Letter of Jude: Overview

Jude: An Overview

Introduction

During the first century, the Church struggled against its share of false teaching. It didn’t take long for some people to come forward with their own view of what God wants people to do and believe. Sometimes these people came from within the church. But the New Testament writers were quick to condemn such teaching and their teachers, as well as warn true believers to reject their doctrine.

When they come from within the church, the term that is often used to describe such people “apostates”. It means to fall away or to turn away. It happened in the Old Testament (for example, some of the children of Israel in the wilderness), as well as in the New Testament (such as Judas Iscariot).

Here is what we can say about people like this: they have heard the truth of the gospel, they have responded in some way to the gospel, and they have attached themselves to the true Church. However, they have left. They have not persevered. They have turned away from the truth. says “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.”

At times we are exposed to false teaching by listening to someone else talk about it, and we start to investigate for ourselves. Other times the teachers start up within our own local church. If the gospel is corrupted by the teaching, it needs to be confronted so that others are not affected by it, and it must be rejected completely.

To be clear, the false teachers in the New Testament are not pictured as people who were once saved, but fell away from the faith. Rather, they are people who appeared to be saved, then departed from the Church. They have fallen away from the truth.

The Epistle of Jude was written to both confront such teachers, and to prepare believers on how to protect themselves from bad teaching. Now, in the Church of the 21st century, we are still battling. The writing of Jude has great value for Christians today. What is it telling us?

Author: Who is Jude?

There are actually several people with this name in the New Testament. One of the most famous was also the most notorious: Judas Iscariot. It was apparently a popular name in Israel. Two of Jesus’ disciples had that name! The one who wrote this letter is identified as the brother of James, the one who wrote the epistle of James. Both of these are sons of Mary and Joseph and thus are half brothers of Jesus. Not much is known of him. He was apparently saved after the death and resurrection of Jesus, and was involved in some type of gospel work ().

Readers: Who are the recipients of the letter?

Even less is known about who received the letter from Jude. Other than being identified as believers in verse 1, nothing specific is known about them. Anything that can be said must be inferred from the contents of the letter. Because there is much Old Testament history that is mentioned, it can be concluded that it was a Jewish readership.

Date: When was the letter written?

Again, there is little to help with the time the letter was written. Since the destruction of Jerusalem is not mentioned, most scholars conclude that it was written prior to 70 A.D.

Purpose: Why is the letter written?

This question can be answered from the letter itself. Jude writes in verse 3 “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.” False teachers had invaded the Church. It had to be confronted decisively. Jude does just that and more. He shows how the Christian can be protected from false teachers, and assures them that Jesus Christ Himself is the one who is securing our salvation.

Doctrine: What important truth is presented?

Here are some Biblical doctrines that are found in the letter.

1. Eternal Security for every true believer

2. The Lordship of Jesus Christ

3. Sanctification

Problems

What are some difficulties that are found in this letter? Several problems can be named and will be addressed as they appear in the text. For now, here is a list.

1. Are the false teachers (apostates) true believers who lost their salvation, or were they ever saved?

2. Why does Jude quote in verse 9 and verse 13 from sources not found in the inspired Word of God?

3. Can true believers lose their salvation?

4. Can true believers live lives of ungodliness?

Outline: What is the content of the letter?

Theme: Christians need to be prepared to confront false teaching.

1. Greeting, 1-2

2. Description of False Teachers, 3-11

3. Comparison of False Teachers, 12-16

4. Expectation of False Teachers, 17-19

5. Protection from False Teachers, 20-24

6. Conclusion: Doxology, 25-26

Conclusion

False teaching that corrupts the gospel is dangerous! The Christian should never tolerate it. Instead, Christians should be prepared with the truth of the gospel, knowing the truth accurately and being ready to challenge anyone who would try to change it. Being a casual Christian will not get us prepared. It will require effort as a serious student of God’s Word. Every Christians needs to start with where they are presently, and then continue to add to their arsenal of truth. That will be accomplished by not only hearing the Word and reading the Word, but also by studying the Word.

Application

1.How will you prepare yourself to confront false teaching when it comes your way?