Jude

Overview

Jude sat down to write about our common salvation and changed his mind: the situation called for a warning instead. Men had crept in unnoticed, turning grace into an excuse and denying the Lord.

Twenty-five verses, packed with examples — Israel in the wilderness, angels who left their place, Sodom, Cain, Balaam, Korah — and vivid images: clouds without water, trees twice dead, wandering stars. It ends with one of the finest benedictions in Scripture.

Background

Like James, Jude introduces himself as a servant of Jesus Christ rather than His brother. Both grew up in the same house and both came to faith after the resurrection.

He quotes sources outside the Old Testament — a dispute over the body of Moses, and a prophecy of Enoch — using them as illustrations his readers would recognize.

Key themes

• Contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.
• Grace is not a license, and those who make it one deny the Lord.
• God has judged such men before, and the examples are on record.
• Build yourselves up, pray in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God.
• Have compassion on some; save others by pulling them out of the fire.

Outline

1. Why he wroteVerses 1-4

   Intending one letter, he writes another: certain men have crept in unawares.

2. Examples and portraitsVerses 5-16

   Israel, angels, Sodom, Cain, Balaam and Korah — and what these men are like.

3. What to doVerses 17-23

   Remember the apostles’ words, build up, pray, keep, and rescue others.

4. BenedictionVerses 24-25

   Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling.

Key passages

• Jude 1:3 Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
• Jude 1:4 Turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.
• Jude 1:12 Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds.
• Jude 1:20-21 Building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.
• Jude 1:22-23 Of some have compassion — others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.
• Jude 1:24-25 Able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless.

Christ in Jude

The letter ends by handing everything to Him: the one able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. The contending Jude calls for is not done in our own strength, and he says so in his last breath.

Reading it

• Read it in one go; it is a single sustained argument.
• Read 2 Peter 2 beside it and note how closely they track.
• End by reading the last two verses aloud.