The Letter of Jude

I. Introduction to the Letter of Jude  Author: Jude Date: 70-80

1.1 Authorship  Jude identifies himself as the brother of James (v.1), the leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15), and the half brother of the Lord Jesus. Jude is listed among Christ’s half brothers in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6.3. Although, by his own statement, he intended to write a treatise on salvation, pressing circumstances required him to deal instead with the false teachers (v. 3).

1.2 Purpose  This letter was written to defend the apostolic faith against false teachings that were arising in the churches. Alarming advances were being made by an incipient form of Gnosticism – not ascetic, like that attacked by Paul in Colossians, but antinomian. The Gnostics viewed everything material as evil and everything spiritual as good. They therefore cultivated their “spiritual” lives and allowed their flesh to do anything it liked, with the result that they were guilty of all kinds of lawlessness. (See Gnosticism in the Introduction to 1 John. )

1.3 Extrabiblical Quotations  In verses 14 and 15, Jude quotes the pseudepigraphal book. The Assumption of Moses. This does not mean that be he considered theses books to be inspired as the canonical Scriptures were. Paul quoted from heathen poets without implying their inspiration (Acts 17:28; 1 Cor. 15:33; Titus 1:12).

1.4 Readership  The readers are not identified, but we know that they were beset by false teachers, who were immoral, covetous, proud, and divisive.

1.5 Contents  Condemning the heretics in no uncertain terms. Jude exhorts his readers to “contend earnestly for the faith” (v. 3).

II. Outline of Jude

2.1 The Salutation and Purpose, 1-4  A. Greetings from Jude, 1-2  B. Jude’s Purpose in Writing  1. Contend for the Faith, 3-4

2.2 Exposure of the False Teachers  A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, 5-16  1. Their Doom, 5-7  a. “God’s judgments in time past” (…)

 A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Doom – God’s Judgments in the past, 5-7  Death Sentence on the Rebels – (v 5 with Numbers 14:26-38)

 A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Doom – God’s Judgments in the past, 5-7 (continuation)  Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed – (v 7, 1 Corinthians 10:11 with Genesis 10:12-20)

A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Denunciation, 8-10  A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, 5-16  (…)  2. Their Denunciation, 8-10  (…)

 A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Denunciation, 8-10 ( continuation )  Jude New King James Version (NKJV) 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!”  2 Peter 2 New King James Version (NKJV) 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

 A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Denunciation, 8-10 ( continuation )  Cain Murders Abel – (v 11 with Genesis 4:1-15)

 A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Denunciation, 8-10 (continuation) Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel – (v 11 with Numbers 22:22-40)

 A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Denunciation, 8-10 (continuation)  Korah’s Rebellion – (v 11 with Numbers 16:1- 40)

A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Description,  A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, 5-16  (…)  3. Their Description,  (…)

 A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Description,  Jude 12 New King James Version (NKJV)  Apostates Depraved and Doomed  12a “ These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves...”

 A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Description, (continuation)  Jude 12 New King James Version (NKJV)  Apostates Depraved and Doomed  12b “…They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds;…”

 A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Description, (continuation)  Jude 12 New King James Version (NKJV)  Apostates Depraved and Doomed They are: 12c “... late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;…”

 A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Description, (continuation)  Jude New King James Version (NKJV)  Apostates Depraved and Doomed They are:  13a “raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame;…”

 A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Description, (continuation)  Jude New King James Version (NKJV)  Apostates Depraved and Doomed They are:  13b “…wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.”

 A. Condemnation of the Ungodly False Teachers, Their Description, (continuation)  Jude New King James Version (NKJV)  Apostates Depraved and Doomed: False Teachers will be judged:  14b ‘… “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.”

2.3 Exhortations to Believers, A. A Call to Remain Faithful  1. Persevere in the Love of God, Jude New King James Version (NKJV)  21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

2.4 The Benediction A. Doxology,  Jude New King James Version (NKJV) Glory to God – (vv 24-25)  25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

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