The letter of Jude warns against those who, having gained admission to the church, were perverting the grace of God, denying “our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v. 4). Jude used Old Testament examples to warn of these “blemishes” on the church. He wrote multiple denunciations of these ungodly people who “defile the flesh” and “reject authority” (v. 8). He urged Christians to continue in godliness and love toward such people, in some cases reasoning with them, in other cases “snatching them out of the fire” (v. 23). Jude closes with one of the most beautiful doxologies in all of Scripture (vv. 24-25). Jude was the brother of James (probably “James the Lord’s brother,” Gal. 1:19). He likely wrote sometime between a.d. 65 and 80.
Jude
Greeting
1 Jude, a servant ▼
▼
Or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
of Jesus Christ and brother of James, b To those who are called, c beloved in God the Father and d kept for
▼
▼
Or by
Jesus Christ: 2 May f mercy, g peace, and love be multiplied to you. Judgment on False Teachers
3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our h common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you i to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For j certain people k have crept in unnoticed l who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert m the grace of our God into sensuality and n deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 5 Now I want o to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that p Jesus, who saved ▼
▼
Some manuscripts although you fully knew it, that the Lord who once saved
a people out of the land of Egypt, r afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And s the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as t Sodom and Gomorrah and u the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and v pursued unnatural desire,
▼
▼
Greek other flesh
serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. 8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and x blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when y the archangel z Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing aa about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, ab “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 ac But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in ad the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain ae to Balaam’s error and af perished in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs
▼
▼
Or are blemishes
ah at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, ai shepherds feeding themselves; aj waterless clouds, ak swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, al uprooted; 13 am wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of an their own shame; ao wandering stars, ap for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. 14 It was also about these that Enoch, aq the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, ar “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 as to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have at committed in such an ungodly way, and of all au the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, av following their own sinful desires; aw they are loud-mouthed boasters, ax showing favoritism to gain advantage. A Call to Persevere
17 But you must ay remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They ▼
▼
Or Christ, because they
said to you, ba “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, bb devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, bc building yourselves up in your most holy faith and bd praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 be keep yourselves in the love of God, bf waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by bg snatching them out of bh the fire; to others show mercy bi with fear, hating even bj the garment
▼
▼
Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
stained by the flesh. Doxology
24 bl Now to him who is able bm to keep you from stumbling and bn to present you bo blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to bp the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, bq be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Copyright information for
ESV