Bereansearching Bible Studies

Introduction

The Book of Jude is only one chapter, consisting of 25 verses. The theme of the book seems to be “Preservation of the Saints in Jesus Christ“, as it is book-ended by the first and the last two verses, which highlight the Salvation Work of Our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ; imputed to those who are Sanctified by the Will of God, The Father. But we also see in verse 20 “building up” of the Saints in the “most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” so that The Triune God shines clearly through this epistle of Jude.

The Book of Jude is also somewhat unique in that, while it correlates very well with the writings of the Apostles in the New Testament, it makes only general reference to Old Testament people and events (in negative light for the purpose of admonishment teaching and warning to all). The Book of Jude lacks the specific quotations from the Old Testament, which are profuse in the other New Testament epistles, most notably in Hebrews. However, in the one instance that does quote the Old Testament Patriarch, Enoch (“the seventh from Adam“), the prophesy that Jude attributes to Enoch is not previously recorded in the Bible. However, Jude’s phraseology of the quote, “the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all…,” is nonetheless entirely consistent with what we find in the last words of Moses before his death in Deuteronomy 33:2&3 as well as in Zechariah 14:4&5.

The book of Jude can also be viewed as an important warning to the Saints against apostasy and ungodly unbelief creeping “unawares” into the church, referring back to Old Testament examples and the judgments that came as a result (1 Corinthians 10:11*), as well as a “pep talk” to exhort them to remain faithful and to keep themselves “in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

• “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.“

Background on Jude: The Brother of James, But There Are Three Men Named “James”

It is clear from the opening verse that the Book of Jude was written by a man named Jude who is also the “brother of James“. “James” is an Anglicised version of the original Greek name, Ἰάκωβος (iakōbos)^G2385, which is a Greek version of the Hebrew name, Jacob. (Remembering Romans 9:13, “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.“) James is also the name of the human scribe of the book of James. It is not clear which of the three men having the name “James”, who are mentioned in the New Testament, is the one who is also the scribe of the book of James and/or the brother of the Jude who was the scribe of the book of Jude.

1. We can see from Matthew 10:2-4, that the first named James is the Apostle James, the son of Zebedee, and brother of the Apostle John, “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.” This is evidently the same James who was later killed by order of King Herod as we read in Act 12:2, “And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.” It is difficult to view this James as being the scribe of the book of James given his early, untimely death.
2. The second named James from Matthew 10:2-4 could be the same Jude (Judas) who is recorded in Acts 1:13, “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James [the] son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas (Jude) [the brother] of James.” Although there are two “James” also listed in Acts 1:13, the Jude (Judas) who has generally been assumed to be the author of the book of Jude (Judas) is the brother of the second James, and therefore also one of the sons of a man named Alphaeus. And given what we read in both Matthew 10:3, “Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;” and Mark 2:14 (and Matthew 9:9), “And as he (Jesus) passed by, he saw Levi the [son] of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me . And he arose and followed him.” Given that there is no Apostle named “Levi” and Matthew was the only “publican” (tax collector) listed among the Apostles, we must assume that Matthew was alternatively called “Levi” (likely being from the tribe of Levi), and, significantly, also the son of Alphaeus, and hence Matthew also a brother of James and Jude, all three being sons of Alphaeus.
3. There is evidently also a third James (who also had a brother named Juda/Judas/Jude), who was also a younger half-brother of the Lord Jesus Christ, with Mary being his mother and Joseph being his father. That James’ brother Jude would therefore have also been raised as a brother to Jesus Christ with him (along with two other named brothers, Joses and Simon, and at least two unnamed sisters), as we read in Mark 6:3, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda (Jude), and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” This third James is evidently also the one who is referred to as “James the less” in Mark 15:40, “¶There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;” Other verses which correlate with the above are Matthew 13:55, “Is not this (Jesus) the carpenter’s (Joseph’s) son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this [man] all these things?” and Galatians 1:18&19, “¶Then after three years I (the Apostle Paul) went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.“

Some commentators have also conjectured that it is this third James’ brother “Judas/Jude” who is one-in-the-same as the Jude who is the scribe of the book of Jude. The reasoning being that this Jude, being raised as a younger brother of Jesus by Joseph and Mary, could speak much more authoritatively of Jesus, because this Jude would be the one who knew Jesus intimately in an earthly sense. It is therefore thought that, post-conversion, Jude would have also recalled the teachings of his older (half) brother, Jesus, during adolescence, which Jude might have easily dismissed while in an unconverted state. Assuming that the human author of the Book of Jude was indeed the “half-brother of Jesus”, once Jude’s spiritual eyes and ears were opened, and his heart received the Word (see Ephesians 1:18), Jude would have been able to see Jesus Christ as his Lord God and Savior…and no longer as just an earthly elder brother. However, because scriptural confirmation is lacking in the Bible, we must conclude that such conjecture remains only human derived thinking.

It is nonetheless notable that Jesus is recorded in all four of the Gospels as addressing the difficulty that kinship familiarity can present, as we read in Mark 6:4, “But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house (see also Matthew 13:57, Luke 4:24, and John 4:44).

In the end, it does not matter one way or the other, as the Book of Jude has been included by God in the Holy Scriptures, which we now call “the Bible”, and that God Is The Author Who Is speaking to us via Jude.

NOTE to the Reader: We must also be aware that there are an unusual number of parallels between what we find in this short, one chapter, book of Jude, with what we find in Peter’s second epistle, as well as within a number of other epistles penned by both Paul and James. When viewed from our modern day perspective, the verses are so similar in both their phraseology, and in their order of presentation, that the book of Jude appears to be, at least to some degree, “plagiaristic” (and even declared so by some critics). Rather, the book of Jude must be viewed as only serving to corroborate the other texts, and thereby serving as another testimony and witness of the truth of the Holy Spirit inspired Biblical scripture that has been accredited to the other scribes.

Jude 1, “¶Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, [and] called:”

Jude makes clear in this introduction that:

1. He is “the servant of Jesus Christ” and “the brother of James” (which is the primary basis upon which Jude is considered by many to be an Apostle and half brother of the Lord Jesus Christ).
2. This epistle is written for the saints, as it reads “to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ“. But the “called” are also mentioned. The called are all those who come under the hearing of the Word, whether or not they become saints, as we read in Matthew 22:14, “For many are called, but few [are] chosen.”

Notably, at no time did Jude, or his brother James (assumed to also mean the author of the Book of James and the same James who spoke at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:13-21), openly claim to have a familial relationship with Jesus in either of their epistles. Assuming that they were both in fact, half-brothers of Jesus, and also Apostles, then human “pride” could have had them mention this fact, whereas not mentioning that fact would more likely reflect a “humble” reverence and a spiritually led understanding of Jesus’ Divinity that directed them to only describe themselves as His “servants“. And, given the carnal minds would use that familial relationship to elevate the status of both Jude and James (as is the case by some of Mary), it was deliberately left out by God. In any case, the non-mention of such a familial connection makes it all the more difficult to know for certain if their familial relationship with Jesus was reality or not, and thus it would seem to remain inconclusive.

We must also consider that, regardless of their having a familial relationship or not, there were no special dispensations for any of Jesus’ half siblings, or even for their mother, Mary. Living in the household with the Son of God cannot have been their basis for Salvation. They still would have had to be “saved by Grace through Faith” just like everyone else who wants to know, love, and serve God. Ephesians 2:8&9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.“

We should also note here an important, and sometimes ignored, principle of Bible study…and that is that we cannot insist upon an idea of which the Bible is silent. In this case, we must simply be content with, and rest upon, the certainly that the book of Jude (and also the Book of James) is ultimately the product of the hand of God, as directed by His Holy Spirit.

“to them that are sanctified“

To be “sanctified” is to be “set apart“. The first time the word is found in the Bible we see it in Genesis 2:3, “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.“

We read of the use of the word sanctify/sanctification in 1 Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified (ἁγιάζω (hagiazō))^G37, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” and in 2 Thessalonians 2:13&14, “¶But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.“

The word translated in the original Greek as “Sanctified” is ἁγιάζω (hagiazō)^G37 which have been translated as both “sanctified” and “hallowed”. In 1 Corinthians 7:14, we read, ” For the unbelieving husband is sanctified ἁγιάζω (hagiazō)^G37 by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified ἁγιάζω (hagiazō)^G37 by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy (ἅγιος (agios))^G40.” Hence, God is using the words “sanctified” and “holy” interchangeably.

Ephesians 1:3-5, “¶Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,“

With respect to people, God takes that which is common. and by Divine Will and Decree, sets them apart and makes them holy for His Glory and His Honor.

“preserved in Jesus Christ“

The believers are chosen in Jesus Christ, redeemed by Him, entrusted to Him, and sanctified and made Holy in Him.

“and called“

Regarding the “called”, we also read in Romans 1:7, “¶To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (see also 1 Corinthians 1:2).

Moreover, God makes it clear that the believers are referred to as “THE called“, as we read in Romans 8:28, “¶And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.” The Greek word translated as “called” is “κλητός (klētos ^G2822” (derived from the Greek word καλέω (kaleō)^G2564 “to call”), which means to be invited, but more specifically “Divinely selected and appointed”. Notably, the Greek word for “church” is “ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia)^G1577, which is a composite of the Greek word ἐκ (ek)^G1537 meaning “out”, or “out of” with the Greek word κλῆσις (klēsis)καλέω^G2821, which is a shorter form of (kaleō)^G2564. Hence, we can see that “the church” consists of those who are “the called out.”

Jude 2, “¶Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.”

It has been said that “Grace” is God giving us what we do not deserve, while “Mercy” is God not giving us what we do deserve. Mercy is a special attribute of God provided to all believers through the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We need eternal redeeming mercy, daily mercy, and future mercy.

The words “Peace, and love, be multiplied” are quite similar to what we read in both the epistles of the Apostle Peter. 1 Peter 1:2, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” and 2 Peter 1:2, “¶Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,“

We all need the “Peace” of God that surpasses all understanding as we read in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.“

Jude 3, “¶Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.“

Jude was compelled to encourage and strengthen the faith of the saints who would receive this letter and to persevere in contending for the faith. The “common salvation” pertains to the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ and all things that pertain to salvation. The Covenant of Grace and the blessings and promises are shared commonly among all believers.

We should also take a closer look at the word “common” as found here in Jude 3. It is translated from the original Greek word, κοινός (koinos)^G2839, which can simply mean broadly shared, but is more often used in the Bible in a derogatory way such that it can be viewed as referring to that which is (ceremonially) profane:—defiled, unclean, unholy. We must remember that Salvation is meant for sinners, not the righteous, as we read in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, “¶For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.“

Again Jude’s epistle regarding the “common salvation” is similar in wording to what was written by the Apostle Paul in Titus 1:4, “¶To Titus, [mine] own son after the common (κοινός (koinos))^G2839 faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.” We see this to some degree also in Romans 1:11&12, “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” In this case it meaning a shared faith.

“Earnestly Contend for the faith” is reminiscent of what the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:27, “¶Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

“Contending for the faith” is the key point that Jude evidently intended to make, or was reminded to make, with respect to the “common salvation” as it appears in this epistle. Moreover the words “earnestly contend” are from the Greek word ἐπαγωνίζομαι (epagōnizomai)^G1864, which is only used this one time in the entire Bible. It seems to be another admonition that could be likened to “stand fast” for the faith, and to not be swayed by false doctrines and heresies being preached by false teachers, as we find being discussed in Jude 4.

Cross references with regard to “standing fast” (hence “earnestly contending”) can be found in Philippians 1:27, “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” and 2 Thessalonians 2:15, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”

The word for “stand fast” is from the Greek στήκω (stēkō)^G4739, which means to “persist”, to “persevere” as we see in 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Watch ye, stand fast (στήκω (stēkō)^G4739 in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” and Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast ^G4739 therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

The Wickedness of False Teachers 

Jude 4, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.“

The introductory warning against heresy and ungodliness is similar again to what Paul wrote in Galatians 2:4, “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:” This is akin to the wolves in sheep’s clothing in Jesus’ warning that we read on in Matthew 7:15, “¶Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Peter also warned about the false prophets that would rise up in 2 Peter chapter 2.

Those who are “ordained to this condemnation” are like those in Romans 9:22, “¶[What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:“

“Denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” is akin to Titus 1:16, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.“

And does not this remind you of the condemnations against ungodliness that we find in Romans 1, which specifically address unbelief and its consequences? Beginning with Romans 1:18&19, “¶For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them.“, and ending with Romans 1:32, “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.“

Lessons and Warnings from History (Dying in the Wilderness, Sodom and Gomorrah)

Jude 5, “¶I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.”

This is reminiscent of what we read in Hebrews (and 1 Samuel 12:6-8). Also in 1 Corinthians 10:9-11, “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.“

Referring back to what happened to the unbelievers of the people who came out of Egypt by Moses, Numbers 14:29&30, declares to them, “Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, [concerning] which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.”

Also Psalm 106:26, “Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:“

Significantly, Jude credits the Lord Jesus Christ with having saved His people out of Egypt, although, at the time of the Exodus, Jesus had not yet been revealed.

The verses that we find in Jude are very reminiscent of what we find in 2 Peter 2:4-14:

“¶For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned [them] with an overthrow, making [the man] ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous [are they], selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. ¶But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:“

Jude 6, “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”

We can see a close similarity with 2 Peter 2:4&5, “¶For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;”

There are two ways to interpret this…1) We know that in Revelation 12:3&4, we are told of how when the devil was cast out of Heaven that he took a “third part of the stars of heaven” with him, “¶And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” and 2) there are also angels, “messengers”, who fall away and become apostate as we read in 1 John 2:18, “¶Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.“

It should also be noted that the word “reserved in everlasting chains” is the Greek word τηρέω (tēreō) ^G5083, which has also been translated in the following manner: keep (57x), reserve (8x), observe (4x), watch (2x), preserve (2x), keeper (1x), hold fast (1x). Its use here makes it clear that God did the keeping and watching to make sure the devil is bound until the time of the end when the devil will be loosed by God for a little season according to Revelation 20:3.

Jude 7, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.“

The wording is very reminiscent of 2 Peter 2:6, “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned [them] with an overthrow, making [them] an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;“

Moreover it is also entirely consistent with Revelation 20:10, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.“

We are also told this regarding Esau (whom God hated from Romans 9:13 referring back to Malachi 1:2&3) in Hebrews 12:16, “Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.“

Jude 8, “¶Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.“

The wording again is very reminiscent of 2 Peter 2:10, “But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous [are they], self willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.“

In Romans 1:24 we read, “¶Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:“…see Romans 1:25-32.

To “despise government” and to “speak evil of dignities” is “ungodly” as is explained in Exodus 22:28, “¶Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.” and Romans 13:1-5, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.   For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:    For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.   Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.”

We can see similar language in Exodus 22:28, “¶Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.” And the Apostle Paul, after being accused of reviling against the High Priest (Ananias) for having called the High Priest a “whited wall”, recounted that verse in Acts 23:5, “¶Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.” Similarly in Ecclesiastes 10:20, we read, “Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.“

For more information on this topic, please see “A Christian Credo” and “The Hallmarks of a True Christian“

Jude 9, “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.“

Who is Michael the Archangel?

We can get some initial insight on this question when we look at Daniel 10:13, “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Michael the archangel can be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, because Jesus is the “Chief Messenger” (which the meaning of “archangel”).

“The Lord Rebuke Thee“

We also can find some similar wording in Zechariah 3:1&2, both with regard to another reference to Jesus, “Joshua the High Priest”, but also another confrontation to Jesus by the devil and the denunciation of the devil with the words, “The Lord rebuke thee”: “¶And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.” And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” The very name Joshua in Hebrew is the same as Jesus in the Greek, which means “Savior”. We know that Jesus is Both the Savior and The Eternal High Priest after the order of Melchizedek from the Book of Hebrews, particularly Hebrews Chapter 7.

The “railing accusation” is a horrific charge against someone for sin, as we read in 2 Peter 2:11, “Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

Disputing about Body of Moses?

There is myriad discussion in the extant literature on the meaning behind this verse and the contention over Moses’ body. It is this teacher’s understanding that the devil contended with Jesus over the body of Moses for the following reason:

We know that Moses indeed did die, and also that God buried Moses’ body. The Bible states it two times to underscore the fact. In Deuteronomy 34:5-8 we read, “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.  And he (God) buried him in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knowest his sepulchre unto this day.  And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.  And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning were ended.” 

However, we also know that Moses also appeared bodily on the Mount of Transfiguration with Elijah (Elijah never died, because he was translated).  Evidently God had resurrected Moses’ dead body prior to Jesus’s death, and God resurrected Moses in order for him to appear before Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration to represent “the Law”, along with Elijah who represented “the Prophets”, together both witnessing and testifying to Christ’s forthcoming crucifixion.

Jude 10, “But these speak evil of those things which they know not:but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.”

Again, there is very, very, close correlation in the phraseology with what we read in 2 Peter 2:12, ¶But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;”

More Lessons and Warnings from History (Cain, Balaam, Core (Korah))

Jude 11, “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.”

Three wicked, evil, and sinfully rebellious acts are mention here which ultimately ended in the destruction by God of those involved:

1. Cain killed Abel out of envy and hatred…Cain was cursed by God (Genesis 4:11)
2. The enlistment of Balaam by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse God’s people via bribery…Balaam instead blessed National Israel and prophesied as God directed, but he was later killed by the children of Israel under Joshua’s authority. (Joshua 13:22)
3. The rebellion of Korah against Moses’ authority…Korah (with Dathan and Abram) were swallowed up by the earth and the 250 men who followed him were destroyed by a “fire from the LORD“. (Numbers 16:32-35)

1. Regarding Cain, we know, from Genesis 4:1-7, that because God accepted the offering of Abel (a lamb), and not Cain’s offering (fruits of the ground), that Cain was angry, and so then in Genesis 4:8, “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.“

Hebrews 11:4, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

2. Regarding the greediness attributed to Balaam when he was repeatedly enticed with bribes:

2 Peter 2:15, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Taking a bribe is a form of corruption that perverts justice and is driven by greed. God’s Law, given to Moses for the people of Israel, forbade the taking of a bribe, Exodus 23:8, “And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.” and Deuteronomy 16:19, “Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.” It is a blinding influence upon wisdom and discernment and God hates it. Judas was bribed with thirty pieces of silver.

We also read in Proverbs 29:4, “The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.”

3. Regarding Korah (Core), the story of the rebellion of Korah is recorded in Numbers 16. The rebellion of Korah demonstrates the grim consequences of seeking to usurp God’s Authority and of those whom He has chosen to be leaders of His people, which in this case was Moses and Aaron.

Korah was the oldest son of Izhar, who was the son of Kothath of the tribe of Levi, and hence of the same tribe as Moses and Aaron. Korah led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, accusing them of exalting themselves above the congregation of the Lord (Numbers 16:1-3). Korah gathered 250 other men (“princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:“) to challenge Moses’ authority as well: “Ye [take] too much upon you, seeing all the congregation [are] holy, every one of them, and the LORD [is] among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?” And then, after the Korah (along with Dathan and Abiram) offered up incense without authority, we read in Numbers 16:32-35, “And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that [appertained] unto Korah, and all [their] goods. They, and all that [appertained] to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that [were] round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up [also]. ¶And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.” (see also Numbers 26:9&10).

Jude 12, “¶These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;“

2 Peter 2:13, “And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;“

2 Peter 2:17, “¶These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.“

Jude 13, “Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”

Isaiah 57:20&21, “But the wicked [are] like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. [There is] no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.“

Philippians 3:18, “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that [they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)“

Note that “wandering stars” is “Planet Stars” from the Greek, with the point being that they are not fixed, or rooted in Christ, and therefore literally wander about aimlessly.

2 Peter 2:17, “¶These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

Finally, we should see how all of the above verses segue into one cohesive whole of admonitions and warnings from Old Testament history of God’s condemnation and punishment for envy, hatred, self-willed rebellion, corruption, bribery, lasciviousness, ungodliness and complete rejection of God and His Word, Who Is Jesus Christ the Lord. For a wrap-up, it is worthwhile to review Romans 1:18-32,

“¶For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. ¶ Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. ¶For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. ¶And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.“

Jude 14, “¶And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,”

This verse (together with Jude 15) forms somewhat of a rarity in the Bible, because, from a purely academic perspective, it could give someone the misimpression of its having been drawn from an uninspired “Apocryphal” book called Enoch (“Enoch”, Chapter 1, verse 9, as can be found on the Internet). However, the existence of this redundancy does not in any way add authority to that Apocryphal book, nor does it in any way diminish the validity and trustworthiness of the book of Jude.

Because the Bible is God’s careful Workmanship by the Inspiration of His Holy Spirt, all of the words that are included within the Bible as we know it are true and trustworthy, and they are exactly what God wants to be within His Holy Word. God is in complete control of His Word as is found only in the Bible. There are a few such cases where God includes references to common sayings that were evidently in use during the time that the Bible was written, such as we find in Acts 17:28, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” and in Paul’s epistle to Titus in Titus 1:12, “One of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians [are] alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.” God wanted these external references to be included within the Bible to serve His purposes.

Other Books Mentioned, but Not Found, in the Bible: It should also be noted that there are references in the Bible to other books that are not included within the Bible. In Joshua 10:13, we read of a reference to a book called “Jasher“, which in the original Hebrew in יָשָׁר (yāšār)^H3477, which means “Correct” and “Upright”: “And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. [Is] not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.” It is mentioned a second time in 2 2 Samuel 1:17&18, “¶And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: (Also he (David) bade them teach the children of Judah [the use of]the bow: behold, [it is] written in the book of Jasher.)” These verses form a prelude to a Lament of the Bow, a mournful funeral song which David composed at the time of the death of Saul and Jonathan. And then we read of other Hebrew works that are mentioned in the Bible that God directed the scribes to include. Some of these are Book of the Wars of the Lord as we read in Numbers 21:14, “Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon,” and in 1 Chronicles 29:29, we read of two other books that are not found in the Bible: “Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they [are] written in the book of Samuel the seer (this is actually referring to the book of Samuel based on what we read in 1 Samuel 9:19, 1 Chronicles 9:22, and 1 Chronicles 26:28) and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,”. We also read in 2 Chronicles 9:29, “Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, [are] they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?” and similarly 2 Chronicles 12:15 of these otherwise unknown books that are not found in the Bible, “the book (words) of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer“… “¶Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And [there were] wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.”   Additionally, we should also consider these other points in John 20:30&31 and John 21:25 that tell us that so much more could be written concerning the Life and Work of Jesus.

Who is Enoch?

We first read of Enoch in Genesis chapter 5 as being the sixth in line after Adam (or “seventh” in the genealogical line beginning with Adam) in the Bible in Genesis 5:18-21, “¶And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. ¶And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:” and then further in Genesis 5:22-24, “And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him.” (see also 1 Chronicles 1:1-3)

We also know the following when we compile all that the Bible has to say about Enoch:

1. The name “Enoch” (חֲנוֹךְ (ḥănôḵ))^H2585 means “Dedicated” in Hebrew (also shown as “Henoch” in 1 Chronicles 1:3)
2. Enoch was a great man of faith Hebrews 11:5, “¶By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.“
3. Enoch was the “seventh from Adam” and begat Methuselah and sons and daughter (the specification “seventh from Adam” is to distinguish this Enoch from another Enoch, third from Adam who was the eldest son of Cain (the Cain who killed Abel). Luke 3:37 confirms this earthly genealogy from whom Jesus, via Mary, descended, “Which was [the son] of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was [the son] of Maleleel, which was [the son] of Cainan,“
4. “Enoch ‘walked‘ with God” (Genesis 5:22)
5. Enoch had this testimony, “that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5)
6. Enoch lived 365 years (“Year of the Lord”?) (Genesis 5:21&22)
7. Enoch prophesied of the coming of Jesus with His saints on Judgment Day to levy Judgment to the ungodly (Jude 14)
8. Enoch did not die, because he was “translated”(“God took him” Hebrews 11:5) and he went directly to Heaven and, therefore, Enoch was one of the only two men in the Bible recorded as having received that blessing (Elijah being the only other man).

The 365 years of Enoch’s life reminds us that there are 365 days in a year. God often refers to the length of this temporal realm as a “year”. Isaiah 61:2, “To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;” However, that a temporal “year” can be likened to the span of time allotted to this creation from the beginning until Judgment Day is provided in the Book of Esther, which Reveals God’s Magnificent Salvation Plan Through Jesus Christ…From Beginning to End (and Forever). We see this in Esther 3:7, where we read the following “In the first month, that [is] , the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, [to] the twelfth [month], that [is], the month Adar.” Judgment Day for the Jews (representing the true believers), the people of Mordecai (who is a “Type” for Jesus), was determined in the beginning of the year to be carried out at the end of the year. However, by God’s mercy and Divine intervention, the Jews (who represent all the believers throughout time) were saved.

Enoch “pleased God” and “walked with God“, and we know that it is faith that pleases God: and we know that Jesus is the origin of anyone’s faith: Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith;…” 

We ought to also take a moment to consider what it means to be “took“/ “translated“. To be translated means to not taste death, but rather be changed and taken up into Heaven. Is not that exactly what we read in:

1 Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 

1 Thessalonians 4:15, “¶For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (go before) them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.“

So then, we could say that Enoch can be likened to, or a metaphor/type for all believers (those have the faith of Jesus), but particularly those who are still alive at the end of time at the coming of Jesus on the clouds of Glory, and who will also not taste death, but be translated in like manner.

But what about the ten thousands of Jesus’ saints?

The second part of the verse is almost verbatim what we find in the last words of Moses before his death in Deuteronomy 33:2&3, “And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand [went] a fiery law for them.  Yea, he loved the people; all his saints [are] in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; [every one] shall receive of thy words.”

Remembering also that just previously in Judges 4:10, we read how Barak “called” Zebulun and Naphtali (the believers from out of the Gentile nations) and he “went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went with him.”  Barak is a clear and unequivocal “Type” of the LORD Jesus Christ!

NOTE: The number “Ten Thousand” is used by God in the Bible to spiritually represent ALL of the believers throughout ALL time, because it can be broken down as follows: 10X10X10X10 (or ten to the fourth power). In the Bible, the number ten spiritually represents “completeness” or “totality”, while the number four spiritually represents “universality”.

For more on Barak, and his coming down from Mount Tabor to the valley of Megiddo with ten thousand men at his feet, together with the implications for coming Judgment Day, please see “The Battle of Armageddon Prefigured“.

And note the correlation with what we read in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.“

Remember also what we find in the clearly Messianic verses of Zechariah 14:4&5, where the verses end by declaring that on Judgment Day, Jesus will come with all of His saints with Him, “and the LORD my God shall come, [and] all the saints with thee.” Please also see this post: The Believers Will Come with Jesus on Judgment Day

If we turn to Psalm 149:5-9, we read that, “Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.[Let] the high [praises] of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance נָקָם (nāqām)^H5359 upon the heathen, [and] punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.” 

God graciously grants this participation in the Judgment, on Judgment Day, as an “honor” to His Saints. As frail human beings, and for all believers who are taught by Jesus to love their enemies and their neighbor as themselves, it is difficult for us to fathom, and disturbingly hard to imagine and look forward to executing eternal judgment on anyone. However, the saints will become like Jesus in their new glorified bodies at the resurrection, and then the saints, “the sons of God”, will see things perfectly like Jesus does now. We know this because of what we find in 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.“

We must remember that Jesus came the first time as the “Suffering Servant” and the “Lamb of God” and as we read in Isaiah 53:7, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” and 1 Peter 2:23, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:” However, we also know that Jesus is coming back a second and final time as the ultimate Judge of all the world. Acts 17:31, “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead.” and Revelation 19:11, “¶And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.“

Additional corroboration can be found in these prophetic verses, in 1 Corinthians 6:2&3, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?“

Please also see again 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ¶For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (not go before) them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.“

1 Corinthians 15:51, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” (The Apostle Paul was referring back to Isaiah 25:8)

Jude 15, “To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

The verse begins with the words “To execute judgment upon all“. When Jesus comes with all His Saints from Heaven it will be Judgment Day for “all” the ungodly…the unsaved of the world who remain in rebellion to God and His Word, Who Is Jesus.

Notice the re-emphasis of the condemnation of the “ungodly” (mentioned four times in this one verse and previously in Jude 4 and again in Jude 1:18 ), which hearkens back to the references earlier in verses 5-7 that described the destruction of the ungodly in Noah’s flood and later in Sodom and Gomorrah.

We also see a three-time reference to the “ungodly” in 2 Peter 2:5, “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned [them] with an overthrow, making [them] an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.“

Malachi 4:1, “¶For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.“

Hard [speeches] Against God

1 Samuel 2:3, “Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let [not] arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.“

Psalm 31:18, “Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.“

Jude 16, “¶These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling (ὑπέρογκος (hyperogkos))^G5246 [words], having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.“

 1 Corinthians 10:6, “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”  (God’s warnings to avoid the errors of National Israel are found in 1 Corinthians 10:1-13).

2 Peter 3:3, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,“

2 Peter 2:18, “¶For when they speak great swelling (ὑπέρογκος (hyperogkos))^G5246, [words] of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, [through much] wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.” (“swelling” means “extravagant”)

Proverbs 28:21, “To have respect of persons [is] not good: for for a piece of bread [that] man will transgress.“

Keep Yourselves in the Love of God

Jude 17, “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;“

2 Peter 3:2, “That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:”

Jude 18, “How that they told you there should be mockers, ^G1703 in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.“

2 Peter 3:3, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, ^G1703 walking after their own lusts,“

2 Peter 2:1, “¶But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.“

Jude 19, “These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”

Proverbs 18:1, “¶Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh [and] intermeddleth with all wisdom.“

James 3:15, “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish.”

Carnal man is of the devil, and not of God The Holy Spirit. Carnal (earthly) wisdom is of the devil, while true wisdom is from on High, Heavenly, and is only given by God via His Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost).

Jude 20, “¶But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,”

Colossians 2:7, “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Romans 8:26, “¶Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.“

Jude 21, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.“

Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;“

Jude 22, “¶And of some have compassion, making a difference:“

We should love our neighbor as ourselves and desire eternal salvation for them above all else.

_______

Jude 23, “And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

“Plucked out of the Burning“

1) The first part of the verse is very reminiscent of Amos 4:11, “I have overthrown [some] of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

Note the correspondence to Isaiah 1:9, “Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, [and] we should have been like unto Gomorrah.“

Without Spot

2) The second part (as the referenced verses below attest) relates to the garment being spotted by the flesh is another way of saying polluted by man’s works as a means of salvation rather than by grace alone. A believer is clothed with the perfectly clean robe of Christ’s righteousness, which is by Grace alone and not of works as we read in Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.“

Zechariah 3:4, “¶And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. ¶And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.“

Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.“

The word for “spotted” in the original Greek is (σπιλόω (spiloō))^G4695, which is found only twice in the Bible, the other being in James 3:6, “And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth (σπιλόω (spiloō))^G4695 the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.“

It is also interesting that the word “unspotted” in the original Greek is ἄσπιλος (aspilos)^G784, the antonym of (σπιλόω (spiloō))^G4695, which is found four times in the New Testatment. These are:

 1 Timothy 6:14, “That thou keep [this] commandment without spot (ἄσπιλος (aspilos)) ^G784, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

James 1:27, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted (ἄσπιλος (aspilos)) ^G784 from the world.” (For more on “Fatherless and Widows”, please see this post.)

1 Peter 1:19, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (ἄσπιλος (aspilos)) ^G784: Note that the words “without blemish” is from the original Greek word, ἄμωμος (amōmos) ^G299 that is translated as spot in Hebrews 9:14. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, whothrough the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot (ἄμωμος (amōmos))^G299 to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

2 Peter 3:14, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot (ἄσπιλος (aspilos)) ^G784, and blameless.”

Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” To be without spot or blemish is to be “perfect”, which is impossible with man, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26, “But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Praise God!

We should also consider what is said in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ¶Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.“`

We also read in Ephesians 5:25-27, “¶Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot (σπίλος (spilos))^G4696, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” and in 2 Peter 2:13, “And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots (σπίλος (spilos)) ^G4696 [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;” And let us not forget Jude 12, “These are spots (σπιλάς (spilas)) ^G4694 in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;” Note that in all these cases referring to the word “spot/defile” that σπιλάς (spilas) ^G4694 has the same root word as σπιλόω (spiloō)^G4695 and σπίλος (spilos)^G4696.

Jude 24, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”

Ephesians 3:20, “¶Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,“

Colossians 1:22, “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:“

Jude 25, “To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.“

Romans 16:27, “To God only wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christ for ever.Amen.“

Conclusion

The book of Jude, having only one chapter, offers the believer several admonitions.

1. Continue in the true faith
2. Beware of false brethren proffering heresies leading to apostasy, who are carnal and lack the Spirit of God
3. God Will Avenge Himself upon them on Judgment Day, accompanied by His Saints
4. Serve God by sharing the Gospel and praying to save others
5. Continually look unto Jesus for Mercy, The Only Savior, to Whom be All Glory and Honor Now and Forever. (This is reminiscent of what is taught by Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer in the last verse of Matthew 6:13, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.“)

The Plan for Preservation of the Saints is outlined in verses 17-23:
A. Remember the Word of God (with Its warnings against Apostasy) Jude 17-19
B. Build up on your faith Jude 20
C. Pray in the Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit Jude 20
D. Keep in the Love of God Jude 21
E. Look for Mercy unto Eternal Life Jude 21
F. Have Compassion on Some Jude 22
G. Save Some with Fear Jude 23
F. Hate the Spotted Garment Jude 23

The essence of the chapter is to remain preserved in Jesus Christ, which will be accomplished according to His Perfect Will and Promise. The message is that God knows how to preserve His Own Elect as He has promised, and that He knows how to Judge wicked mankind as He has said come Judgment Day. A Christian’s preservation is based entirely on the Knowledge, Ability, and Will of God, no matter how wicked the human environment in which the believer is found.

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