Jude has only this one chapter
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| 1 ¶ 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 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. |
Jude
It's possible that his brother James was the brother of Jesus and author
of the epistle of James. That would make Jude a brother of Jesus. The degree
of authority assumed in writing this epistle strengthens the idea.
Preserved Jude closes with this same thought of preservation in Christ v24. |
| .3
¶ 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 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. 5 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 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 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. |
3
- Contend for the faith The faith as it came from the lips
of Christ and was explained by the apostles was in trouble ac2029,
1jo0224.
The Christian church had already become corrupted by men who "crept in
unawares." v4. Later as she became more corrupt, she claimed to always
have had the "truth" and the authority to decide truth for others.
4 - Certain men Peter predicted their work 2pe0201. Compare ac2029. 5 - Lord It was Christ, the I AM who led Israel out of Egypt ex2320, 1co1004. 6 - Angels For "first estate" the word is arche which generally means "beginning" as in jn0101. Part of the angels chose to follow Lucifer and lost their position in heaven is1412, ez2816, re1207. 6 - Everlasting chains The evil angels are quite active. We see them as demons that possess people lu0830. The "chains" symbolize the permanent condition of the evil angels. Their choice was made and their minds will never turn to loving God and wanting to help humans. 6 - Judgment From krisis. See on 2pe0204. 7 - Sodom See on 2pe0206 and see ge1923. 7 - Eternal fire It was "eternal" in the sense of being permanent. See mt2546. The city location is probably in the Dead Sea and is not burning. |
This volcanic action is to remind us of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. © Corel. |
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| .8
¶ Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion,
and speak evil of dignities.
.9 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 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. 11 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 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 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. |
8 -
Filthy
dreamers Rather, "These who are dreaming" as prophets would.
The word "filthy" is supplied by translators.
8 - Defile the flesh following the evils of Sodom and Gomorrah v7. 9 - Michael This verse helps us understand that Michael is Christ. See on re1207b. 9 - Body of Moses Christ is the only one who calls the dead to life (jn0526) and so would have the right to resurrect Moses. jn1125. Thus Moses, who was resurrected along with Elijah who was translated came to be with Christ on the mountain lu0933. 10 - These speak evil Reference to the false teachers. See 2pe0212. 11 - Cain More illustrations showing the way of the false teachers. He has already mentioned Israel, evil angels and Sodom and Gomorrah. 11 - Core Korah, with two others established rebellion against the leadership of Moses. nu16. 12 - Spots Rather "reefs." The false teachers expose people to spiritual shipwreck. 12 - Feeding themselves Or "shepherding themselves." Caring only for their own needs. Other metaphors are clear. |
| .14
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold,
the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 ¶ 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 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, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. |
14
- Enoch ... seventh from Adam See the genealogy beginning
at ge0504. Counts like this
include the first and last items. Today we would consider Enoch the sixth
from Adam.
14 - Enoch ... prophesied See note below. 14 - [10,000] ... saints The word translated "saints" literally means "holy ones." Are these people or angels? Notice the purpose, "to execute judgment." For the "ungodly" this means punishment. Holy people will participate in judgment re2004, but they will not execute (carry out) the sentence he1030, de3235. We also see the angels helping with the punishment of the end-time wicked. They are the armies of heaven re1914. Verse 18 confirms our understanding that those who come with Christ are angels. 14 - Saints We may see "holy ones" as angels in jb1515 and in da0813. If you are wondering about the idea that these saints come down from heaven at the coming of Christ, see on re1914sa. |
| 20 But ye, beloved,
building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. .24 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 Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. |
21
- Keep yourselves See 1pe0105,
jn1711,
ja0127
23 - Save with fear It is dangerous to reach some for Christ. 24 - Keep you from falling Our Lord not only presents us faultless (justification), but he keeps us from sin (sanctification). Compare 2th0303, ps01705, ps11608, ps121. 24 - Before the presence In the sanctuary model, the sins repented of were brought before the vail hiding the shekinah glory or they were brought into that area on the day of atonement. Both services are represented here. Again it is justification (forgiveness) and sanctification on that special day (cleansing) le1630. |
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| Enoch prophesied. The only books of Enoch known to exist are pseudepigraphia, meaning counterfeit writing. Scholars do not considered them to be authentic. So probably Enoch didn't really write the book which scholars say was in circulation among Jews by the middle of the first century. This 1st Enoch does have the text which Jude could have copied. If so, the fake book was a copy, perhaps modified, from the real book which is now unknown. It's instead quite likely that the fake author copied from Jude who wrote under inspiration. |