Notes on Jude 1:1-4

Greeting. - Jude 1:1-2

This greeting is a typical letter salutation. Jude identified himself as the author and addressed his audience.

Jude . . . brother of James - Jude 1:1

Jude. . . brother of James See "Introduction: Author." servant a servant in the first century had no status or authority of their own, only that of the master. called God's first move to sovereignly draw those whom he has graciously chosen to salvation. beloved The root of God's gracious call is his love for his people. (Rom. 8:28-39; Eph. 1:4-5). kept God not only takes the initiative in the salvation of the elect, but he also preserves them in faith (v. 24; John 10:27-30; 1 Pet. 1:5).

Mercy, peace and love - Jude 1:2

mercy and peace and love Jude added love to a standard early Jewish greeting. He grounded God's mercy to sinners, and the resulting peace between God and men, in the love of God himself. (See notes on v. 1; cf. John 3:16).

Purpose of the Letter - Jude 1:3-4

Here we find the thesis statement of the letter. Jude wrote to encourage the believers to recognize and reject false teaching and its moral effects.

Although . . . I felt I had to write - Jude 1:3

write We do not know whether Jude ever wrote the letter he had hoped to write concerning their "common salvation," but this statement clearly distinguishes between the intended audience of the letter (those who possess "salvation") and the false teachers. struggle earnestly for the faith "Faith" here does not mean either trust or fidelity. It refers to the message of the gospel and the godly lifestyle to which it leads (Gal. 1:23; 1 Tim. 3:9). To "struggle earnestly" for this faith means to resist both the doctrine and the lifestyle of the false teachers. See esp. v. 20. entrusted From the earliest days, the divinely-revealed message of the gospel has remained the same and has been authoritative for God's people (2 John 9-10). This message is given in the OT (see 2 Tim. 3:14-17) and, by the witness of the apostles, in the NT (1 Cor. 15:3-8).

Certain men . . . slipped in among you - Jude 1:4

slipped in secretly The false teachers are the reason Jude's readers must "struggle earnestly" for purity of life and teaching. Again, Jude sharply distinguished his readers from the false teachers. These false teachers were outsiders, possibly travelling from one city to another, and were common in the early church (cf. 2 Cor. 11:1-5; 2 John 7, 9-11). marked out for condemnation The false teachers did not take God by surprise. The inevitable judgment of the wicked was predicted (see verses 5-23), and God's justice is sure. God knows and decrees his judgment against the ungodly before it occurs (see esp. Prov. 16:4). ungodly Jude's preferred description of the false teachers. It encompasses not only their false doctrine but also their immoral lives. changed the grace . . . into sensuality The false teachers thought that God's favor on believing sinners meant that obedience was unnecessary. Some may even have taught that immoral or sensual behavior by believers glorified God by offering more opportunities for grace (Rom. 6:1; 1 Cor. 5:1–2; 6:12–20). deny . . . Master and Lord The false teachers probably did not deny major theological truths about Jesus. Rather, the disobedient behavior of the false teachers is a rejection of Christ's lordship and mastery over their lives. Both Master and Lord are applied to God in the Septuagint/Greek translation of the OT (e.g., Gen. 15:8; Job 5:8; Jonah 4:3; Isa. 1:24; Dan. 9:15) as well as to Christ. They imply the necessity of obedience.

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