The epistle of jude is a short but fascinating book in the new testament. Frank shallieu in 1979 it seems providential that the book of jude is found next to the final book in the bible, the book of revelation, which is one of the last books to be understood this side of the veil. The book of jude, a scathing indictment against false teachers, is perhaps the most neglected book in the new testament. Jesus brothers came to believe in jesus as the son of god later, after his resurrection john 7. He understands that his life is to be willfully surrendered to the call of christ upon his life.
Jude suggest to us the possibilitynay, the probabilitythat these last three perhaps leaststudied, leastunderstood books are to be considered as a special triad or unit unto themselves, which in due process of time would assume greater import. Salutation and warning 14 or the purpose of jude vs 14 description of false teachers 516. It can be placed beside other books in the new testament that also deal with apostasy. For over fifty years i was a pastor, 1 this article is a transcription of an address by the same title delivered to the advanced expository preaching workshop, southwestern baptist theological seminary, 23 march 2015. Ordinarily a person in judes day would describe himself as someones son rather than as someones brother. 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. The book of jude is notoriously difficult to date, primarily because the bible and tradition reveal so little about the personal details of its author while the book itself refrains from naming any particular individuals or places. Contend for the faith beloved, while i was very diligent to write to. Jun 07, 2015 i said in our first study of jude that there were 14 triads in this book, but i now see twenty of these triads in the twenty five verses of jude. Jude niv jude, a servant of jesus christ and a bible gateway.
It has been said that the book of acts describes the beginning of the institution of the local church and jude deals with the ending or the end of the church age. Greeting to the called jude, a bondservant of jesus christ, and brother of james, to those who are called, sanctified by god the father, and preserved in jesus christ. There are important lessons and insights to discover in its introduction of the author, its purpose, its target audience and most importantly, its various references from the old. This short book is full of triads things in threes. Although jude attributes a prophecy to enoch jude 1415, nowhere does the old testament indicate that enoch said these things. False teachers profile jude 4 christian article bank. Jude uses his fifth triad to give us a character sketch of who they were and who they always are to a degree first, we hear how they came to their false views.
Jude writes his short letter to those who are calledthat s you and me. Several students of the book have noted the basically chiastic structure of jude. Jude lesson 1 verse by verse ministry international. The author is jude the brother of james, both of who are halfbrothers of jesus christ. Commentators have often remarked about judes fondness for triads or triplets. He was married and traveled a good deal, taking his wife 1 co 9. Jude uses these triads, or sets of threes, all over the letter. The book of jude is an important book for us today because it is written for the end times, for the end of the church age. If peter is the author of ii peter, then the date is close to his lifetime he died in a. A third matter of interest is jude s usage of triads. For long time stevie nicks fans, this is the book that stevie was reading when she heard the name rhiannon. As early as the second verse, jude wishes three things for all the saints. Verses 316 jude writes about the danger of false teachers.
Christianity is under attack today, and the book of jude reminds us that we must. Jude s threefold description of his readers is the first of many triads that distinguish the style of this letter. In jude s short letter, he often writes in triads, listing three items or offering three examples. A brief synopsis the famous bible stories found in the scriptural text of the book of jude contained in this short summary of jude. For example, the author does not claim to be an apostle and even seems to separate himself from the apostles v. Theologians have identified 18 or more such triads in the book of jude. Abundant use of triads heavy use of the old testament possible use of the pseudepigrapha did jude quote the assumption of moses 9 and the book of enoch 1415 outline of the book of jude. Jude is a book concerned with the subject of apostasy. The doxology of god and the security of the believer preaching through the book of jude jude 2425. Jude is clearly distinguished from judas iscariot, another apostle and later the betrayer of jesus. A commentary on the book of jude gods condemnation of. The eschatology of the epistle of jude and its rhetorical and. The idea of apostasy in the new testament is tied closely with the return of the lord jesus christ and the period of tribulation mentioned in the scriptures.
Secondly, jude is the only book of nt scripture sourced by someone who was not considered an apostle. Jude 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. Jude s letter is unique for the way it quotes from another letter of scripture. He pulled out all the stops to unmask the false teachers and to encourage the saints to contend earnestly for the which which was once for all delivered to the saints jude 3. The holy spirit, by jude, has sealed the truth of this much of the matter contained in the book of enoch, though probably that book, as well as jude, derived it from tradition compare note, see on judges 1. In it, he often writes in triads, listing three items or offering three examples. Before we go any further, the manner in which jude addressed his readers is worthy of careful. Jude quotes no less than thirteen times from the letter of 2 peter. He does this with such regularity that when he deviates from this in verse 12, i thought i had misread the text. The book of jude deals mostly with apostasy and false teachers a topic which is very relevant to the current state of many of our christian churches. The book of jude is a general epistle apostolic letter. This is the only place in scripture where we read that enoch was a prophet. Jude s purpose in writing was to warn the church against overlooking false teachers who had arrived in the church.
In addition, one of the literary features of judes epistle is his use of triads i. The one clue available to presentday readers is the striking similarity between the books of jude and 2 peter. Jude, a servant of jesus christ and a brother of james, to those who have been called, who are loved in god the father and kept for jesus christ. There are reasons given by some for thinking the book of enoch copied from jude rather than vice versa.
It is obvious that jude is dealing with his recipients in a rather general manner. Jude is the 4th smallest book of the bible yet one of the most potent in exposing doctrinal errors and false teachers. A servant of jesus christ the servant of, bondservant of, bondman of, slave of, jesus christ. Furthermore, he describes himself as a brother of james v.
In addition, one of the literary features of jude s epistle is his use of triads i. Jude gives examples from the old testament, and from two other ancient books. One writer identified at least 20 sets of triads in this brief letter. The book of jude, although small in size, makes a great contribution to the new testament scriptures for jude is the only new testament book dealing exclusively with apostates and apostasy. The first triad of jesus names in jude hope in christ church. Commentary on the book of jude relevant bible teaching. Jude admonishes ministers to protect the flock, warning that brute beasts false teachers, having wormed themselves into. In judes short letter, he often writes in triads, listing three items or offering three. The epistles of john not the gospel, the epistle of jude, and the revelation of johnall three of.
Judes triad arrangements father, son and the holy spirit. Jude full chapter greeting to the called jude, a bondservant of jesus christ, and brother of james, to those who are called, sanctified by god the father, and preserved in jesus christ. For instance, he presents a triad in verse 1when he talks about those to whom he is writing. Another indication of the sermonic style of this epistle is judes frequent use of triads. He is the only individual who lived before the flood that god identified as a prophet. However, god assigns inspiration to this prophecy as quoted in the book of jude. Though god had not inspired that book, he led jude to quote enochs prophecy. According to the biblical account, at its height, the tribe of judah was the leading tribe of the kingdom of judah, and occupied most of the territory of the kingdom, except for a small region in the north east occupied by benjamin, and an enclave towards the south west which was occupied by simeon. 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 quotation may have been taken by jude from the apocryphal book of enocha book not accepted as inspired by god. Jude chapter 1 coffmans commentary of the new testament. At least three decades had passed since the lord jesus returned to heaven. Stevie has said that while out on the road she wanted something to read, so she picked up this trashy novel called triad and fell in the love both names of the characters in the book. A study of the letter will reveal the following sets of threes.
The book of jude seems to have been written especially for the end of the age. Judesjudes eschatology is oriented around the twin poles of eschatological salva tiontion and. Options toward understanding judes use of apocryphal and pseudepigraphon writings. In particular, jude s use of triads, the selection of conjunction, and the choice of tense are guides in the selection of the best variant. The third part that really gets my mind working is the use of triads in the book of jude. Given the great care with which jude is composed, there are a number of other ways in which the kilpatrickelliott approach may be put to good use.
They present an impression of completeness and wellrounded thought. Jude 1 jude, a servant of jesus christ and a brother of james, to those who have been called, who are loved in god the father and kept for jesus christ. Hidden warrior tamir triad book 2 by lynn flewelling and john jude palencar. Jude wrote the letter to warn his readers against false teachers. Southeastern baptist theological seminary chapel message delivered by dr. Part of judes literary artistry is his use of triads. Commentary on the book of jude 1jude, a bondservant of jesus christ, and brother of james, jude identifies himself in the way that most of the early church leaders did by calling himself a bondservant. The book of jude was written in the period of 7080 a. They did not remember your abundant kindnesses, but rebelled by the sea, at the red sea. The acts of the apostles relates to the deeds and teachings of godly men. Learn bible quiz hebrews jude with free interactive flashcards. It is an all encompassing word that describes all kinds of sins and all kinds of errors.
Another indication of the sermonic style of this epistle is jude s frequent use of triads. Verse 2 mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied. The date of authorship for jude depends on whether jude used content from 2 peter, or peter used content from jude when writing 2 peter. Although jude is a tiny book with only 25 verses, it is a very important book. The epistle of jude, often shortened to jude, is the penultimate book of the new testament and the bible as a whole and is traditionally attributed to jude, the servant of jesus and the brother of james the just. It was designed for the end time, a time of apostasy, when most of these problems would occur. Syrian tradition says jude died a martyr in phoenicia. Western tradition says he labored among the persians. Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Jude writes his short letter to those who are calledthats you and me. Jude was in the process of writing about the common salvation, but something happened an event, a message, an intensification of evil, etc.
Against this is the total lack of textual support 2 and the fact that jude was accepted in the early church so readily, suggesting that at least james was wellknown. Both jude and judas are translations of the name in the koine greek language original text of the new testament, which in turn is a greek variant of judah yhudah, a name which was common among jews at the time. Jude is not quoting these books, but providing information provided to him by inspiration. Book of jude overview insight for living ministries.
Jude 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. Bethlehem and hebron were initially the main cities within the territory of the tribe. Jude, jesus christ, and james, then 2 three forms of relation. The word seems to imply a person who is without religion or fails to worship. Free bible commentary on the letter of jude in easy english. Schreiner says of it, some of the most beautiful statements about gods sustaining grace are found in jude.
Praise the triune god for judes style of literary trinitarianism. Summary of jude the kjv bible scriptures the content of jude according to the kjv bible scriptures contains a short overview of the main subjects, people, events and ancient topics in the following summary of the. This summary of the book of jude provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of jude. Jude seems to like to use this word as a descriptor. Jude had a desire to write to the church about the common salvation, the salvation we all share. He concludes his salutation with a threefold benediction. Those triads offer a convenient way to organize our study of the letter, like an outline with 14 points. Salutation and warning 14 or the purpose of jude vs 14 description of false teachers 516 defense against false teachers 1723. It has been said that the book of acts describes the beginning of the institution of the local church and jude. I am suggesting jude uses a bookend symmetry in the incipit and the.
Jude s fondness for triads is evident throughout the letter. These two sets of triads, however, do not merely refer to judg ment in the. This is an athletic term this intensified form is found only here. Jude 1 niv bible jude, a servant of jesus christ and a. Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
So far we have seen that the writer is jude the halfbrother of yeshua, and brother of james who was a leader in the jerusalem church. Jude quoted loosely from a prophecy that enoch gave, which stands recorded in the apocryphal book of1enoch. The sin and doom of ungodly people dear friends, although i was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, i felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for. Choose from 500 different sets of bible quiz hebrews jude flashcards on quizlet.
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