The Bible — World English Bible

Jude 1

In brief

The letter of Jude, brother of James, is a short call to contend for the faith delivered to the saints once for all. Men have slipped into the churches, they turn grace into freedom to do wrong and deny the Lord. Jude recalls examples of judgment from the Old Testament, describes these false teachers, then speaks to believers: build yourselves up, pray in the Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God. The letter ends with a doxology to the one who is able to keep you from stumbling.

The chapter in 5 parts

  1. v. 1-4Greeting and the call to contend for the faith
  2. v. 5-7Three examples of judgment: Israel, the angels, Sodom
  3. v. 8-16The portrait of the false teachers and the prophecy of Enoch
  4. v. 17-19The apostles had foretold it: mockers will come
  5. v. 20-25Keep yourselves in God's love, help others, glory to the one who keeps

1Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

2Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied.

3Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

4For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe.

6Angels who didn’t keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.

7Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having in the same way as these given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are shown as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

8Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings.

9But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”

10But these speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. They are destroyed in these things that they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason.

11Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion.

12These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

13wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.

14About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,

15to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

16These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage.

17But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

18They said to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.”

19These are those who cause divisions and are sensual, not having the Spirit.

20But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.

21Keep yourselves in God’s love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

22On some have compassion, making a distinction,

23and some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.

24Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy,

25to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

Key verses

Verse 3
Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Jude wanted to write about the salvation we share, but urgency forces him to exhort. Contending for the faith does not mean fighting people: it means guarding what has been handed down once for all.

Verse 4
For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.

The danger comes from within: people who turn grace into an excuse for living badly. Jude shows that you can deny Christ by your conduct, without saying so.

Verse 14-15
About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Jude cites the prophecy of Enoch, which announces the coming of the Lord with his holy ones to execute judgment. This reference comes from an ancient Jewish writing that Jude takes up.

Verse 20-21
But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

Four actions to stand firm: build yourselves up in the faith, pray in the Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, wait for the mercy of the Lord. This is the practical heart of the letter.

Verse 24-25
Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

The letter closes with praise to the one who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before his glory. Perseverance rests on God, not on the believer's strength.

Bible verses to meditate on

Characters in this chapter

What the sermons say

Frequently asked questions about Jude 1

What is the main message of the letter of Jude?

Jude calls believers to defend the faith handed down to the saints, in the face of false teachers who twist grace. He warns with examples of judgment, then encourages: build yourselves up, pray in the Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God and help those who doubt.

Who wrote the letter of Jude?

The author presents himself as Jude, servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. Many recognize in him the brother of Jesus, and the James mentioned would be the leader of the church in Jerusalem. The text does not say so explicitly, but the letter belongs to the New Testament.

What does it mean to contend for the faith in Jude 3?

It means remaining faithful to the teaching received from the apostles and not distorting it. Jude is not speaking of violence: the struggle is carried on through truth, prayer and a consistent life. The faith is a deposit received once for all, which we keep.

Articles quoting Jude 1

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World English Bible translation — public domain.