Session 1
Jude 1:1 Introduction to the Book of Jude
Introduction: Who wrote Jude? To whom did he write? For what reason did he write? These questions must be answered if we are to have any hope of understanding the meaning of the text within these 25 verses. It is therefore sadly ironic that few commentators pursue this line of authorial intention. It is generally agreed that Jude is one of the most neglected books in our New Testament. This remains true even among those who attempt to write and publish commentaries on this book, for they refuse to even examine these most fundamental questions.
Date: There is a connection exists between 2 Peter and Jude. We can compare the two books (focusing particularly on 2 Peter chapter 2 and Jude vv. 5-16). Jude vv. 17-18 quotes verbatim what 2 Peter 3:3 expresses. It is understood that Jude wrote after Peter. Peter wrote his first epistle shortly after the fire of Rome (17 July 64 AD) and the subsequent persecutions that followed. Peter’s second epistle would have been written shortly after, in early 65 AD. Jude wrote to a time after early 65 and the middle of 66 AD.
Addressed to: The Epistle of Jude is addressed to Jewish Christians, Gentile Christians, or both in Israel and perhaps Christians in the Jerusalem church.
Purpose: The false teachers were trying to convince believers had license to sin since their sins would no longer be held against them. Jude thought it imperative that his readers be on guard against such men. The letter appeals to Christians to “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 1:3) and to be on their guard against people “who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4). The author struggles forcefully against heretics who deny God and Christ and attempts to strengthen his readers in their fight against such heresy that leads to wickedness and disorder. Only steadfastness in faith, true doctrine, and prayer can lead to mercy, forgiveness, restoration, and final salvation.
Early Reference by the Church Fathers: There are traces of Jude in the following works, which were used in an early period. It seems that questions arose because of its use of apocryphal books: 1. Pseudo-Barnabas (c. AD 70-130), 2. Clement of Rome (c. AD 95-97), 3. The Shepherd of Hermas (c. AD 115-140), 4. Polycarp (c. AD 110-150), 5. The Didache (c. AD 120-150), 6. Athenagoras (c. AD 177), 7. Theophilus of Antioch (died, AD 183-185), 8. The Muratorian Canon (c. AD 170), 9. Tertullian (c. AD 150-220), 10. Clement of Alexandria (c. AD 150-215), 11. Origen (c. AD 185-254), 12. Synod of Antioch (c. AD 264), 13. Didymus of Alexandria (died, AD 394 or 399), 14. Eusebius (c. AD 260-340), 15. Jerome (c. AD 346-420).
Key Themes: 1. Christians need to defend the doctrines of the faith (Jude 3), 2. False teachers may be identified by their immoral character (Jude 4, 8, 10, 12–13, 16, 18–19). 3. God will judge false teachers (Jude 4, 5–7, 11, 14–15). 4. Saints must endure to be saved (Jude 17–23). 5. As God grants mercy to those who are called, they must show mercy to others (Jude 2, 21–23). 6. God grants the grace to ensure that his people will persevere (Jude 1–2, 24–25).
(Ref: Introduction to Jude by Dr. Grant C. Richison; NIV Study Bible; Bible Org; Encyclopaedia, An Introduction by Andy de Ganahl;).
Session 2
Jude 1:1 Introduction to Author Jude
Introduction:
Who wrote Jude? To whom did he write? For what reason did he write? These questions must be answered if we are to have any hope of understanding the meaning of the text within these 25 verses. It is generally agreed that Jude is one of the most neglected books in our New Testament. This remains true even among those who attempt to write and publish commentaries on this book, for they refuse to even examine these most fundamental questions. It is called as “The Acts of the Apostates.”
Jude lived at a time when Christianity was under severe political attack from Rome and aggressive spiritual infiltration from gnostic-like apostates and libertines who sowed abundant seed for a gigantic harvest of doctrinal error. It could be that this was the forerunner to full-blown Gnosticism which the Apostle John would confront over 25 years later in his epistles.
Who is Jude? “Jude” or “Judas” was a very common name in Judea in the first century AD. This Greek equivalent reflects its Hebrew origin “Judah” meaning “praised one.” Being the name of Israel’s fourth-born son, the ancestor of King David, and identified as the line of Messiah. So, this name was so popular among the people of Israel. “Judas” and “Jude” are same in Greek.
Jude was the half-brother of Jesus, born after Jesus, a son of Joseph and Mary. Jude was the full brother of James. During his earthly ministry, Jude didn’t believe in Jesus (John 7:5; Mark 3:21, 31), but he came to faith in him after seeing him rise from the dead (Acts 1:14). Jesus’ brothers came to believe in Jesus as the Son of God later, after his resurrection (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3, Jude 1:1, John 7:3-8, Acts 1:14). He was married and travelled a good deal, taking his wife (1 Corinthians 9:5). Syrian tradition says Jude died a martyr in Phoenicia. Western tradition says he labored among the Persians.
Jude is a man whom we know very little other than what he tells us. In his introduction, he connects himself with his brother James, a leader in the Jerusalem church. We have no evidence to suggest that James spent much time outside of Judea as he is always associated with Jerusalem and the Christians there. We know that the brothers of Jesus were in Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension and remained until Pentecost (Acts 1:14) and that James at least remained there (Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; 1 Corinthians 15:7; Galatians 2:9, 12). It stands to reason that Jude, by invoking James’ name, addresses a person who would recognize and respect James and therefore give Jude that same recognition and respect.
He is not to be confused with six other Jude: Ancestor of Jesus - Luke 3:30, The Galilean- Acts 5:37, Jude Iscariot -Matthew 3:19, Jude, with whom Paul lodged in Damascus – Acts 9:11, Jude Barsabbas - Acts 15:22, Son of James (an apostle -Luke 6:16). Jude does not use the apostolic title. Jewish men would typically identify themselves through their identification of their father—not their brother. Jude’s salutation is similar to James (James 1:1, and 3) However, Jude is not identifying himself as an apostle (v. 1), but rather distinguishing between himself and the apostles (v. 17).
(Ref: Introduction to Jude by Dr. Grant C. Richison; NIV Study Bible; Bible Org; Encyclopaedia; Jude, An Introduction by Andy de Ganahl; John MacArthur: Bible Introductions - Jude).
Session 3
Jude 1:1 Readers of the Book of Jude
Introduction:
The commentators have no explanation as to who this epistle was written. Failure to do so is a failure to understand anything from this point forward. If we cannot know to whom Jude wrote this epistle, then we cannot understand why Jude wrote it. If we understand neither of these things, then there is little hope of understanding anything at all in this letter.
Acts of the Apostates:
This letter has been referred to as "Acts of the Apostates". In this letter, many of the apostates, better known as Gnostics, were infiltrating the church with their corrupt doctrine. These Gnostics embraced the doctrine of antinomianism - the idea that since a person is saved, they can choose to live any way they please even if it directly violates God's word. As a result of these teachers, the church was being persuaded to reject authority, follow immorality, and pursue all their passions.
Readers of Jude:
Very few commentators are brave enough to even venture a guess as to the people to whom Jude writes. Again, bold warnings are offered against considering this letter a general epistle, that is, a letter written to Christians in a general sense without an audience in mind. It is rightly observed that the warnings and exhortations of this letter are too specific to be taken in such a wide view.
The epistle is addressed to "them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ" (v. 1b). It is likely that Jude wrote to Hebrew Christians since he made numerous references to the Old Testament. Of course, the letter applies to all believers since they are chosen and set apart by God and kept safe in Christ. Because of the specific references to "you", "yourselves", "beloved", etc., we can conclude that Jude was addressing a specific body of people with whom he was very intimate.
In this epistle, Jude was very straightforward. He did not sugar-coat anything. He was very bold in his plea to defend the faith. He described the apostates as "filthy dreamers" (v. 8) and "spots" in their love feasts. Jude is not just warning believers to be discerning, but he even warns the apostates by proclaiming "Woe unto them!" (v. 11). Faith is "The body of revealed truth as it pertains to God, sin, humanity, Christ, and eternal things" But, the infiltrators are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord" (v. 4).
One important point to consider is that these apostates were not backslidden; in fact, they were never regenerated. An apostate is a person who has been exposed to the gospel and the things of God but has never made a true commitment to Jesus Christ. These false teachers were also blasphemers (vv. 8-10). They refused to submit to all authority (divine, apostolic or otherwise) that is above them. The final reason to avoid these apostates is because their spirituality is empty and their ways are ungodly (vv. 11-16).
The apostate is described perfectly in Hebrews 6:4-6: "for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."
(Ref: Introduction to Jude by Koinonia fellowship; John MacArthur: Bible Introductions - Jude).
