The Letter ofSAINT JUDE

The author of this brief letter identifies himself as Jude, a brother of James (the Just). Both are named among the brothers of the Lord (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; see also Galatians 1:19). He is not to be confused with Jude Thaddeus, one of the Twelve Apostles. The identity and location of Jude’s original audience are unknown. The date of the letter is also uncertain, though it is generally held to have been written during the latter half of the first century. Jude addresses Christians whose communities are being troubled by intruders who distort God’s grace to excuse immoral living. He calls the faithful to defend the apostolic faith, resist corruption, and show discerning mercy to those endangered by the intruders’ teaching and conduct. He concludes by assuring them that God is able to preserve his people and bring them safely into his glorious presence.

Greeting

1 From Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified in God the Father, and kept safe by Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied among you.

Defend the Faith

3 Beloved, though I was eager to write to you concerning the salvation we share, I find it necessary instead to write and appeal to you to earnestly defend the faith that delivered once for all to God’s holy people. 4 You see, certain people have slipped in among you unnoticed. They are ungodly people whose judgment was foretold long ago. They twist God’s grace into a license for immoral living, thus denying God, our only Master, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Examples of Divine Judgment

5 You already know this, but I want to remind you that although the Lord delivered a people out of the land of Egypt, he later destroyed those who did not believe. 6 He has imprisoned in deep darkness those angels who abandoned their appointed place and left their proper dwelling. Bound with eternal chains, they await the judgment of the Great Day. 7 Similarly, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them gave themselves over to sexual immorality and pursued intimate relations beyond their proper bounds. They stand as an example, suffering the penalty of eternal fire.

The Character of the Intruders

8 The intruders among you behave in the same way. Carried away by their dreams, they defile the flesh, reject authority, and slander heavenly beings. 9 When Michael the archangel disputed with the devil and contended with him concerning the body of Moses, he did not dare to condemn him with slanderous words, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 These people slander whatever they do not understand. What they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, becomes the means of their destruction.

11 Woe to them! They followed the way of Cain, rushed headlong for profit into the error of Balaam, and perished in a rebellion, as Korah did. 12 These people are like hidden reefs at your love feasts. They dine among you without fear, acting as shepherds, yet caring only for themselves. They are like clouds without water, swept along by winds; like autumn trees without fruit, twice dead and uprooted; 13 like wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; like wandering stars, for whom the deepest darkness has been forever reserved.

The Coming Judgment

14 Enoch, the seventh in descent from Adam, prophesied about such people, saying, “Behold! The Lord comes with myriads of his holy ones, 15 to judge everyone. He will call the godless to account for every evil deed they have committed in defiance of him and for every harsh word these sinners have spoken against him.” 16 They grumble and complain, live according to their own desires, speak arrogantly, and flatter others for personal gain.

A Call to Persevere

17 Beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ 18 when they said, “In the last time there will be mockers who follow their own desires in defiance of God.” 19 These are the people who cause divisions. They are worldly and do not have the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, build yourselves upon your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 Use good judgment as you show mercy to some. 23 Save others with great caution as you snatch them from the fire. Hate even the clothing that has been soiled by the corruption in their lives.

Doxology

24 Now to One who is able to keep them from stumbling and to present them blameless in his glorious presence with great joy; 25 to the only wise God our Savior, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, both now and throughout all the ages. Amen.

Notes

1 - The Robinson–Pierpont text reads “sanctified.” A significant Byzantine reading, followed by the critical Vulgate, has “beloved.”

 

4 - The Greek may distinguish God as “our only Master” from “our Lord Jesus Christ,” as translated here, or apply both titles to Jesus Christ. Some early Greek witnesses omit “God.”

 

5 - The Robinson–Pierpont text reads “the Lord.” The critical Vulgate and some important early Greek witnesses read “Jesus.”

 

7a - “…pursued intimate relations beyond their proper bounds.” Literally, “went after other flesh” or “went after strange flesh.” The expression describes sexual desire that crosses a divinely established boundary. Its precise reference is disputed. It may refer to the men of Sodom demanding that Lot surrender his angelic visitors for sexual assault (Genesis 19:4-9), thereby seeking relations with flesh of another order. Other interpretations understand it more broadly as a reference to unlawful or unnatural sexual relations among human beings. The wording preserves the boundary imagery without resolving the ambiguity.

 

7b - “Eternal” directly describes the fire. Jude does not further define the nature or duration of the punishment experienced.

 

9 - “The Lord rebuke you!” Jude associates the words with a tradition concerning Michael, the devil, and the body of Moses. The precise source has not been preserved but scholars have often associated it with The Assumption of Moses, a lost pseudepigraphal text.

 

12 - “Hidden reefs” pictures a concealed danger to the gathered assembly. Love feasts were communal meals shared by early Christians, though not necessarily celebrations of the Eucharist.

 

14–15 - Jude closely follows 1 Enoch 1:9, an ancient Jewish work outside the biblical canon received by most Christian traditions. A myriad is ten thousand, or more generally a countless multitude.

 

22–23  - The Robinson–Pierpont text describes two groups and calls for discernment in showing mercy. Other ancient witnesses distinguish three groups; some begin, “Show mercy to those who doubt.” The critical Vulgate also has three groups but begins by directing the reader to reprove some who are under judgment. The closing expression is literally, “hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”

 

24 - The Robinson–Pierpont main text reads “them.” A Byzantine alternative, the KJV, and the critical Vulgate read “you.”

 

25 - The critical Vulgate and many early Greek witnesses include “through Jesus Christ our Lord” and “before all ages.” These phrases are absent from the Robinson–Pierpont main text.