READ IT! - Introduction to Jude's Epistle

Introduction to Jude's Epistle

Context 

Jude was likely written between AD 100-125. The author refers to himself as Jude (Judas), a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. Scholars believe that Jude is not the work of Jesus’ “brother” but rather is a pseudonymous work that entered the canon because of its presumed association with the Lord’s family. Jude shows no personal familiarity with Jesus and cites none of his characteristic teachings. He refers to Christianity as a fixed body of beliefs that the faithful already possess and to the apostles as prophets of a former age.

Themes 

Apocalyptic Judgment:

Jude views the heretics’ misbehavior as fulfilling the apostles’ predictions about End time. 

Exhortation to the Faithful:

Jude counsels the believers to pray and live in anticipation of Jesus’ return. He conceded that some involved with the heretics deserve pity and can be helped. Others are pitiable but corrupted by sensuality. 

Use of Noncanonical Writings 

The book of Jude interestingly quotes two books from the Pseudepigrapha. Jude 6 refers to an angelic fall, drawing from 1 Enoch 6-12 while Jude 14-15 quotes directly from 1 Enoch 1:9. Jude seems to regard Enoch’s prophecy as inspired by God, but it is unlikely Jude saw 1 Enoch as canonical Scripture. Jude also references another book, the Assumption of Moses, by discussing the dispute over the body of Moses between the devil and the archangel Michael (Jude 9). The actual text of the Assumption of Moses is lost. We only have secondary sources revealing the content of this book. 

While most New Testament authors avoid material from the Pseudepigrapha due to its unreliable content, it is possible that some of its material is genuine. It is believed that Jude is able to draw out truth in the midst of falsehoods. We see Paul utilizing a similar technique when quoting pagan poets (Acts 17:28; 1 Cor 15:33; Titus 1:12). 

Chapter 1

The letter opens with a salutation, and claims to be written by Jude, “a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.” It is written to “Those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.” 

A blessing is given: “Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.”

The writer says that he really wanted to write about their common salvation, but he thought best to urge them to “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.”

He then gives the reason why… because of the infiltration of ungodly “Antinomians.” He says that certain individuals “whose condemnation was written about long ago” have secretly slipped in among them. He says that they are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ.

He then discusses the judgment of the ungodly, using the Hebrew Scriptures as precedent.

His first example is of unbelieving Israel, and he gives a quick reminder that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.

His next example is of fallen angels. He says that the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling have been “kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains” for judgment on the “great Day.”

His next example is of Sodom and Gomorrah. He says that Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion and serve as an example of those who “suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”

And he draws a parallel between the character of the present “ungodly” and those of the past. He first exposes their slanderous speech, “On the strength of their dreams they pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’”

Jude is alluding to the Jewish Testament of Moses (written approximately the first century AD).

He says, “They slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.”

He then portrays their ungodly character, saying:

“Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain.
They have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error.
They have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
These people are blemishes at your love feasts,
eating with you without the slightest qualm.
They are shepherds who feed only themselves.
They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind.
They are autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.
They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame.
They are wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”

He then prophecies the destruction of the ungodly. And he refers to the prophecy of Enoch, saying, “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: ‘See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’”

This quote is from the Jewish First Book of Enoch (written approximately the first century BC).

He says, “These people are grumblers and faultfinders. They follow their own evil desires. They boast about themselves. They flatter others for their own advantage.”

He then refers to the prophecy of the Apostles, saying, “The Apostles foretold: ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.”

He then calls the believers to persevere, saying, “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

He also calls on them to be merciful, saying, “Be merciful to those who doubt. Save others by snatching them from the fire. To others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

He then closes his letter with a doxology:

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”