World English Bible
- Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
- May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
- Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
- For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.
- Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe.
- Angels who didn’t keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.
- Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having in the same way as these given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are shown as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
- Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings.
- But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”
- But these speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. They are destroyed in these things that they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason.
- Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion.
- These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
- wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.
- About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,
- to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
- These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage.
- But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- They said to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.”
- These are those who cause divisions and are sensual, not having the Spirit.
- But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.
- Keep yourselves in God’s love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
- On some have compassion, making a distinction,
- and some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
- Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy,
- to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
Scripture Reading: Jude 1 (recommend New International Version or English Standard Version)
“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James…” (Jude 1:1, English Standard Version)
Jude is one of the shortest and yet richest letters in the New Testament. From the outset, Jude humbly identifies himself merely as “a servant of Jesus Christ” despite being the half-brother of the Lord (see Matthew 13:55, New International Version). This deliberate humility suggests Jude recognizes the spiritual family of believers as even more significant than blood relationships—a perspective vital for us as we engage deeply with our own responsibilities within Christ’s body. In our day of individualism and self-promotion, Jude’s quiet humility is both challenging and refreshing.
Suggested Cross-References:
- Matthew 13:55-56 (Family of Jesus)
- Mark 10:42-45 (Servant leadership principle)
“I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” (Jude 1:3, New International Version)
The letter’s main thrust is an urgent appeal to believers to “contend for the faith.” The Greek verb Jude uses here is “epagōnizomai” (ἐπαγωνίζομαι), a strong military and athletic term meaning to engage vigorously or courageously in a struggle. Our English phrase “earnestly contend” softens somewhat the force Jude intended—we are to commit ourselves passionately to preserving and defending the apostolic Gospel against compromise.
From the earliest centuries, major Christian thinkers like Augustine, Calvin, and Spurgeon emphasized the necessity of doctrinal firmness grounded in humility and compassion. As mature believers today, we find ourselves challenged to uphold truth lovingly yet unwaveringly, amidst modern theological confusion and cultural relativism.
Historical Note: Jude’s readers faced influences of early heretical sects such as proto-Gnosticism, which minimized moral accountability and twisted grace into license. Recognizing this historical reality helps us guard ourselves today—doctrine matters profoundly because truth always shapes behavior.
Cross-reference:
- Galatians 1:6-10 (Paul’s admonition against false gospel)
- 2 Timothy 4:2-4 (instruction about false teachings)
In verses 5-16, Jude references historical and literary examples (many drawn from Jewish literature familiar to his first-century audience, like the book of Enoch and the Jewish traditions about Michael disputing with Satan regarding Moses’ body in verse 9). This section is unusual for modern readers accustomed primarily to canonical scripture. But in first-century Judaism, texts like 1 Enoch were well-known Jewish material. Jude rightly assumes his audience’s familiarity, much as modern preachers sometimes refer to classic Christian literature to illustrate a point.
A notable example that often puzzles readers is Jude 1:9. Jude references a Jewish tradition of Archangel Michael disputing Satan over Moses’ body. Though we don’t find this in the Old Testament explicitly, Jude and his readers knew it from known oral Jewish teachings, preserved later in early Christian literature and pseudepigrapha literature. Jude does not necessarily endorse its divine inspiration but uses it illustratively—God alone will ultimately judge, and even angelic authority points directly toward divine judgment, not human presumption.
From these illustrations (the Israelites’ rebellion, fallen angels, Sodom and Gomorrah) emerges a powerful theological theme: sin and rebellion carry real spiritual consequences, yet we rely entirely on God’s mercy and authority rather than our own. Jude vividly calls mature believers to humility, vigilance, humility, and reverence before God’s holiness.
Cross-reference:
- Romans 15:4 (Lessons from history as instruction)
- 2 Peter 2 (Similar warnings against false teachers)
From verse 17 onward, Jude shifts to pastoral exhortation. He encourages believers to pray regularly, maintain themselves in the love of God, and persevere patiently amid spiritual challenges. Here the core of Jude’s practical theology appears: growing personally in holiness, rescuing others compassionately, and leaning fully on Christ’s mercy (verses 21-23).
Reflection: When Jude urges us to “build ourselves up in faith” (verse 20), the grammatical form suggests a continuous, collective responsibility among Christians—not merely private devotional time but active engagement together in worship, discipleship, mutual encouragement, and service. Jude reminds mature followers that genuine spiritual strength never develops through solitary efforts only—it springs organically from faithful Christian community.
Cross-reference:
- Hebrews 10:23-25 (Encouragement of regular assembly and
exhortation)
- Galatians 6:1-2 (Bearing one another’s burdens in love)
Jude closes with one of the greatest doxologies in Scripture, a literary gem filled with poetic beauty:
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
(Jude 1:24-25, New International Version)
This climactic statement reminds believers of the persevering sovereign grace of our God. Jude teaches that our ultimate hope rests entirely in Christ, who shepherds us safely toward eternal joy. Notice the literary parallelism here—glory, majesty, power, and authority; it demonstrates fullness and completeness of God’s character, a literary device called “amplification” or “enumeration,” adding dignity and beauty to the benediction.
Fanny Crosby’s hymn “To God Be the Glory” would resonate deeply here, beautifully echoing Jude’s theology of divine power and grace, as would the classic hymn “He Will Hold Me Fast.” Consider allowing these beautiful truths to shape your worship today.
Heavenly Father,
Grant us humility to serve you faithfully, the wisdom to remain vigilant against error, and grace to contend earnestly yet compassionately for the faith once delivered to your people. Keep us rooted firmly in Christ, our eternal hope. To You alone we give all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority forever.
In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, we pray, Amen.