Get Ready
This book is often overlooked because of its brevity and its similarity to Peter’s second letter, but it contains some of the most powerful writing in the New Testament about resisting erroneous ideas and false teachers and standing firm on the faith.
Author
Most scholars agree that “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James” [v. 1], is one of Jesus’ brothers mentioned in Matthew [13:55] and Mark [6:3]. Both he and his brother James, a leader in the Jerusalem church, did not follow Jesus during his earthly ministry, but became believers at some point after the resurrection. Paul refers to “brothers of the Lord” along with Peter [1 Cor 9:5] as active ministers for the Gospel.
Context
There is very little evidence to identify the time and place of writing or the intended recipients of this letter.
Jude probably wrote his letter in the middle of the first century before the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, since the author does not mention what would have been a significant event in the church’s early history. He also invites his readers to remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, [v. 17], so he must be writing after the first wave of missionary activity. These two clues point to a time around 60 CE.
This was evidently a time when false teachers were spreading heresy in some of the churches. Jude had intended to write a more extensive or theological explanation of salvation, but felt he had to respond more directly to the errors: I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints, [v. 3].
Structure
Jude’s organization of the letter is very straightforward, indicating that during his ministry he learned both Greek and Greek rhetoric quite well. There are five sections in the letter:
- Greeting – using a common Greek approach.
- Purpose – explaining why he is writing this letter.
- Argument – setting out the errors in doctrine the false teachers were presenting to believers, as well as examples of God’s response to such errors in the past.
- Exhortations – the “so what?” part of the letter – advising the reader how to respond to the false teaching.
- Benediction (closing) – praising God and blessing the reader. Each section is direct and to the point. Jude does not waste any ink in getting his point across.
Major Themes
The church that Jude wrote to was similar to many churches in our time. Believers were struggling to maintain their faith while surrounded by a culture that tolerated many different beliefs about the gods and many different – and unrighteous – behaviors.
Jude urges his readers to remember that they have the truth and they need to make sure they grow in their faith, not water it down with false doctrines.
- God has already judged those who promote error and false teaching. Jude uses examples from Jewish history: the rebellious angels were cast out of heaven [Gen 6]; God destroyed the Israelites who made and worshipped idols during the exodus; God also destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah [Gen 19]. Jude also mentions Cain, Balaam, and Korah as examples of how God deals with people who don’t remain true.
- Believers should continue growing in faith: Build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit, [v. 20].
- And they should also continue reaching out to others: And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire, [v. 22-23].
Jude is unique among New Testament authors in his use of examples from sources other than the Jewish scriptures and the writings of the Apostles. He refers to an argument between the archangel, Michael, and the devil [v. 9] that is not mentioned anywhere in Scripture; and he quotes a passage from the Apocryphal Book of Enoch
[v. 15], see Lesson 2 for more information on the Apocrypha].
Get into the Word
1. Who wrote this letter? Who are his relatives? How does this give him authority to write such a letter? How is he similar to his brother?
2. When was this letter probably written? Who was it written to? Where was the writer at the time? What clues or hints do we have about these questions? How important are the answers?
3. What was the situation facing the church at this time? What was the author’s original plan for this letter? What caused him to change the plan? What does he want the readers to do with this letter?
4. How does the writer organize this letter? What are the major sections? What does each section cover? What is Jude’s style of writing? Do you think this helps get his message across or does it get in the way of understanding?
5. What is the primary message that Jude wants his readers to take away from this letter? How is the situation he writes about similar to issues the church is forced to deal with today? Is his message still relevant to us?
6. What does Jude say about heresy and those who promote erroneous teaching in the church? How does God respond to these situations? What examples does Jude give to support his assertions about false doctrine?
7. What does Jude encourage believers to do? What directions does he give about growing as a believer? What does he say about responding to error in other believers?
Bible Trivia
One of the early church leaders, Eusebius, reports that Jude’s grandsons were questioned by Domitian, the Roman emperor (81-96), and were bishops when Trajan was emperor (98-117).
79: Avoid false teachers – Jude 1-25
Get Ready
How do you feel about magic tricks – illusions where you know the performer did something to get the end result but you don’t know exactly what happened? Do you just enjoy the performer’s skill at sleight-of-hand? Do you try to figure out how the person did it? Or do you reject it and walk away?
The Word
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,
To those who are called, who are beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ:
2 May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.
3 Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4 For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
5 Now I desire to remind you, though you are fully informed, that the Lord, who once for all saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their own position, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgment of the great Day. 7 Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
8 Yet in the same way these dreamers also defile the flesh, reject authority, and slander the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael contended with the devil and disputed about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring a condemnation of slander against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these people slander whatever they do not understand, and they are destroyed by those things that, like irrational animals, they know by instinct. 11 Woe to them! For they go the way of Cain, and abandon themselves to Balaam’s error for the sake of gain, and perish in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These are blemishes on your love-feasts, while they feast with you without fear, feeding themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever.
14 It was also about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “See, the Lord is coming with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict everyone of all the deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers and malcontents; they indulge their own lusts; they are bombastic in speech, flattering people to their own advantage.
17 But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 for they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.” 19 It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. 20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; 21 keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some who are wavering;
23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. NRSV
Get into the Word
1. How does Jude address his readers? What does he wish for them? What had he intended to write about? Why did he change his plan? What is the letter actually about?
2. Who is Jude writing about? How does he describe them? How are they related to God? To believers? What did they do in the church?
3. What examples does Jude use to make his point about those who do not follow God and teach false doctrine? Why do you suppose he chose these examples? How do they show God’s response to sin?
4. What individuals does he present as examples of people who are leading the church astray? How do you think his readers responded to these examples? How do you respond to them?
5. How does Jude describe the activities of theses “intruders?” What images does he use? Why do you think he feels as strongly as he does?
6. What direction does he give the believers? How should they respond to the false teaching? Who should they rely on for support?
Get Personal
Have you encountered teaching that discounts or waters down the Gospel? How did you respond to the person? How has God helped you to understand how to identify false teaching and avoid it?
Notes . . .
1. Jude . . . James — the writer felt that he and his brother were known well enough that he did not need any other title.
3. Contend for the faith — the urgency he just described calls for strong images.
4. Stolen in among you — evidently these false teachers presented themselves as legitimate Christ followers.
5. Saved people out of the land of Egypt — most if not all of Jude’s readers would have been familiar with the story of the exodus.
6. Angels — probably a reference to Gen 6:1-4, in which the “sons of God” took wives for themselves of all that they chose.
7. Sodom and Gomorrah — two cities that God destroyed because of their evil practices,
[Gen 19].
9. Archangel Michael — Jude’s source for this incident is probably The Assumption of Moses, an apocryphal book that is not part of the Bible.
11. Cain . . . Balaam . . . Korah — Cain murdered his brother out of jealousy [Gen 4]; Balaam prophesied because he was greedy, not because he was obeying God [Num 22-24]; and Korah challenged Moses’ authority during the exodus [Num 16]. All were banished by God.
14. Enoch — another apocryphal book – Jude’s readers would have been familiar with this book and quote.
17. Predictions —John, Peter, and Paul, as well as Jesus all predicted people who would discount the Gospel and spread false teaching, [check Acts 20:29-30, 1 Tim 4:1-3, John 15:9 and 1 Peter 3:3].
24. Him who is able — Jude closes with a very strong statement of hope and praise: God will keep believers safe from “falling” into heresy and make them “stand without blemish” in his presence.
Memory Verse
Keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life, [Jude 21].
Next Lesson
Revelation 3, 6: Letters to churches and God’s judgments.
