The Epistle of JUDE
Writer: Jude (the youngest ½ brother of Jesus). ½ brother b/c they shared the same mother (Mary), but different father. Jude’s father was of course Joseph, and Jesus’ father is God. Matthew 13:53-55, this very fact disproves the theory of Mary being a perpetual virgin which the Catholic church teaches. Acts 1:10-14. Most commentators believe that Jude was an unbeliever during the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, and didn’t in fact accept Christ as God’s only begotten son until the resurrection.
Date: approx. 65-67 A.D. At the time it was written it’s thought that John and Jude were the only living eyewitnesses, to the life and ministry of Jesus, left.
Theme: Written originally to exhort the Jewish believers that we all had the common faith, Jew and Gentile. Later through the power of the Holy Spirit impressed upon Jude to exhort us to “contend for the faith” (vs3).
Vs 1 – The word translated “servant” is the Greek word “doulos” also often translated bond slave Vs 2 – God’s math is increasing in the forms of adding and multiplication Acts 2:42, 47. God is a God of growth. However in Luke 12:51-52, Jesus speaks of division in the sense that we’re to be sanctified (set apart for special use).
Vs 3 – Jude wanting us to be safe in one another in the common faith, but the Holy Spirit intervened so Jude could encourage us to contend for the faith. The faith that was once delivered unto the saints. Who are the saints? Ephesians 4:11-16 says that WE, who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personally Savior, are the saints! Jude speaks of apostasy. Apostasy, means falling away, withdrawal, or a defection from the faith (forsaking the Lord) Matthew 24-10-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5.
Vs 4 – the purpose statement, “there are certain men crept in unawares” meaning they are in the fellowships already at the time Jude was writing. Not that they will creep in in latter days, but that they are already in. In fact even in the early church Luke tells us this, Acts 20:29, Romans 6:1-2, 4-15, and even at the time that Paul had written to the Galatians in Galatians 1:6-10 these men had crept in and started proclaiming a false gospel. Gospel is an old English term meaning, “good news”. Interesting news is spelled that way North East West and South suggesting that God’s word is to be proclaimed to all directions of the earth Matthew 28-18-20.
Vs 5-7 – Jude was very knowledgeable of the Hebrew Scriptures and gave us three examples from them:
1) the children of Israel out of Egypt
2) angels (are a host of beings) created before God created heaven and earth and Ezekiel 28:11-19 gives the description of Satan God’s most beautiful creation. Isaiah 14:12-14 gives the description of Satan’s fall, pride (the same as the 3rd example Jude gives for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah). It’s the reason God corrupted the earth and recreated it. In Genesis 6:4-8 “the sons of God” were the angels that didn’t keep their 1st estate.
3) Sodom and Gomorrah we’re told by the account of the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 16:48-49 why God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. The original account of the story is found in Genesis 19.
Several other passages that mention apostasy are: 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 2 Timothy 4:1-5, 2nd Peter 3:17-18.
Vs 8-16 – Jude gives his detailed list of apostate behavior. There is only one archangel and that title is given to the highest ranking angel and holds position as head angel(Michael). We aren’t given an account of this dispute between Michael and Satan, in the scriptures, but we are told in Deuteronomy 34:5-7 that the Lord buries Moses. Josepheus (an Jewish historian) records that God hid the body of Moses lest the children of Israel make an idol of it.
1) The way of Cain – a religious natural man who believes in a God, and in “religion”, but after his own will and rejects redemption by blood. Compelled as a teacher of religion to explain the atonement, the apostate teacher explains it away.
2) The error of Balaam – is 1 of the more comical stories in the Bible and is found in Numbers 22:21-33. The hireling of a shepherd. John 10:1-15.
3) Gain sayings of Korah – Numbers 16, lack of respect for leadership
There are two Enochs mentioned in scripture.(Genesis 4:17/Genesis 5:18-24) Here, Jude specifies the 7th from Adam, which is the Enoch in Genesis 5. This Enoch is mention again in the “hall of fame of faith” in Hebrews 11:5. Enoch never spoke any words in the Bible and this passage Jude is quoting from is found in the Book of Enoch, Enoch 1:9 which is considered an apocryphal book written in the 2nd century. We don’t have it in the Bible today because it isn’t considered part of God’s inspired Word. These references are similar to the references we’re running across in 1 Kings; “are theses not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel” 1 Kings 14:19.
LIFE LESSON: Love people, use things. Not use people to love things.
Vs 17-19 – turning point 2 Peter 3:4-10, 2 Timothy 3:1-7
Vs 20-25 – the 7 fold responsibilities 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
LIFE LESSON: It’s better to come to God in love, rather than out of fear.
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