Jude1

Jude exhorts believers to earnestly contend for the faith against ungodly men who have infiltrated the church, turning grace into license and denying Christ. He warns them by citing historical examples of divine judgment, such as the unbelieving Israelites, fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah. Jude describes these false teachers as corrupt, lust-driven individuals and reminds the faithful to build themselves up in their holy faith, pray in the Spirit, and await eternal life.

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Salutation and Apostolic Authority

¶ Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

The Urgency to Contend for the Faith

¶ Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Historical Examples of Judgment

I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

The Condemnation of False Teachers

¶ Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

¶ To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

Exhortation to Remain Faithful

But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

And of some have compassion, making a difference:

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Doxology and Benediction

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Study Notes for Jude 1

Verse 1

Jude identifies himself as the brother of James, likely referring to the half-brother of Jesus (Matt. 13:55). By choosing the title 'servant' over 'brother of the Lord,' Jude emphasizes humility and his role as an authoritative messenger.

Verse 3

Jude had intended to write a typical letter on the 'common salvation' but was compelled by the threat of heresy to address the need to 'earnestly contend' (or fight aggressively) for the core doctrines of the faith, which were delivered once for all time.

Verse 4

These 'ungodly men' were early Gnostic or antinomian teachers who misused Christian freedom to justify immorality ('turning the grace... into lasciviousness'). They denied Christ’s unique authority by claiming superior secret knowledge or rejecting His full deity.

Verse 5

Jude begins a series of three historical examples to remind his readers that God judges apostasy even among those who have experienced salvation. The first example is Israel, whom God saved from Egypt but destroyed in the wilderness due to unbelief.

Verse 6

The second example is the fallen angels, often identified with the transgression mentioned in Genesis 6:1-4 or a pre-fall rebellion. They are reserved for judgment because they abandoned their appointed spiritual sphere ('first estate').

Verse 7

The third example is Sodom and Gomorrah, whose destruction serves as a perpetual warning ('set forth for an example') against sexual immorality, particularly unnatural sexual relations ('going after strange flesh').

Verse 8

These 'filthy dreamers' (false prophets) exhibit three major characteristics: defiling the body (immorality), despising authority, and slandering spiritual powers or angelic beings ('dignities').

Verse 9

This verse cites an extra-biblical tradition, likely from the non-canonical book *The Assumption of Moses*. Michael’s refusal to use his own authority, instead deferring judgment to God ('The Lord rebuke thee'), highlights the false teachers’ reckless arrogance in speaking evil of spiritual authorities.

Verse 11

Jude provides three archetypes of rebellion: Cain (hateful envy and rejection of God’s prescribed worship), Balaam (prophecy motivated by greed and mercenary reward), and Korah (rebellion against God-appointed leadership in the wilderness).

Verse 12

The false teachers are 'spots' (or hidden reefs) in the *agape* feasts (love feasts), communal meals held by early Christians. Their presence is dangerous and selfish, characterized by spiritual uselessness (clouds without water) and inevitable destruction (trees twice dead).

Verse 14

This prophecy is taken directly from the Book of Enoch (1 Enoch 1:9). Jude uses this widely respected Jewish apocalyptic source to confirm the certainty of Christ’s final judgment against all ungodliness.

Verse 17

Jude shifts from denunciation to instruction, reminding the believers that the apostles had already forewarned them that 'mockers' would appear in the last days, characterized by self-serving lusts.

Verse 19

The term 'sensual' (or natural/soulish) indicates that these men are motivated entirely by their human appetites and intellect, operating without the guiding presence or power of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 20

Jude provides four key actions for spiritual preservation: self-edification on sound doctrine, prayer guided by the Spirit, remaining in God's love, and eagerly anticipating Christ's return.

Verse 22

Jude instructs the faithful to use discernment when engaging those affected by the heresy. Some require gentle compassion and mercy, recognizing their genuine weakness rather than malice.

Verse 23

Others must be rescued with forceful urgency ('pulling them out of the fire'), treating their sin with utmost seriousness. The warning to 'hate even the garment' emphasizes the need to avoid contamination from their defiling practices.

Verse 24

This glorious closing prayer attributes ultimate power and ability to God alone. The emphasis is on God’s sovereign ability to preserve believers from stumbling and to present them blameless and joyful at the final judgment.

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Jude1

Salutation and Apostolic Authority

The Urgency to Contend for the Faith

Historical Examples of Judgment

The Condemnation of False Teachers

Exhortation to Remain Faithful

Doxology and Benediction

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