FROM JUDE. If he had been one of the Twelve, he would probably have mentioned it. BROTHER OF JAMES. This identifies him. James was well known (Galatians 2:9; Acts 21:18). The brothers are mentioned in Matthew 13:55. WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED. "To those who have been called by God through their faith." Co... [ Continue Reading ]
IN FULL MEASURE. Jude wants them to have these blessings in full measure, which comes through their faith and love. Compare 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:2 and notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY DEAR FRIENDS. Jude stresses the common love which molds them into _one fellowship_ in Christ! I WAS. Jude's first intention was to write to them (as an "apostle of circumcision") about the salvation which both Jew and Gentile shares in common. The early Christians did a lot of writing at a time w... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SOME GODLESS MEN. "I felt a need to write because some spiritual saboteurs have slipped in unnoticed." WHO DISTORT. "They claim to be inspired. They say God is too good to punish sinners. They teach an _easy grace,_ which they say allows the believer unlimited sin with no fear of punishment." AN... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVEN THOUGH. "I am using things which you already know to prove to you that God will punish those who purposely continue to sin as a habit." BUT AFTERWARD DESTROYED. "Even after God has saved his people Israel and had led them out of Egypt, he did not hesitate to destroy all who sinned by refusi... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER THE ANGELS. "Even such beings as angels, who do not have a body of flesh and blood and whom even the false teachers admit were created holy, were punished by God when they sinned!" 2 Peter 2:4 also mentions this. Some try to connect this with Genesis 6:2; Isaiah 14:4-23; Isaiah 24:21-22.... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER SODOM AND GOMORRAH. "Remember the wrath of God against the sin of these people!" ACTED AS THOSE ANGELS DID. Jude does not mean that they all sinned by committing the same acts of sin, but in each case, sin was a rebellion against God! SEXUAL IMMORALITY AND PERVERSION. This was the sin of th... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SAME WAY ALSO. "These men show the same spirit of rebellion that these examples show. It is the spirit of the Enemy of Christ which motivates them!" HAVE VISIONS. Since such people claimed to be inspired (see 1 John 4:1), they would boast about having _visions_ from God, in which He was suppo... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT EVEN. "Look at the example of the chief angel Michael. Even he did not use insulting words to condemn the Devil who is a fallen angel! This ought to teach you that no human being should do such a thing as these false teachers are doing!" Jude refers to a Jewish tradition found in the apocryphal... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THESE MEN. "They claim to have special _knowledge,_ but they show they are liars by insulting things they do not understand! They are not able to judge spiritual matters, because they are not spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:14; Colossians 2:18)!_"_ THEY KNOW BY INSTINCT. "They live on the level of an... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW TERRIBLE FOR THEM. This is the kind of language Jesus uses in Matthew 23:13-15. THAT CAIN TOOK. Cain was selfish, jealous, and showed his _hate_ by murdering his brother. THAT BALAAM COMMITTED. See 2 Peter 2:15-16. AS KORAH REBELLED. Numbers 16:1-35. He opposed the appointment of the family of A... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE DIRTY SPOTS. "They are things of shame, like a dirty spot on a tablecloth." IN YOUR FELLOWSHIP MEALS. Paul condemned the _abuse_ of the fellowship meals (1 Corinthians 11:17-22), but not the meals themselves. See notes on Acts 2:46; Acts 20:7, The false teachers took part in the fellowship meal... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE WILD WAVES. Isaiah 57:20. LIKE WANDERING STAR�. "Since they have rejected Jesus Christ and the truth, they are like shooting stars who flash across the sky and are gone forever!" 2 Peter 2:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS ENOCH. Jewish tradition preserved some of the things which Enoch said. A _Book of Enoch_ existed, but it was probably written in the first century B.C. Since Jude writes by inspiration, he quotes only facts, and does not authenticate the _Book of Enoch._ SIXTH DIRECT DESCENDANT. 1) Adam; 2) S... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BRING JUDGMENT. "Do not be fooled by what the false teachers say! Sinners will not escape the results of their godless deeds nor the terrible words they have spoken against God by saying that Jesus Christ was a phony (impostor) who deserved the death which he died!... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE MEN. This is Jude's description of them. "These ungodly teachers grumble against God for their hardships, and blame others for their problems (which they bring on themselves)! They are loud-mouthed boasters about themselves, who are insolent to the Roman authorities, and who will not listen to... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT REMEMBER! "To prevent them from fooling even you, I ask you to remember what the true apostles of our Lord Jesus told you in the past!... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE LAST DAYS COME. See 1 John 2:18 and note. The _last days_ began at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-17 and notes). MEN WILL APPEAR. "The apostles told you many times that these things would happen. People will make fun of the self-control and holy living that they see in you!" Compare 2 Peter 3:3; 1 Pe... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS. "In order to do as they please, they cause divisions and separate themselves and their followers from the fellowship of the messianic community (church)." Compare 1 Corinthians 11:19. WHO DO NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT. "These may claim to have the Spirit, but their claim is false!" Com... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YOU, MY FRIENDS. "You, who do have the Spirit (Acts 5:32), by your conduct and by encouraging one another, must continue to build yourselves up on the foundation of your most sacred faith (the Good News)!" The false teachers proclaimed an un-sacred or unholy faith. PRAY IN THE POWER. _Mac-Knight... [ Continue Reading ]
AND KEEP YOURSELVES. "God does not cease to love any man, since God himself is _love._ However, you as a person must keep yourself within the circle of His _fatherly love,_ which is only available to the one who can truthfully say, _Father! my Father!'_ (Romans 8:15). AS YOU WAIT. See Philippians 3:... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOW MERCY. "Some Christians have honest doubts brought on by the things the false teachers have said. Be gentle and kind as you try to bring them back to the truth of Christ!" Compare Galatians 6:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THE FIRE. "I want to impress on you just how serious the matter of sin really is! When you rescue Christians from the false teachers, you are _snatching them out of the fire!"_ BUT HATE THEIR VERY CLOTHES. The symbolism is that of Leviticus 13:47-52. "Even some of the false teachers themselve... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIM. To God our Father. WHO IS ABLE. "To give you courage to _run the full distance in the faith,_ and to show you God's promise, I tell you He is able to keep you from falling into error or sin!" See 1 Corinthians 10:13. AND BRING YOU. "God has acted in Christ to set us free! By means of Christ,... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE ONLY GOD. See note on Romans 16:27. THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. God saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord! [Both the TEV and NIV follow the _corrected Greek text._] AND FOREVER AND EVER! Compare _Revelation 5_ and notes. These last two verses are Jude's doxology of praise to the God of Israel and... [ Continue Reading ]