Jude | ESV | STEP | The letter of Jude warns against those who, having gained admission to the church, were perverting the grace of God, denying “our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v. 4). Jude used Old Testament examples to warn of these “blemishes” on the church. He wrote multiple denunciations of these ungodly people who “defile the flesh” and “reject authority” (v. 8). He urged Christians to continue in godliness and love toward such people, in some cases reasoning with them, in other cases “snatching them out of the fire” (v. 23). Jude closes with one of the most beautiful doxologies in all of Scripture (vv. 24-25). Jude was the brother of James (probably “James the Lord’s brother,” Gal. 1:19). He likely wrote sometime between a.d. 65 and 80.

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Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, ^aeach by name.

‏ Jude

The letter of Jude warns against those who, having gained admission to the church, were perverting the grace of God, denying “our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v. 4). Jude used Old Testament examples to warn of these “blemishes” on the church. He wrote multiple denunciations of these ungodly people who “defile the flesh” and “reject authority” (v. 8). He urged Christians to continue in godliness and love toward such people, in some cases reasoning with them, in other cases “snatching them out of the fire” (v. 23). Jude closes with one of the most beautiful doxologies in all of Scripture (vv. 24-25). Jude was the brother of James (probably “James the Lord’s brother,” Gal. 1:19). He likely wrote sometime between a.d. 65 and 80.

Greeting

2 Jude, a servant ^{▼▼Or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)} of Jesus Christ and brother of James,

^cTo those who are called, ^dbeloved in God the Father and ^ekept for ^{▼▼Or by} Jesus Christ:

3 May ^gmercy, ^hpeace, and love be multiplied to you.

Judgment on False Teachers

4 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our ⁱcommon salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you ^jto contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 5 For ^kcertain people ^lhave crept in unnoticed ^mwho long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert ⁿthe grace of our God into sensuality and ^odeny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

6 Now I want ^pto remind you, although you once fully knew it, that ^qJesus, who saved ^{▼▼Some manuscripts although you fully knew it, that the Lord who once saved} a people out of the land of Egypt, ^safterward destroyed those who did not believe. 7 And ^tthe angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 8 just as ^uSodom and Gomorrah and ^vthe surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and ^wpursued unnatural desire, ^{▼▼Greek other flesh} serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

9 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and ^yblaspheme the glorious ones. 10 But when ^zthe archangel ^aaMichael, contending with the devil, was disputing ^ababout the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, ^ac“The Lord rebuke you.” 11 ^adBut these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 12 Woe to them! For they walked in ^aethe way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain ^afto Balaam’s error and ^agperished in Korah’s rebellion. 13 These are hidden reefs ^{▼▼Or are blemishes} ^aiat your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, ^ajshepherds feeding themselves; ^akwaterless clouds, ^alswept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, ^amuprooted; 14 ^anwild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of ^aotheir own shame; ^apwandering stars, ^aqfor whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

15 It was also about these that Enoch, ^arthe seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, ^as“Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 16 ^atto execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have ^aucommitted in such an ungodly way, and of all ^avthe harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 17 These are grumblers, malcontents, ^awfollowing their own sinful desires; ^axthey are loud-mouthed boasters, ^ayshowing favoritism to gain advantage.

A Call to Persevere

18 But you must ^azremember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 19 They ^{▼▼Or Christ, because they} said to you, ^bb“In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 20 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, ^bcdevoid of the Spirit. 21 But you, beloved, ^bdbuilding yourselves up in your most holy faith and ^bepraying in the Holy Spirit, 22 ^bfkeep yourselves in the love of God, ^bgwaiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 23 And have mercy on those who doubt; 24 save others by ^bhsnatching them out of ^bithe fire; to others show mercy ^bjwith fear, hating even ^bkthe garment ^{▼▼Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin} stained by the flesh.

Doxology

25 ^bmNow to him who is able ^bnto keep you from stumbling and ^boto present you ^bpblameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,