does not call himself an apostle, but instead states: “But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you...” (Jude 1:17-18 - cf. 2 Peter 3:2).
Recipients
Jude simply addresses this letter “To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ” (1:1). This letter may have been intended for the church in general since no specific congregation or place is mentioned. From the content of the letter it again seems that this letter was written primarily to Jewish Christians since he refers to Old Testament events, persons, and cities so often. He expected that his readers would be familiar with Adam (14); Cain (11); Enoch (14); Sodom and Gomorrah (7); Moses (9); the Israelites disobedience in entering the promised land (5); the rebellion of Korah against Moses (11); and the prophet Balaam (11).
Background and Purpose
Jude was responding to the presence and intrusion of ungodly people who were undermining the grace of God, and causing divisions in the church. In the opening verses Jude states that this is the reason for writing this letter: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (1:3). He encourages his readers to contend earnestly for the faith as it had been proclaimed to them by the apostles.
Content
After his introduction and greeting, Jude admonishes his readers to contend for the faith as it had been delivered to the saints. As a basis for this he refers to the godless individuals who have crept into the church, and who are already condemned. He proves that their condemnation is sure through the Old Testament examples of the rebellious Israelites, the fallen angels, and the immoral cities of Sodom and Gomorrah who were all punished by God for their unbelief and sin.
These godless men defile the flesh, reject authority and revile what they do not understand. Again the seriousness of their sins are illustrated by Old Testament examples and compared to Cain, Balaam and Korah.
Jude uses pictures from nature to show how empty their religion is. He then describes the judgment which awaits these people quoting the words of the Old Testament hero of faith - Enoch: “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him” (14-15).
Finally Jude appeals to his readers to remember the words of the apostles who had foretold of such ungodly mockers. He describes these mockers once again and then encourages the believers: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up 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” (20-21). He also tells them to look out for one another, and help to save them from error and godlessness. In his closing doxology he expresses the confidence that God is able to keep them secure for His eternal glory.
Jude and Peter
Historically the church has recognized a connection between this letter of Jude and Second Peter chapter two. There are a number of striking similarities between the two epistles. Both writers are referring to the dangers that confront the church, and the deadly consequences which will result. They use similar Old Testament examples, and the words they use in their description are often exactly the same.
Both show that this will be an internal attack on the church (cf. Jude 4 with 2 Peter 2:1 and Jude 12 with 2 Peter 2:13). Both speak of the perpetrators being rebellious against authority (cf. Jude 8 with 2 Peter 2:10) using the illustration of the fall of the evil angels (cf. Jude 6 with 2 Peter 2:4). They were immoral (cf. Jude 7 with 2 Peter 2:6), big talkers (cf. Jude 16 with 2 Peter 2:18), belly servers (cf. Jude 11 with 2 Peter 2:15), reviling others (cf. Jude 9 with 2 Peter 2:11), worthless and bound for hell (cf. Jude 12-13 with 2 Peter 2:17).
So which one was written first, and who copied whom? Not all Bible students agree on the answer to this question, but it seems that Peter was written first since when he writes he describes these things taking place in the future, but when Jude writes in this letter, he writes describing that prophecy as being fulfilled (cf. Jude 17 with 2 Peter 3:2).
Date of Writing
It is difficult to determine the exact time of writing, and some would date this letter before Peter’s letters sometime in the early 60's. But based on the information above it seems more likely that this letter was written after Peter’s second epistle. Since no reference is made to the destruction of Jerusalem (notice the emphasis on God’s judgment in the context of this letter), it would seem that this letter was written before that destruction occurred. If this is the case, Jude would have been written around 68-69 A.D.
The Book of Enoch in Jude
In verses 14-15 Jude quoted the patriarch Enoch (referred to in Genesis 5:21-24), who must have spoken this prophecy before the flood.
“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.’”
Enoch’s words were a prophecy of the final judgment at the end of the world. But we can also find the same prophecy in the apocryphal Book of Enoch. This caused some in the early church to doubt the authenticity of this epistle. Could the Holy Spirit quote a non-biblical source in the Word of God? We should note that the apostle Paul reported historical information not contained in the Old Testament (Jannes and Jambres in 2 Timothy 3:8). He even quoted heathen poets (Acts 17:28), but only when the quote expressed divine truth. In the case of Jude quoting Enoch, we have a real statement which Enoch made, a statement preserved and passed down through the ages apart from the Old Testament record, and then quoted by a New Testament writer to emphasize a point of divine truth. It happened under the direction of the Holy Spirit, as He inspired Jude to use the true and ancient words of a pre-flood Christian - words which apply to our day as well!
Outline
I. Introduction (1-2)
II. Contend for the Faith (3-4)
III. O.T. Examples of God’s Judgment (5-7)
IV. Ungodly denounced (8-13)
V. Apostolic assurance of God’s Judgment (14-19)
VI. Admonition to Spiritual Preservation (20-23)
VII. Doxology (24-25)
Note: This study was prepared for the Bible Class at Zion Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, GA by Pastor Nathanael Mayhew.
If you would like more information about this study,
please contact Pastor Mayhew