Jude 1:4

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} there are certain {G5100} men {G444} crept in unawares {G3921}, who {G3588} were before {G4270} of old {G3819} ordained {G4270} to {G1519} this {G5124} condemnation {G2917}, ungodly men {G765}, turning {G3346} the grace {G5485} of our {G2257} God {G2316} into {G1519} lasciviousness {G766}, and {G2532} denying {G720} the only {G3441} Lord {G1203} God {G2316}, and {G2532} our {G2257} Lord {G2962} Jesus {G2424} Christ {G5547}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For certain individuals, the ones written about long ago as being meant for this condemnation, have wormed their way in — ungodly people who pervert God’s grace into a license for debauchery and disown our only Master and Lord, Yeshua the Messiah.

Berean Standard Bible

For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

American Standard Version

For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jude 1:4 serves as a stark warning against insidious false teachers who had infiltrated the early Christian community. These individuals, characterized by their ungodliness and predetermined judgment, subtly perverted the liberating truth of God's grace into a license for immoral behavior, while simultaneously denying the supreme authority and deity of both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This verse not only exposes their deceptive tactics and destructive doctrines but also underscores the urgent need for spiritual discernment and a steadfast defense of the authentic Christian faith.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** The Epistle of Jude is a brief but potent letter, originally intended to discuss the "common salvation" shared by believers, as indicated in [Jude 1:3](/jude/1-3 "Jude 1:3 - Contending for the Faith"). However, the author, Jude, abruptly shifts his focus to an urgent exhortation to "contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (as seen in [Jude 1:3](/jude/1-3 "Jude 1:3 - Contending for the Faith")). This pivot is necessitated by the immediate threat posed by certain individuals who had "crept in unawares," as detailed in [Jude 1:4](/jude/1-4 "Jude 1:4 - Warning Against False Teachers"). Thus, verse 4 acts as the foundational explanation for the entire letter's polemical thrust, introducing the adversaries whose presence compels Jude to issue such a strong warning and subsequent call to spiritual vigilance and steadfastness. The verses that follow [Jude 1:4](/jude/1-4 "Jude 1:4 - Warning Against False Teachers") then elaborate on the character, conduct, and certain judgment of these ungodly infiltrators.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The early Christian church, still in its nascent stages, was highly vulnerable to internal corruption and external pressures. Jude's letter reflects a period when various heterodox teachings, often with Gnostic or proto-Gnostic tendencies, began to emerge. These movements frequently emphasized a radical dualism between spirit and matter, leading some to conclude that physical actions, including immoral ones, had no bearing on spiritual salvation. This could manifest as antinomianism, where "grace" was twisted into an excuse for licentiousness, a direct perversion of the Gospel's transformative power. Furthermore, the denial of Christ's full deity or His unique Lordship was a common feature of such early heresies, often reducing Him to merely a wise teacher or an emanation rather than the divine Son of God. Jude's audience, likely a broad Christian community, faced the challenge of discerning true teaching from false, especially when the latter was presented subtly and by those who appeared to be part of the community.
* **Key Themes:** [Jude 1:4](/jude/1-4 "Jude 1:4 - Warning Against False Teachers") introduces several critical themes that permeate the entire epistle. Primary among these is the theme of **apostasy and false teaching**, highlighting the danger of those who deviate from the true faith and actively corrupt it from within. Closely related is the theme of **divine judgment**, as these individuals are described as "ordained to this condemnation," underscoring God's foreknowledge and righteous retribution against ungodliness, a theme further developed through historical examples in [Jude 1:5-7](/jude/1-5-7 "Jude 1:5-7 - Examples of God's Judgment"). The verse also powerfully addresses the **misunderstanding and perversion of grace**, revealing how a liberating theological truth can be twisted into a license for immorality, contrasting sharply with the true purpose of grace to lead to godliness, as seen in [Titus 2:11-12](/titus/2-11-12 "Titus 2:11-12 - The Grace of God Teaches Godliness"). Finally, the explicit denial of "the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" brings forth the crucial theme of **Christ's absolute Lordship and deity**, emphasizing that true faith necessitates full submission to and acknowledgment of Jesus as God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Crept in unawares (Greek, _pareisdýnō'_):** This compound verb (G3921) vividly describes the surreptitious manner in which these individuals infiltrated the Christian community. It literally means "to settle in alongside," "to slip in," or "to lodge stealthily." The imagery suggests a subtle, almost unnoticed entry, like a spy or an insidious disease, avoiding detection until their corrupting influence had taken root. This highlights the deceptive nature of false teachers who do not openly declare their opposition but blend in, seeking to corrupt from within.
* **Lasciviousness (Greek, _asélgeia'_):** This term (G766) denotes unrestrained, shameless sensuality, often characterized by a defiant disregard for moral decency and public opinion. It implies a blatant indulgence in sinful desires without remorse or shame, a wantonness that is open and scandalous. In the context of Jude 1:4, it signifies that these false teachers twisted the concept of God's grace into an excuse for flagrant immorality, suggesting that since grace covers all sin, one is free to indulge in any vice without consequence or need for repentance.
* **Denying (Greek, _arnéomai'_):** This verb (G720) implies more than just a verbal contradiction. It signifies disowning, repudiating, or rejecting, often through one's actions and lifestyle. While it could involve an explicit theological denial of Christ's deity or unique role, it also encompasses a practical denial—living in a way that contradicts the Lordship one claims to profess. Their immoral conduct and perversion of grace served as a profound, practical denial of the very Lord they ostensibly followed.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For there are certain men crept in unawares":** This opening clause immediately establishes the presence of a hidden threat. The "certain men" are not external enemies but internal infiltrators, whose entry was subtle and undetected ("crept in unawares"). This highlights the deceptive and insidious nature of their presence, emphasizing the need for vigilance within the church.
* **"who were before of old ordained to this condemnation":** This phrase speaks to God's foreknowledge and righteous judgment. It signifies that the ungodly path of these individuals and the just consequences for it were known to God from eternity past. This is not a predestination to sin, but a divine decree concerning the outcome for those who choose such a path, reinforcing God's sovereignty and justice in dealing with rebellion and apostasy.
* **"ungodly men":** This descriptive phrase characterizes the spiritual and moral state of these infiltrators. They are not merely mistaken but fundamentally "ungodly" (G765, _asebḗs'_), meaning irreverent, impious, and wicked. Their actions and teachings flow from a heart that lacks true reverence for God and His commands.
* **"turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness":** This is a central charge against them, revealing their theological perversion. They took the profound truth of God's unmerited favor ("grace," G5485, _cháris'_) and distorted it, using it as a pretext or "license" for unrestrained immorality and shameless sensuality ("lasciviousness," G766, _asélgeia'_). This is a dangerous antinomianism, where freedom in Christ is misinterpreted as freedom *from* moral law, rather than freedom *to* obey God in holiness.
* **"and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ":** This final and most severe accusation reveals their ultimate theological error. Their denial could manifest in various ways: rejecting His divine authority ("Lord," G1203, _despótēs'_), His atoning sacrifice, His exclusive claim to salvation, or His very deity. The phrase "the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" emphasizes the singular, supreme authority and divine nature of both the Father and the Son, which these false teachers fundamentally undermined through their doctrine and lifestyle.

#### Literary Devices
Jude 1:4 employs several potent **literary devices** to convey its urgent warning. The phrase "crept in unawares" functions as a powerful **metaphor**, likening the false teachers to stealthy intruders or spies who infiltrate a secure place without detection. This imagery immediately evokes a sense of danger and betrayal from within. There is also a strong element of **antithesis** at play, particularly in the contrast between "the grace of our God" and "lasciviousness." This stark opposition highlights the perversion of a sacred truth into its profane opposite, emphasizing the destructive nature of the false teaching. Furthermore, the description of these men as "ungodly" and "denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" uses **characterization** to immediately establish their spiritual and moral bankruptcy, setting the stage for the detailed indictment that follows in the rest of the epistle. The verse also contains a subtle form of **foreshadowing**, hinting at the "condemnation" that awaits these individuals, thereby preparing the reader for Jude's subsequent appeals to divine judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jude 1:4 lays bare a timeless theological conflict: the struggle between true grace and its perversion. The core issue is not simply immoral behavior, but a profound distortion of God's character and His salvific plan. True grace, as revealed in Scripture, is not a license for sin but a divine enablement for holiness, empowering believers to live righteously out of gratitude for God's unmerited favor. The false teachers' error stemmed from a fundamental misunderstanding of who God is and who Jesus Christ is, leading them to deny His supreme authority and to abuse His loving-kindness. This verse underscores the critical importance of sound doctrine, for theological error inevitably leads to ethical compromise and a departure from genuine faith. It reminds us that discernment is not merely an intellectual exercise but a spiritual necessity for preserving the purity of the Gospel and the integrity of the Christian community.

* [Romans 6:1-2](/romans/6-1-2 "Romans 6:1-2 - Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?")
* [2 Peter 2:1-3](/2_peter/2-1-3 "2 Peter 2:1-3 - False Prophets and Teachers")
* [Titus 2:11-12](/titus/2-11-12 "Titus 2:11-12 - The Grace of God Teaches Godliness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jude 1:4 serves as an enduring call to vigilance and spiritual discernment for every believer and every church. It reminds us that threats to the purity of the Gospel often come from within, disguised by a veneer of religious language or association. We are challenged to critically examine teachings and lifestyles, not merely accepting them at face value, but testing them against the clear and consistent message of Scripture. This verse underscores that genuine grace always leads to godliness, not to moral laxity. If we truly understand and embrace God's grace, our lives will be characterized by a desire for holiness and obedience, not by a pursuit of self-indulgence. The denial of Christ's Lordship, whether explicit or implicit through our actions, is a grave error that undermines the very foundation of our faith. Therefore, we are called to be steadfast in our commitment to Christ's supreme authority in all areas of life and to courageously contend for the faith once delivered to the saints, protecting it from all forms of distortion and compromise.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How can I cultivate greater spiritual discernment to recognize subtle distortions of biblical truth in my own life and in the broader Christian community?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to inadvertently "turn the grace of God into lasciviousness" by excusing sin or living in a way that contradicts the transforming power of the Gospel?**
* **What does it truly mean to affirm Jesus as "the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" in my daily life, beyond mere verbal assent?**
* **How can I actively "contend earnestly for the faith" (as mentioned in [Jude 1:3](/jude/1-3 "Jude 1:3 - Contending for the Faith")) in a way that is both firm in truth and gracious in spirit?**

### FAQ

**Who are these "certain men" mentioned in Jude 1:4, and what were their characteristics?**

Answer: The "certain men" are false teachers and ungodly individuals who had secretly infiltrated the early Christian church. Jude describes them as those who "crept in unawares," indicating their deceptive and subtle methods. Their primary characteristics include being "ungodly," meaning irreverent and wicked, perverting "the grace of our God into lasciviousness" (using grace as an excuse for immoral behavior), and "denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ," which implies a rejection of Christ's supreme authority and deity, either doctrinally or through their unholy lifestyle. While their specific theological errors might have varied, they shared a common thread of moral laxity and a compromised view of Christ's Lordship, posing a significant threat to the purity of the Gospel and the integrity of the community.

**What does it mean that they "were before of old ordained to this condemnation"?**

Answer: This phrase does not imply that God predestined these individuals to sin, but rather that their condemnation was foreknown and justly decreed by God from eternity past, given their chosen path of ungodliness and rebellion. It speaks to God's sovereign justice and His foreknowledge of those who would pervert His truth and reject His Lordship. Similar to how the judgment of the ungodly is foretold in passages like [2 Peter 2:3](/2_peter/2-3 "2 Peter 2:3 - Their Destruction is Not Asleep"), this statement in Jude emphasizes that their ultimate fate is a righteous consequence of their actions and character, not an arbitrary divine decree. It assures believers that God is fully aware of such threats and that justice will ultimately prevail.

**How does "turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness" relate to Christian freedom?**

Answer: This phrase describes a dangerous distortion of Christian freedom. True Christian freedom, as taught in the New Testament, is freedom *from* the bondage of sin and the law's condemnation, leading to a life of joyful obedience to God, as articulated in [Romans 6:18](/romans/6-18 "Romans 6:18 - Freed from Sin"). It is not a license to indulge in sinful desires. The false teachers in Jude's day twisted God's boundless grace—His unmerited favor that saves and empowers—into an excuse for "lasciviousness," which is unrestrained, shameless immorality. They essentially argued that since grace covers all sin, one could live however they pleased without consequence or need for repentance. This is a profound perversion of grace, which, according to [Titus 2:11-12](/titus/2-11-12 "Titus 2:11-12 - The Grace of God Teaches Godliness"), actually "teaches us to say 'no' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jude 1:4, with its stark warning against those who deny the Lordship of Christ and pervert His grace, powerfully underscores the absolute necessity and supremacy of Jesus Christ. The "ungodly men" are condemned precisely because they reject the "only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ," highlighting that true salvation and spiritual life are inextricably bound to His person and work. Christ is the ultimate revelation of God's grace, not a concept to be twisted into license, but the very embodiment of divine favor that transforms lives from sin to holiness. His atoning sacrifice on the cross, as described in [Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Christ's Blood Purifies Conscience"), provides genuine freedom from the power and penalty of sin, empowering believers to live righteously, rather than providing an excuse for depravity. Furthermore, as the "Lord" (G2962, _kýrios'_) and "Master" (G1203, _despótēs'_), Jesus holds supreme authority over all things, and His Lordship demands not only intellectual assent but also practical submission in every area of life. The very "condemnation" these false teachers face is a testament to Christ's role as the righteous Judge, who will ultimately separate the sheep from the goats, as foretold in [Matthew 25:31-46](/matthew/25-31-46 "Matthew 25:31-46 - The Judgment of the Nations"). Thus, Jude 1:4 ultimately points to Christ as the standard of truth, the source of authentic grace, and the sovereign Lord who will ensure the triumph of His kingdom over all forms of ungodliness and deception.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Galatians 2:4

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

2 Peter 2:1

¶ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 Peter 2:3

¶ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

2 Peter 2:10

¶ But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous [are they], selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

Titus 1:15

Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Titus 1:16

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

1 John 2:22

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.