Jude 1:1-10, Dear Fellow-Christians (6/17/2010)
The book of Jude is one of the "general epistles," that is, unlike Philemon or Galatians, it
is not directed to a specific person or church. Instead, it is a letter to all Christians.
One of the crises faced by the early Church was that some believers decided that (1) all
Christians are saved, and (2) all flesh is bad. Therefore, what you do with your body really
doesn't matter. Party on!
Jude was apparently planning to write a letter on the topic of "our common salvation" when he
heard about this new teaching, which is called "libertinism." Alarmed, he decided to write
instead about the dangers of sexual immorality, gluttony, and similar sins of the flesh.
Jude did not cite his own authority. He claims only to be the brother of James (brother of
the Lord) and the servant of Jesus Christ. He cites several Old Testament examples and a
couple of extra-Biblical examples to support the position that, saved or not, your behavior
matters.
Jude 1:11-25, I’m writing to remind you of correct doctrine.
<(6/18/2010)
One reason that Jude's letter is so little read is that, except for the first couple of
verses and the last two verses, it doesn't seem to have much to say to modern Christians.
First, there are all those OT references, and who reads that old stuff, anyway? Where were
Sodom and Gomorrah and Egypt? Who were Cain and Balaam and Korah and Enoch? Wasn't Korah's
rebellion part of the Civil War? Jude was speaking primarily to Jewish Christians and
"believers," who were non-Jewish-converts who worshipped with the Jews who became Christian
converts. They all knew this stuff, and we should, too. In the absence of actually knowing
it, you should be reading a Bible with cross-references, so that you can easily look it up.
What Jude is saying is very simple, however: look what happened to all these people who went
up against God's laws. They got into big trouble! You should stop ignoring God's Law and
stay out of trouble.
Second, Jude himself is relatively unknown, and he doesn't present any new points of theology
or doctrine. In fact, in vss. 17-18 he seems to disclaim apostleship for himself, and in
1:3, he talked about the "the faith that was passed down to the saints once and for all."
He's not trying to break any new ground here, so why bother? Well, exactly because he is
trying to keep us from falling away from the true faith into lawlessness, that's why. His
bottom line is extremely important and relevant today. Keep yourselves in the love of God,
and try to snatch back anyone who falls away.
The only reasonable candidate as the author is Jude, the brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3).
More on the General Epistles
Overview of the General Epistles
James
Hebrews
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
Jude
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