1. Jude 3-4 (NKJV)
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.

2. Knowing God’s Word
Jude

3. Knowing God’s Word
Three weeks ago we took a look at the epistles of II & III John, written to warn and encourage
This week we move onto the epistle of Jude
Jude is the 26th book in the NT and is the 8th of the General Epistles (Hebrews through Jude)

4. Knowing God’s Word Jude is the author of this epistle (v. 1)
Jude is from the Greek word “Ioudas” which can be translated Judas or Jude
This was a very popular name at that time, so it explains why we see so many called by this name within the New Testament

5. Knowing God’s Word There are 5 by this name in the NT:
Judas Iscariot (Matt. 10:4; Jn. 13:26)
Apostle Judas (not Iscariot – Jn. 14:22)
Judas of Damascus (Acts 9:11)
Judas Barsabas (Acts 15:22)
Jude, half-brother of Christ (Matt. 13:55; Mk. 6:3)

6. Knowing God’s Word
This Jude (Judas) calls himself the brother of James
Only 2 on that list of 5 are related to a James
The most well known James of the New Testament was James, the half-brother of Jesus

7. Knowing God’s Word
The author also separates himself from being an apostle (vs )
All these things considered, it is believed that the author of this book is Jude, the half-brother of Jesus
This is a general letter written to the church (v. 1)

8. Knowing God’s Word
The letter of Jude bears a similarity to that of II Peter
Both warn of false teachers; Peter said they were to come (II Pet. 2:1) and Jude said they “have crept in unnoticed” (v. 4)
It is likely that Jude wrote this after II Peter, but prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, dating it at around 68 AD

9. Knowing God’s Word
Jude originally writes “concerning our common salvation” (v. 3)
However, that purpose changed due to ungodly men who were leading Christians away from God (v. 4)
So Jude exhorts them to “contend earnestly for the faith” (v. 3)

10. Knowing God’s Word
Key Verses in Jude:
3-4
17-19
24-25

11. Knowing God’s Word Outline of Jude: Greeting (1-2)
Purpose of the Epistle (3-4)
God’s Judgments in Times Past (5-7)
Character & Doom of False Teachers (8-19)
Exhortations to Build Their Faith (20-23)
Conclusion (24-25)