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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:
² Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
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.
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.
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.
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.
⁸ Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
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.
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.
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.
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;
¹³ Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
¹⁴ And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with 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.
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.
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.
²⁰ But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
²¹ Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
²² And of some have compassion, making a difference:
²³ And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
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,
²⁵ To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
✝️ A Call to Defend the Faith in a Time of Apostasy ✝️
“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…” – Jude 1:3
The Epistle of Jude stands as a powerful and urgent exhortation to believers to hold fast to the truth in the face of deception and corruption. In just one chapter, Jude delivers a fire-filled warning against false teachers, while passionately reminding the faithful of God’s enduring power and judgment. Written by Jude, the brother of James and half-brother of Jesus, this epistle reminds us of the high cost of compromise and the unmatched reward of fidelity to God.
Though short, this book is dense with references to Old Testament history, apocryphal texts, and vivid imagery. Jude not only exposes the sin of the ungodly but inspires the saints to remain spiritually vigilant.
📜 Structure of Jude
Verses 1–2: Greeting and Blessing
Jude identifies himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and addresses those who are sanctified, preserved, and called. He opens with a beautiful blessing: mercy, peace, and love be multiplied.
Verses 3–4: The Urgent Appeal
Jude’s tone quickly shifts from a general encouragement to a grave exhortation: believers must contend for the faith. He warns of certain men who crept in unnoticed—ungodly individuals turning the grace of God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God.
🔗 Learn more about contending for the faith in our Parables of Jesus section
Verses 5–7: Historical Warnings from Judgment
Jude recalls examples of divine judgment:
- Israel’s destruction for unbelief after the Exodus
- Angels that left their first estate
- Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction due to immorality
These serve as eternal reminders that God’s judgment is sure.
Verses 8–10: The Arrogance of False Teachers
False teachers reject authority, defile the flesh, and speak evil of dignities. Even Michael the archangel, when disputing with Satan over Moses’ body, didn’t rebuke Satan directly but said, “The Lord rebuke thee.”
🔗 Explore the stories of angels and spiritual conflict in the Lost Books
Verses 11–13: Threefold Woe
Jude compares these deceivers to:
- Cain – rebellion and hatred
- Balaam – greed and deceit
- Korah – defiance against God’s appointed leaders
These are clouds without water, raging waves, and wandering stars—destined for eternal darkness.
Verses 14–16: Prophecy of Enoch
Quoting the Book of Enoch, Jude speaks of the Lord returning with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment. These men are murmurers, complainers, and self-promoters.
Verses 17–23: Exhortation to the Faithful
Jude shifts to encouragement:
- Remember the apostles’ warnings
- Build yourselves up in your holy faith
- Pray in the Holy Ghost
- Keep yourselves in God’s love
- Show compassion, but with discernment
Verses 24–25: Doxology of Praise
The epistle ends with a triumphant doxology:
“To him that is able to keep you from falling…” – a reminder that God alone preserves and empowers His people for eternal life.
💡 Key Themes
✨God’s Sovereignty Over Human Schemes
Though deception unfolds at every turn, God’s plan for Jacob’s blessing prevails, proving His sovereignty. “The counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.” – Proverbs 19:21
✨ Contending for the Faith
Jude calls believers to fight for the truth in a world full of spiritual compromise. This isn’t a passive faith—it’s a battle cry! “Ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” – Jude 1:3
✨ Warning Against False Teachers
Jude exposes the ungodly who crept in unnoticed—turning grace into sin and denying Jesus. This is a call to discernment in the last days. “For there are certain men crept in unawares…” – Jude 1:4
✨ God’s Judgment is Sure
From fallen angels to Sodom and Egypt, God has always dealt with rebellion. Jude reminds us that divine justice never sleeps. “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha… are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” – Jude 1:7
✨ Keeping Yourself in the Love of God
The faithful are called to build themselves up, pray in the Spirit, and remain in God’s love. This is how warriors stay strong in a wicked age. “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” – Jude 1:21
✨ Mercy Mixed with Boldness
We are to rescue others—some with compassion, others with bold warnings. Jude gives us the balance between mercy and truth. “And of some have compassion, making a difference…” – Jude 1:22–23
👤 Key People
- Jude – The servant and messenger of this divine warning.
- Michael the Archangel – Defender of truth and humility before God.
- False Teachers – Described using OT figures like Cain, Balaam, and Korah.
- Enoch – His prophecy speaks to the righteous judgment of God.
🔥 Why This Book Matters
Jude is a battle cry. It is a timeless message to the Church to wake up, armor up, and stand for truth in the face of increasing lawlessness. God’s judgment is real, but so is His keeping power. His saints are not called to blend in but to shine as lights, holding fast the Word of Life.
💭 Let’s Reflect
- Are you able to recognize spiritual deception in today’s world?
- How can you better contend for the faith in love and truth?
- What areas in your life need more spiritual discernment?
❓Ready to Go Deeper?
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