Overview

The book of Jude: Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints

The Book of Jude is one of the smallest books in the New Testament, comprised of only a single chapter with 25 verses.

The author identifies himself as Jude, or Judas, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James.

James was an apostle, and an elder of the Jerusalem church, and a brother of Jesus.

Jude was also a brother of Jesus.

Note: see Matthew 13:55, & Mark 6:3.

The primary purpose of this letter is a call for believers, to "Contend earnestly, for the faith, that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Note: If you are a believer, you are a saint.

Jude also gives a warning, to guard against false teachers, who had crept into the body of Christ.

Bible Study/Commentary

Verses 1-2: Greeting

In the first two verses, Jude identifies himself, and his audience.

He offers a blessing of mercy, peace, and love to his readers.

Verses 3-4: Contend earnestly for the Faith.

Jude urges believers, "to contend earnestly for the faith, which was once for all delivered to the saints!"

He says that certain men had crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for condemnation.

He said that they were ungodly men, who turned the grace of God into lewdness, and denied, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verses 5-7: Old Testament Examples of God's Judgment

Jude provides three examples from the Old Testament, of punishment that befell those who acted immorally in the past:

First, the Israelites who were saved from Egypt but later destroyed, because of their unbelief and rebellion.

Second, the angels who rebelled against God.

And third, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were destroyed, for their sexual immorality.

Verses 8-10: Condemnation of the False Teachers.

Jude addresses false teachers and their arrogance.

He contrasts their behavior, with that of Michael the archangel. Michael did not rebuke the devil, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!"

Note: This makes it clear that Michael was just an angel and not the Lord Jesus Christ!
If he had been the Lord Jesus, he could have rebuked the devil.

Verses 11-13: Jude’s Further Condemnation of False Teachers

Jude refers to the false teachers, as following in the way of Cain, Balaam, and Korah.

These were three men in the Old Testament, who were known for their rebellion against God.

He condemns them, using vivid metaphors, to illustrate their rebellion and judgment.

Verses 14-16: The Prophecy of Enoch

Jude also cites a prophecy from Enoch, predicting God's judgment on the ungodly.

He uses this prophecy, to underscore the certainty, of punishment for the false teachers.

Verses 17-19: A Reminder of the Teachings of the Apostles of Jesus

Jude gives a reminder, of the teachings of the apostles, who warned, that in the last days, there would be scoffers who would follow their own ungodly desires.

Note: The exact same statement is found written by the apostle Peter, in the second letter of Peter. See 2nd Peter 3:3.

Verses 20-23: Encouragement for those who are Faithful.

In this section, Jude encourages believers to remain steadfast in their faith, to build themselves up, and to pray in the Holy Spirit.

Jude says that some, are to be shown mercy, but others, need to be snatched out of the fire.

Verses 24-25: Closing Praise to God

Jude praises God who is able to keep the faithful from stumbling and present them blameless, before the presence of His glory, with great joy.

Jude ascribes to God, through Jesus Christ, all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, both now and forever.

Overall Summary

The Book of Jude is a robust call to contend earnestly for the faith, which was once for all delivered to the saints.

He also gives a warning, to guard against false teachers, who seek to distort the gospel, and live sinful lives.

This letter underscores the importance, of remembering the teachings of the apostles, and the judgment that awaits those, who turn from God's commands.

Despite its brevity, Jude's letter is rich in its usage of Old Testament, and last days imagery.

It ends with a high note of praise, emphasizing God's ability, to keep believers until the end.

This powerful message provides a timeless exhortation, for believers to remain firm in their faith, and to be on guard against false teachers.

Q&A

1. a. Who did Jude write this letter to? 1:1
   b. Do you fit this description? 1:1
   c. What attributes did Jude want to be multiplied to us? 1:2
   • ¹ Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ,
     and brother of James,
     To those who are called,
     sanctified by God the Father,
     and preserved in Jesus Christ:
     ² Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
2. a. What adjective did he use to describe our salvation? 1:3
   b. What did he exhort them and us, to contend earnestly for? 1:3
   c. When and how often was our common salvation delivered? 1:3
   d. How did certain men creep in? 1:4
   e. What had they been marked out for? 1:4
   f. What do they turn the grace of God into? 1:4
   g. Who do they deny? 1:4
   
   • ³ Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you
     concerning our common salvation,
     I found it necessary to write to you
     exhorting you
     to contend earnestly for the faith
     which was once for all
     delivered to the saints.
   • ⁴ For certain men have crept in unnoticed,
     who long ago were marked out
     for this condemnation,
     ungodly men,
     who turn the grace of our God
     into lewdness
     and deny the only Lord God
     and our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. a. What did the Lord do to the people who did not believe? 1:5
   b. What did God do to the angels that did not keep their proper domain? 1:6
   c. For what day are the angels, who did not keep their proper place, being reserved? 1:6
   d. Who are these angels that are being kept in chains? 1:6
   e. Who had previously given themselves over to sexual immorality? 1:7
   f.  Are Sodom and Gomorrah a warning for us? 1:7
   g. How long will they suffer the vengeance of eternal fire? 1:7
   
   • ⁵ But I want to remind you,
     though you once knew this,
     that the Lord,
     having saved the people
     out of the land of Egypt,
     afterward destroyed those
     who did not believe.
   • ⁶ And the angels
     who did not keep their proper domain,
     but left their own abode,
     He has reserved in everlasting chains
     under darkness
     for the judgment of the great day;
   • ⁷ as Sodom and Gomorrah,
     and the cities around them
     in a similar manner to these,
     having given themselves over
     to sexual immorality
     and gone after strange flesh,
     are set forth as an example,
     suffering the vengeance
     of eternal fire.
4. a. How are these dreamers described? 1:8
   b. Who do they reject? 1:8
   c. How do they speak about dignitaries (a person who holds a high rank or office)? 1:8
   d. Who did Michael the archangel have a dispute with over the body of Moses? 1:9
   e. What did Michael not dare bring against the devil? 1:9
   f. What did he say to the devil? 1:9
   
   • ⁸ Likewise also these dreamers
     defile the flesh,
     reject authority,
     and speak evil of dignitaries.
   • ⁹ Yet Michael the archangel,
     in contending with the devil,
     when he disputed
     about the body of Moses,
     dared not bring against him
     a reviling accusation,
     but said,
     “The Lord rebuke you!”
5. a. How do these dreamers speak? 1:10
   b. How do these men corrupt themselves? 1:10
   c. In whose way had they gone? 1:11
   d. What did Cain do? 1:11 (see Genesis chapter 4)
   e. Why have they run in greed like Balaam? 1:11
   f.  How will they perish? 1:11
   
   • ¹⁰ But these speak evil
     of whatever they do not know;
     and whatever they know naturally,
     like brute beasts,
     in these things
     they corrupt themselves.
   • ¹¹ Woe to them!
     For they have gone
     in the way of Cain,
     have run greedily
     in the error of Balaam
     for profit,
     and perished
     in the rebellion of Korah.
6. a. What were these men doing in the love feasts? 1:12
   b. Who did they serve without fear? 1:12
   c. How are they like clouds? 1:12
   d. How are they carried about? 1:12
   e. How many times were they dead? 1:12
   g. How are they pulled up? 1:12
   h. What is reserved for them? 1:13
   i.  How long with the blackness of darkness last?
   
   • ¹² These are spots in your love feasts,
     while they feast with you
     without fear,
     serving only themselves.
     They are clouds without water,
     carried about by the winds;
     late autumn trees without fruit,
     twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
   • ¹³ raging waves of the sea,
     foaming up their own shame;
     wandering stars
     for whom is reserved
     the blackness of darkness forever.
7. a. When did Enoch live? 1:14
   b. Who did he prophesy about? 1:14
   c. Who did Enoch say that God would bring judgment on? 1:15
   d. Of what would He convict them? 1:15
   e. How had they committed ungodly deeds? 1:15
   f.  How had they spoken against God? 1:15
   
   • ¹⁴ Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam,
     prophesied about these men also, saying,
     “Behold, the Lord comes
     with ten thousands of His saints,
   • ¹⁵ to execute judgment on all,
     to convict all who are ungodly among them
     of all their ungodly deeds
     which they have committed
     in an ungodly way,
     and of all the harsh things
     which ungodly sinners
     have spoken against Him.”
8. a. How do these men speak? 1:16
   b. How do the ungodly walk? 1:16
   c. Why do they speak great swelling words? 1:16
   d. How serious is grumbling? 1:16
   e. What words are we to remember? 1:17
   f. What did they say about mockers in the last time? 1:17-18
   g. What do these sensual people cause? 1:19
   h. What do they not have? 1:19
   
   • ¹⁶ These are grumblers,
     complainers,
     walking according
     to their own lusts;
     and they mouth
     great swelling words,
     flattering people
     to gain advantage.
     ¹⁷ But you, beloved,
     remember the words
     which were spoken before
     by the apostles
     of our Lord Jesus Christ:
   • ¹⁸ how they told you
     that there would be mockers
     in the last time
     who would walk according
     to their own ungodly lusts.
     ¹⁹ These are sensual persons,
     who cause divisions,
     not having the Spirit.
9. a. What must we build ourselves up in? 1:20
   b. How are we to be praying? 1:20
   c. What are we to keep ourselves in? 1:21
   d. What are we to be looking for? 1:21
   
   • ²⁰ But you, beloved,
     building yourselves up
     on your most holy faith,
     praying in the Holy Spirit,
   • ²¹ keep yourselves
     in the love of God,
     looking for the mercy
     of our Lord Jesus Christ
     unto eternal life.
10. a. What are we to do to some? 1:22
    b. How are we to save others? 1:23
    c. What are we to hate? 1:23
    
    • ²² And on some
      have compassion,
      making a distinction;
    • ²³ but others
      save with fear,
      pulling them out of the fire,
      hating even the garment
      defiled by the flesh.
11. a. Who is able to keep us from stumbling? 1:24
    b. How can He present us? 1:24
    c. What will we have in His presence? 1:24
    d. Who alone is wise? 1:25
    e. When will He receive glory and majesty, dominion, and power? 1:25
    
    • ²⁴ Now to Him who is able
      to keep you from stumbling,
      And to present you faultless
      Before the presence of His glory
      with exceeding joy,
    • ²⁵ To God our Savior,
      Who alone is wise,
      Be glory and majesty,
      Dominion and power,
      Both now and forever.
      Amen.