Notes on Jude 1:6-10

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.

The archangel Michael - Jude 1:9-10

To expose the false teachers' pride, Jude drew on a story from The Assumption of Moses. This non-biblical Jewish work adds to the story of Moses's burial (Deut. 34:5-6). In this story, the archangel Michael argued with the devil over possession of the body of Moses. Even Michael, a leader of the angels, did not presume to judge even the devil himself, who was clearly guilty of slander. Instead, he appealed to the authority of God. Michael the archangel is a leader of the angels. He guards God's people (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1), and he leads the armies of heaven against the devil (Rev. 12:7). The false teachers may have claimed a higher spiritual understanding. However, they were actually ignorant of spiritual things. The one thing they really "understood" was likely sexual desire. Their perversion will lead to their destruction in God's judgment.

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