Magyar

Hilary of Arles

Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 167 passages across 8 books

Commentary

161–167 of 167
Jude 1:1

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:

Jude does his utmost to make sure that nobody confuses him with Judas Iscariot, which is why he confesses that he is Christ’s servant and James’s brother. Note how he also says that the Father chooses us, Jesus keeps us and the Holy Spirit calls us.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON JUDE

Jude 1:2

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

Jude includes a reference to love here because he has noticed that there is a lack of it among his people.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON JUDE

Jude 1:3

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.

The faith was first delivered to these people by the apostle Paul, who said: “No other foundation can anyone lay, than the one which is already laid.”

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON JUDE

Jude 1:13

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

These people are called wandering stars because they do not follow the sun of truth.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON JUDE

Jude 1:17

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

Jude does not specify which apostles he is referring to, but many people assume he means Peter, James and John.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON JUDE

Jude 1:25

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

Praise is given to God alone, for he is the only one who deserves our worship. He is our Savior, because “he has saved his people from their sins.” Glory is ascribed to him because he is the victor in every battle; majesty, because the praise of the heavenly virtues is so great; dominion, because he rules over all he has made; and authority, because he has the power to destroy or to set free everything in creation. He exists from the beginning, in the present and forever.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON JUDE

Proverbs 1:20

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

It is written: “Wisdom is made known in death,” that is to say, the life of the wise man is praised at the end of his life. Wherefore we read also in another place: “Do not praise a man during his lifetime”and again, “Praise not any man before death.” Now suppose someone says: praise a man after death, for in the praise of the living there is a possible occasion of vain exultation for the object of the laudation and a note of flattery is attached to the one bestowing it. In many ways, however, it is useful to praise the dead: in the first place, because, while the one is absent who might be gratified by our praise, it is necessary that the whole glory be referred to the bestower of grace; second, because only admiration for his virtue remains when the suspicion of flattery is removed. Therefore, praise of the dead which is proclaimed in the holy congregation of the faithful is full of edification and utterly free from ostentation. LIFE OF ST.

HONORATUS, PREFACE 3

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