Jude:

[Rob Morgan]

Jude:

A surprisingly large number of the Pauline and non-Pauline Epistles confront the problem of false teachers, and almost all of them allude to it. But Jude goes beyond all other New Testament epistles in its relentless and passionate denunciation of the apostate teachers who have "crept in unnoticed" (v. 4). With the exception of its salutation (vv. 1-2) and doxology (vv.24-25), the entire epistle revolves around this alarming problem. Combining the theme of Second Peter with the style of James, Jude is potent in spite of its brevity. This urgent letter has four major sections:
purpose of Jude (vv. 1-4); description of false teachers (vv. 5-16); defense against false teachers (vv. 17 -23); and doxology of Jude (vv.24-25).

Purpose of Jude (vv. 1-4): Jude addresses his letter to believers who are "sanctified, preserved," and "called," and wishes for them the threefold blessing of mercy, peace, and love (vv. 1 -2). Grim news about the encroachment of false teachers in the churches has impelled Jude to put aside his commentary on salvation to write this timely word of rebuke and warning (vv. 3-4). In view of apostates who turn "the grace of our God into licentiousness" and deny Christ, it is crucial that believers "contend earnestly for the faith."

Description or False teachers (vv. 5- l6): Jude begins his extended expose' of the apostate teachers by illustrating their ultimate doom with three examples of divine judgment from the Pentateuch (vv. 5-7). God impartially judged: (1) Those from among His chosen people who refused to believe (v. 5); (2) fallen angels (v.6; cf. Gen.6:1-4; 2Pet.2:4); and (3) the immoral Gentiles described in Genesis l8-19 (v.7).

Like unreasoning animals, these apostates are ruled by the things they revile, and they are destroyed by the things they practice (vv. 8-.l0). Even the archangel Michael is more careful in his dealings with superhuman powers than are these arrogant men. Jude focuses more on the teachers of the heresy than on the heresy of the teachers, assuming that his readers are familiar with the details. He compares these men to three spiritually rebellious men from Genesis (Cain) and Numbers (Balaam and Korah) who incurred the condemnation of God (v. 1 1). Verses l2-.l3 succinctly summarize their character with five highly descriptive metaphors taken from nature: spots in your feasts, clouds without water, uprooted trees, raging waves, and wondering stars. After affirming the judgment of God upon such ungodly men with a quote from the nocanonical book of Enoch (vv. 14-15), Jude catalogs some of their practices (v. l6).

Defense Against False Teachers (vv. 17-23): This letter hos been exposing apostate teachers (vv. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16), but now Jude directly addresses his readers ("But you, beloved, remember" v. 17). He reminds them of the apostolic warning that such men would come (vv. 1 7-'l 9) and encourages them to protect themselves against the onslaught of apostasy (vv.20-21). The readers must become mature in their own faith so that they will be able to rescue those who are enticed or already ensnared by error (vv.22-23). Believers are to show mercy, not belligerence, when contending for the faith. They should hate the heresy but have compassion on those who are victimized.

Doxology of Jude (vv. 24-25): Jude closes with one of the greatest doxologies in the Bible. It emphasizes the power of Christ to keep those who trust in Him from being overthrown by error.

[Meow]