Notes on Jude 1:5-16

Condemnation of False Teachers - Jude 1:5-16

Jude condemned the false teachers. He explained how God's judgment will surely fall on their lifestyle. He applied both examples and prophecy to the false teachers to demonstrate their condemnation and dissuade believers from following them.

God's Judgment on False Teachers. - Jude 1:5-10

Jude provided examples of God's judgment against the ungodly (vv. 5-7). Then, he applied those examples to the false teachers (vv. 8-10).

Examples of God's Judgment. - Jude 1:5-7

Three examples show that God's judgment on the ungodly is inevitable.

Destroyed those who did not believe - Jude 1:5

who did not believe In this first example, God judged a generation of Israelites for their unbelief by causing them to wander in the desert for 40 years (Num. 13:25–14:38). Even members of God's chosen people are judged for unbelief.

Angels - Jude 1:6

6 angels The second example of God's judgment that Jude gives is the fallen angels. These angels abandoned the boundaries of authority God had given them. Jude is likely alluding here to Gen. 6:1-4, a text that is elaborated frequently in non-canonical Jewish tradition, in which the "Sons of God" leave heaven to have illicit relations and produce offspring with human women (1 Enoch 6–19, 21; Jub. 4:15; T. Reu. 5:6–7; T. Naph. 3:5). WCL 13; 113. Day The examples of God's judgment that took place in history are only small pictures of the ultimate judgment that will take place at the second coming of Christ. God has appointed a day to judge the world in righteousness through Christ (Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:16; 2 Pet. 2:9) Indeed, the Father has given all judgment to the Son (John 5:22, 27; Acts 10:42). WCF 8.4; 32.1; 33.1; WLC 19, 86, 88.

Sodom and Gomorrah - Jude 1:7

just like This is the third example of God's judgment whereby Jude continued with the theme of sexual immorality. The prideful rejection of God's order by the people of Sodom and Gomorrah is similar to the angels' rebellion in the previous verse. sexual immorality This sin includes homosexuality (Gen. 19:4-9) as well as other perversions of God's order for the world. examples Sodom and Gomorrah are commonly used in Scripture as examples of God's judgment against sin (Deut. 29:23, Isa. 1:9; Jer. 49:17-18; Luke 17:29-30; Rom. 9:29). WCF 3.7; WLC 27.

Application of Examples to False Teachers. - Jude 1:8-10

Just as surely as God judged these well-known instances of ungodliness, God will also judge the false teachers troubling Jude's readers.

Dreamers - Jude 1:8

dreamers The false teachers may have claimed to have visionary experiences or to have received revelation. They may have added to or changed orthodox Christian doctrine to allow for their own immorality. pollute … bodies These false teachers prompted a lifestyle that likely involved some kind of sexual immorality, maybe homosexuality in particular (see vv. 4 and 7). reject authority Rebellion against God's order and commands is common to all of Jude's examples so far. This disobedience is synonymous with a rejection of Jesus's Lordly authority. WLC 151. say slanderous things against the glorious ones This charge suggests again that the false teachers were rebelling against God's proper order for creation. In light of the next verse, perhaps they were usurping judging authority only God can grant his people (1 Cor. 6:3). WCF 23.4; BC 36.

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