Click the Banner back to Index
Click the Banner back to Index
|
BOOK OF JUDE
(Brief Study on the New Testament Books)
(MBC - Wednesday PM, October 21, 2026 Let us have a brief study on one of the considered four little books which God in His perfect wisdom has decided to include in our Bible, the book of Jude. I – WHO IS THE WRITER OF THE BOOK OF JUDE 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:” The writer of the book of Jude was the brother of James. So, James here is the writer of book of James (James 1:1 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”) The James who wrote the book of James was the half-brother of Jesus, the son of Mary and Joseph Mark 6:3 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” Galatians 1:19 “But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.”
Was Jude sometimes spelled “Juda” or “Judas”? ________ (Mark 6:3) Mark 6:3 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” Was Jude also the half-brother of Jesus like James? ________ (Mark 6:3) Mark 6:3 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” So, if James the half-brother of Jesus, and James the brother of Jude or Jude, therefore it is clear that Jude was also the half-brother of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is more likely that the author of Jude is Jesus’ brother, not the apostle, since he identifies himself as the brother of James. Though Jude was skeptical of Jesus during Jesus’ lifetime (John 7:3–5 “His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. 4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. 5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.”), Jude likely converted after the resurrection. While little is known about Jude as a person, it’s evident he held esteem in the early church, was married, and engaged in missionary trips (1 Corinthians 9:5 “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?”).
II – WHY THE BOOK OF JUDE WAS WRITTEN Why Jude wrote this book of Jude? __________ (Jude3) 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 planned to write a letter regarding their "common salvation", but God had also something else in mind to led James realized to write and compelled to urge believers to contend earnestly (the body of truth which all Christians believe) for the faith because false teachers had secretly slipped into the church. James learned that ungodly individuals had crept into the fellowship. These false teachers twisted God’s grace into a license for moral impurity and sexual sin while rejecting the Lordship of Jesus Christ. That is why James write a sharp, urgent warning believers to stand firm, protect apostolic truth, and guard the faith once for all-delivered to God’s people. Notice the word “contend” in verse 3 means that believers are to fight for the faith! To "contend" (Greek epagonizomai) means to strive with extreme intensity, like an athlete competing in a physical match or as a soldier fighting in a battle. As Christian soldiers we must fight for the truth of God. Jude calls Christians to protect the unchanging message of Jesus Christ against false teachings and distortion.
What is false Teaching? It is like when the doctor gives the wrong medicine or prescription to the people who are very sick. Just as a wrong medicine can be deadly as poison harm the physical condition of a sick person, likewise false teaching can cause harm to the soul of men, can distorts biblical truth and misleads people away from a genuine relationship with God. The one thing we need more than anything else is the truth of God, which is part of Jesus’ High Priestly prayer for His disciples before His arrest, Jesus prayed to the Father, John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” It is really sad thing that error is being taught and often disguised as the truth in many churches today. False erroneous teaching is like a poison can bring damage or harm to many believers and churches. The problem of false teaching describes in (II Timothy 4:2-4 “Preach the word; (the truth) be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”). The text warns that people will eventually reject sound doctrine, gathering teachers who satisfy their personal desires rather than divine truth, ultimately wandering off into myths.
III – WHAT SOME VERSES IN THE BOOK OF JUDE THAT DESCRIBE FALSE TEACHER The book of Judes describes the false teachers and the awful judgment that will come upon them. Verses on False Teachers and Their Judgment
condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Warns of ungodly men who have slipped into the church unnoticed, turning God's grace into a license for immorality and denying Jesus Christ, noting they were marked out long ago for condemnation.
the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 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. 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.” Illustrates their coming judgment by citing past examples: the destruction of unbelieving Israelites, the imprisonment of rebellious angels in eternal darkness, and the fiery destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.” Proclaims a woe against them for following the selfish way of Cain, the greed of Balaam, and the fatal rebellion of Korah.
clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.” Describes them as hidden reefs at love feasts, waterless clouds, dead uprooted trees, wild waves foaming up their own shame, and wandering stars reserved for eternal black darkness.
ten thousands of his saints, 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.” Quotes the prophecy of Enoch, declaring that the Lord is coming with thousands of His holy angels to execute judgment on all the ungodly for their sinful acts and harsh words.
swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” Depicts them as grumblers, complainers, followers of evil desires, boasters, flatterers, and divisive people who lack the Spirit. Some verses in Jude which encourage believers to be strong in the faith Jude encourages believers to encourage to be and be strong in the faith, be equipped in the Word, stay in God’s love winning the lost to Christ, in spite of the realities that many of these false religious groups are expanding their ministries and their number of worshippers increasing rapidly and many people were deceived and their leaders were showing expertise in the way they declare their erroneous teachings and the building of their churches were getting bigger.
write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Urges believers to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people.
Commands believers to build themselves up in their most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep themselves in God's love, and wait anxiously for the mercy of Jesus Christ leading to eternal life.
Instructs the church to show mercy to those who doubt and to save others by snatching them from the fire.
of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Offers a closing doxology praising God, who is able to keep believers from stumbling and to present them faultless before His glorious presence with great joy.
IV – WHAT SOME SIMILARITIES OF THE BOOK OF JUDE TO II PETER 2 The book of Jude is very similar to 2 Peter chapter 2. Jude’s letter was probably written after Peter wrote his second letter. The book of Jude and 2 Peter chapter 2 share extensive thematic, structural, and verbal similarities warning against false teachers and ungodly behavior. There are lot of similarities between the book of Jude and the book of II Peter 2.
2 Peter 2:1 warns of false teachers “denying the Lord that bought them” Jude 4 speaks of ungodly men who “denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Both epistles reference angels who sinned and are kept in gloomy chains/darkness until judgment 2 Peter 2:4 “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;” 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.”
Both cite the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of eternal fire and divine judgment on the ungodly 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;” 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.”
Both describe false teachers as despising dominion, reviling angelic majesties, or rejecting authority 2 Peter 2:10 “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.” Jude 8 “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.”
Both compare corrupt teachers to Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the gain of wrongdoing 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;” 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.”
Both use the vivid imagery of "waterless springs" (or wells without water) and "mists/clouds driven by a storm" to describe empty, deceptive boasters 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 12–13 “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; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”
Both highlight that these individuals speak loud boasts of folly or empty, high-sounding words 2 Peter 2:18 “For when they speak great swelling 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.” Jude 16 “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.”
One of the remarkable among of those various similarities is about false Teschers and denying the Lord: 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.” Jude warns about ungodly men who have secretly slipped in the fellowship and deny Jesus Christ. 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.” Peter warns of false teachers who secretly teacher’s destructive heresies, even denying Jesus Christ who bought them.
Is there a need for believers to fight for the faith today? Are there many false teachers scattered around today? Is it possible for false teachers to creep into church fellowship? How should believers fight for the faith today? The early century Christians lived, fearlessly gave their life to stand and contend for the truth. Even today, there has no greater joy for God that all His beloved children are walking in Truth in their Christian life. 3 John 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth:” John and Jude wrote their short letter to help us walk in the Truth. Amen!
|