The Epistle of
JUDE
Author: Jude
Date: A.D. 65–80
Theme: Contending for the Faith
Key Words: Contend, the Faith, Keep
Author. The author identifies himself as Jude, the “brother of James,” likely the James who was the brother of our Lord and leader of the Jerusalem church (see Acts 15:13; 21:18; Gal. 1:19; 2:12). Mark 6:3 mentions Jude (Judas) as a brother of the Lord.
Date. Considerations in establishing the date of this letter include whether Jude is dependent upon 2 Peter, or whether 2 Peter is dependent upon Jude, or whether both letters have drawn from a third document, which circulated as a warning against false teachers. Since most of Jude has parallels in 2 Peter (see the marginal references), some kind of interdependence is obvious. If Jude was written before 2 Peter, it may have been as early as A.D. 65. If it was written after 2 Peter, as many scholars assume, it may have been as late as A.D. 80.
Background. Jude appears urgent in his purpose to warn an unknown community of Christians against false teachers. As in 2 Peter, these would-be leaders are sensual (vv. 4, 16, 18), they pervert the truth (v. 4), and they are destined for divine judgment (vv. 14, 15). They are called “dreamers” in verse 8 (perhaps given to dreams or visions), they are “clouds without water” (v. 12), and they are exposed as “not having the Spirit” in verse 19. The last reference hints that the false teachers represented themselves as those who did have the Spirit (see Matt. 7:22, 23). They may also be forerunners of Gnostic heretics in the second century who claimed spirituality.
Content. The letter begins and ends with an affirmation of God’s gracious action on behalf of believers, stressing divine preservation (vv. 1, 24).
However, Christians themselves are “to contend earnestly for the faith” (v. 3). Their responsibilities are further developed in vv. 20–23 by a series of practical exhortations. The balance of the letter exposes, especially in light of Old Testament analogies, the secret presence of false teachers within the community who seek to overthrow the faith of God’s people.
Personal Application. Today, perpetrators of unbiblical ethical standards, who may even claim to have the Spirit, threaten the godly commitment of Christians. However, God’s power is able to keep us from falling. But our responsibility is to build ourselves up in the truth through praying in the Holy Spirit and to anticipate our final salvation. The Scriptures are our resource. At the same time, we are to be alert and vocal in warning those who are being swayed by false, humanistic philosophies prevalent today.
Christ Revealed. The present activity of the living Christ is assumed. Jude is His servant and He preserves His own (v. 1), though false teachers deny Him (v. 4). Believers await the future blessing of “the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (v. 21).
The Holy Spirit at Work. The Holy Spirit causes biblical teaching to come alive, so that the Christian community is built up in its “most holy faith,” that is, in the apostolic teaching (see v. 20 and note on vv. 3, 4). This is accomplished through “praying in the Holy Spirit” (v. 20). Accordingly, the Spirit is important as the One through whom God preserves His own from worldly error (see vv. 1, 24). In contrast, the false teachers are devoid of the Spirit (v. 19), despite whatever claims they may make.
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
JUDE
Author: Jude
Date: A.D. 65–80
Theme: Contending for the Faith
Key Words: Contend, the Faith, Keep
Author. The author identifies himself as Jude, the “brother of James,” likely the James who was the brother of our Lord and leader of the Jerusalem church (see Acts 15:13; 21:18; Gal. 1:19; 2:12). Mark 6:3 mentions Jude (Judas) as a brother of the Lord.
Date. Considerations in establishing the date of this letter include whether Jude is dependent upon 2 Peter, or whether 2 Peter is dependent upon Jude, or whether both letters have drawn from a third document, which circulated as a warning against false teachers. Since most of Jude has parallels in 2 Peter (see the marginal references), some kind of interdependence is obvious. If Jude was written before 2 Peter, it may have been as early as A.D. 65. If it was written after 2 Peter, as many scholars assume, it may have been as late as A.D. 80.
Background. Jude appears urgent in his purpose to warn an unknown community of Christians against false teachers. As in 2 Peter, these would-be leaders are sensual (vv. 4, 16, 18), they pervert the truth (v. 4), and they are destined for divine judgment (vv. 14, 15). They are called “dreamers” in verse 8 (perhaps given to dreams or visions), they are “clouds without water” (v. 12), and they are exposed as “not having the Spirit” in verse 19. The last reference hints that the false teachers represented themselves as those who did have the Spirit (see Matt. 7:22, 23). They may also be forerunners of Gnostic heretics in the second century who claimed spirituality.
Content. The letter begins and ends with an affirmation of God’s gracious action on behalf of believers, stressing divine preservation (vv. 1, 24).
However, Christians themselves are “to contend earnestly for the faith” (v. 3). Their responsibilities are further developed in vv. 20–23 by a series of practical exhortations. The balance of the letter exposes, especially in light of Old Testament analogies, the secret presence of false teachers within the community who seek to overthrow the faith of God’s people.
Personal Application. Today, perpetrators of unbiblical ethical standards, who may even claim to have the Spirit, threaten the godly commitment of Christians. However, God’s power is able to keep us from falling. But our responsibility is to build ourselves up in the truth through praying in the Holy Spirit and to anticipate our final salvation. The Scriptures are our resource. At the same time, we are to be alert and vocal in warning those who are being swayed by false, humanistic philosophies prevalent today.
Christ Revealed. The present activity of the living Christ is assumed. Jude is His servant and He preserves His own (v. 1), though false teachers deny Him (v. 4). Believers await the future blessing of “the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (v. 21).
The Holy Spirit at Work. The Holy Spirit causes biblical teaching to come alive, so that the Christian community is built up in its “most holy faith,” that is, in the apostolic teaching (see v. 20 and note on vv. 3, 4). This is accomplished through “praying in the Holy Spirit” (v. 20). Accordingly, the Spirit is important as the One through whom God preserves His own from worldly error (see vv. 1, 24). In contrast, the false teachers are devoid of the Spirit (v. 19), despite whatever claims they may make.
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
