JUDE
1
Jude – a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James.
To the ones who have been set apart in God the Father, called and kept for Jesus Christ. 2 May mercy, peace and love be given to you more and more!
3 Loved ones, while I hurried to get writing to you about our common salvation, I felt compelled to write to you urging you to passionately strive for the faith which was once for all delivered to the holy ones. 4 Now, there are certain people who have snuck in, who from ancient times have been written into this judgement: insolence, twisting the grace of our God into shamelessness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 5 Therefore I want to remind you – who have already understood all this once – that Jesus, upon saving a people out of the land of Egypt subsequently destroyed those who were unbelieving. 6 Then there are the angels, the ones who didn’t keep to their origins but left their own domain. These he has held under gloom in eternal shackles into the judgement of the great Day. 7 Likewise Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them, who were into ultra-depraved sexual immorality and went off after different flesh, lie before us as an example, undergoing the justice of the fire of the Age. 8 Yet in the same way these dreamers indeed defile the flesh, but also reject authority and insult the glorious ones. 9 Even the archangel Michael, when fighting with the Accuser, disputing over Moses’ body, didn’t dare bring an insulting accusation. Instead he said, “May the Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these ones – to the degree they have not understood, they insult; then, to the degree that they do actually understand (as much as mindless animals), in these things they are being corrupted! 11 Woe to them! For,
to the way of Cain they have gone,
to the error of Balaam’s reward they have abandoned themselves,
and in Korah’s rebellion they were destroyed.
12 These ones are submerged rocks at your love feasts, eating with everyone without a qualm, shepherding only themselves – waterless clouds carried about by winds, late-autumn trees without fruit, twice dead and uprooted, 13 wild ocean waves throwing up the foam of their own disgrace, wandering stars for whom has been reserved the gloom of darkness into the Age. 14 Now Enoch (the seventh from Adam) prophesies to these ones saying, “Look! The Lord comes amidst tens of thousands of his holy ones 15 to carry out judgement against everyone and to openly expose all the insolent ones among them concerning all their disrespectful behaviour, which they joke about, and concerning all of the harsh things that insolent sinners have said against him.” 16 They are grumblers; whingers who are acting in response to their own lusts. Their mouth says grandiose things, flattering appearances for their own benefit. 17 But you, loved ones, be reminded of the things having been said beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, “At the end time there will be scoffers – insolent ones – living according to their own lusts.” 19 These are the ones who are isolating themselves. They are worldly, not having the Spirit. 20 But you, loved ones, you build yourselves on the most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which brings us into the life of the Age. 22 And you too need to have mercy on those who are uncertain, 23 but others you must save by snatching them out of the fire, hating even the clothes contaminated by the flesh. 24 But now to the One who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to stand you before his glory spotless and with celebration – 25 to the only God, our saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord – be glory, majesty, power and authority before all ages, and now, and into all ages! Amen.
Jude – a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James.
To the ones who have been set apart in God the Father, called and kept for Jesus Christ. 2 May mercy, peace and love be given to you more and more!
3 Loved ones, while I hurried to get writing to you about our common salvation, I felt compelled to write to you urging you to passionately strive for the faith which was once for all delivered to the holy ones. 4 Now, there are certain people who have snuck in, who from ancient times have been written into this judgement: insolence, twisting the grace of our God into shamelessness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 5 Therefore I want to remind you – who have already understood all this once – that Jesus, upon saving a people out of the land of Egypt subsequently destroyed those who were unbelieving. 6 Then there are the angels, the ones who didn’t keep to their origins but left their own domain. These he has held under gloom in eternal shackles into the judgement of the great Day. 7 Likewise Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them, who were into ultra-depraved sexual immorality and went off after different flesh, lie before us as an example, undergoing the justice of the fire of the Age. 8 Yet in the same way these dreamers indeed defile the flesh, but also reject authority and insult the glorious ones. 9 Even the archangel Michael, when fighting with the Accuser, disputing over Moses’ body, didn’t dare bring an insulting accusation. Instead he said, “May the Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these ones – to the degree they have not understood, they insult; then, to the degree that they do actually understand (as much as mindless animals), in these things they are being corrupted! 11 Woe to them! For,
to the way of Cain they have gone,
to the error of Balaam’s reward they have abandoned themselves,
and in Korah’s rebellion they were destroyed.
12 These ones are submerged rocks at your love feasts, eating with everyone without a qualm, shepherding only themselves – waterless clouds carried about by winds, late-autumn trees without fruit, twice dead and uprooted, 13 wild ocean waves throwing up the foam of their own disgrace, wandering stars for whom has been reserved the gloom of darkness into the Age. 14 Now Enoch (the seventh from Adam) prophesies to these ones saying, “Look! The Lord comes amidst tens of thousands of his holy ones 15 to carry out judgement against everyone and to openly expose all the insolent ones among them concerning all their disrespectful behaviour, which they joke about, and concerning all of the harsh things that insolent sinners have said against him.” 16 They are grumblers; whingers who are acting in response to their own lusts. Their mouth says grandiose things, flattering appearances for their own benefit. 17 But you, loved ones, be reminded of the things having been said beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, “At the end time there will be scoffers – insolent ones – living according to their own lusts.” 19 These are the ones who are isolating themselves. They are worldly, not having the Spirit. 20 But you, loved ones, you build yourselves on the most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which brings us into the life of the Age. 22 And you too need to have mercy on those who are uncertain, 23 but others you must save by snatching them out of the fire, hating even the clothes contaminated by the flesh. 24 But now to the One who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to stand you before his glory spotless and with celebration – 25 to the only God, our saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord – be glory, majesty, power and authority before all ages, and now, and into all ages! Amen.
1-25)
This letter is built around a chiastic thematic structure (first theme (a) matches/contrasts with the last (a'), the second (b) with the second last (b'), and so on... 'Hold' the two parts together to get a fuller picture of that point.) This is based on Chuck Missler's teaching (again!)
a (v1-2) Assurance for the Christian (we’re called and kept)
b (v3) The believer and the faith (contend/strive/fight for the faith)
c (v4) Apostates described (they’ve snuck in and you can spot them by…)
d (v5-8) Apostasy in OT History (past)
e (v9-10) Apostasy in the supernatural realm (Michael vs Satan)
f (v11) Ancient trio of apostates (Cain, Balaam, Korah)
e' (v12-13) Apostasy in the natural realm (selfish shepherds)
d' (v14-16) Apostasy in OT Prophecy (future)
c' (v17-19) Apostates described (they were foretold, they are divisive etc.)
b' (v20-23) The believer and the faith (act earnestly with each other according to the faith)
a' (v24-25) Assurance for the Christian (we’re presented to God perfect)
1-3) To the ones who have been set apart in God the Father...loved ones. Written to believers to warn them of false teachers in their churches.
4) These false teachers' ways are a result, or symptomatic, of the judgement they have been allocated already. This is especially true in the rejection of Jesus, which becomes the ultimate judgement once they stand before God at the end of time.
11) To the way of Cain...they were destroyed. I have gone with this translation because the Greek has almost a poetic structure to it (as dark as the topic may be!) An alternative translation might be: 'they have gone the way of Cain! For reward they have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error, and were destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.'
14) Here is a article I've found helpful concerning the quoting of an Apocryphal book in the Bible. https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/562-did-jude-quote-from-an-apocryphal-book
15) The typical way to translate the word 'asebeia' is 'ungodly'. That's fine, but the basic meaning of the word is to lack worshipfulness or reverence where it is required. Thus I have used the words insolent (x2), disrepectful (x1) and 'which they joke about' - the last of these meaning to make light of something, in this case to joke about their sin and misunderstand or minimise its venom.
23-24) Note the contrast between the contamination in v23 and the spotlessness in v24. If it wasn't for this thematic link I would have made vv24-25 a new paragraph.
This letter is built around a chiastic thematic structure (first theme (a) matches/contrasts with the last (a'), the second (b) with the second last (b'), and so on... 'Hold' the two parts together to get a fuller picture of that point.) This is based on Chuck Missler's teaching (again!)
a (v1-2) Assurance for the Christian (we’re called and kept)
b (v3) The believer and the faith (contend/strive/fight for the faith)
c (v4) Apostates described (they’ve snuck in and you can spot them by…)
d (v5-8) Apostasy in OT History (past)
e (v9-10) Apostasy in the supernatural realm (Michael vs Satan)
f (v11) Ancient trio of apostates (Cain, Balaam, Korah)
e' (v12-13) Apostasy in the natural realm (selfish shepherds)
d' (v14-16) Apostasy in OT Prophecy (future)
c' (v17-19) Apostates described (they were foretold, they are divisive etc.)
b' (v20-23) The believer and the faith (act earnestly with each other according to the faith)
a' (v24-25) Assurance for the Christian (we’re presented to God perfect)
1-3) To the ones who have been set apart in God the Father...loved ones. Written to believers to warn them of false teachers in their churches.
4) These false teachers' ways are a result, or symptomatic, of the judgement they have been allocated already. This is especially true in the rejection of Jesus, which becomes the ultimate judgement once they stand before God at the end of time.
11) To the way of Cain...they were destroyed. I have gone with this translation because the Greek has almost a poetic structure to it (as dark as the topic may be!) An alternative translation might be: 'they have gone the way of Cain! For reward they have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error, and were destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.'
14) Here is a article I've found helpful concerning the quoting of an Apocryphal book in the Bible. https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/562-did-jude-quote-from-an-apocryphal-book
15) The typical way to translate the word 'asebeia' is 'ungodly'. That's fine, but the basic meaning of the word is to lack worshipfulness or reverence where it is required. Thus I have used the words insolent (x2), disrepectful (x1) and 'which they joke about' - the last of these meaning to make light of something, in this case to joke about their sin and misunderstand or minimise its venom.
23-24) Note the contrast between the contamination in v23 and the spotlessness in v24. If it wasn't for this thematic link I would have made vv24-25 a new paragraph.