CHAPTER ONE

 

 

1:1:  “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James” = Jude sustained a near relation to the Lord Jesus, being, as James was, “the Lord’s brother,” Matthew 13:55 (here called “Judas”); Mark 6:3; Galatians 1:19.  Jude mentions that he is the “brother of James,” perhaps to give authority and weight to his words, for James was far more distinguished and influential than he.  Jude may also be acting as John did in not identifying himself out of an act of humility, mentioning his relationship to his brother James, but not his brother Jesus.  According to “Fausset’s Bible Dictionary,” “Origen (comm. on Mat. 13:55) says ‘Jude the Lord’s brother wrote an Epistle of few lines, but full of the strong words of Heavenly grace.’ ”

 

“sanctified. . . preserved. . . called” = Note the three things needed to be a “servant of Jesus Christ.”

 

1:3:  “common salvation” = From “Albert Barnes Notes On The Bible” we read:  “The meaning is, that he did not think of writing on any subject pertaining to a particular class or party, but on some subject in which all who were Christians had a common interest.”

 

The meaning could also be that Jude calls this a “common salvation” because it belongs equally to Jews and Gentiles.  However, it could also be, and most likely is the meaning, that false teachers were becoming so prevalent -- thus the purpose for writing this Epistle -- that so much false doctrine was coming into the Church that the Church was becoming “common” with the world.

 

1:4:  “before of old ordained” = Not in the sense of being “ordained,” such as an “ordained minister,” but, meaning, “previously set forth,” or “any while ago,” or “a great while ago, in time past,” such that these “men” were previously committed to the Churches doctrine but have now changed into false believers and have “creep in unawares” into the Church; most likely easily because they were once trusted as brethren.

 

“this condemnation” = The “condemnation” is explained below.”

 

“denying the Only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” = This is a parallel of Second Peter 2:1, how they then affect the Church with their false doctrine.  Verse 10 teaches us that they “speak evil of those things which they know not,” (see verse 19 also) because they do not understand nor appreciate spiritual things; but put their weight of understanding on earthly things.  And the reason they do it is “for reward,” verse 11.  We, as believers, understand that the real force behind this deception in the Church is Satan.

 

Here is my Second Peter 2:1 Note:  What we might want to understand is what these false prophets / teachers are bringing into the Church.  Peter gives the answer as being, “denying the Lord that bought them.”  A better translation of “bought,” Greek, “agoradzo,” would be, “bought with a price,” or even more clearly put, “redeemed” them.

 

Why the early Church would not perceive this incoming doctrine is interesting, in that we, in our day, would think we could also recognize this heresy.  The main point of how they do it is to start by “beguiling unstable souls,” verse 14, who then, most likely, being friends and or respected in the Church, “beguile” even more Church “souls.”

 

Then comes verse 18 (in Second Peter):  “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh.”  Then “they promise them liberty,” verse 19, from the Law of God, which is most likely the main drawing point and the ultimate purpose, in other words, to make the Law of God of none effect.  Which leads to, ultimately, they again become “entangled,” with “the pollutions of the world,” verse 20.  See what happens when you mess with the Ten Commandments?

 

1:6:  “the angels which kept not their first estate” = Here is another verse in a LONG list of verses that goes against the doctrine, or concept, of “Once Saved Always Saved.”  If anyone was in a better state of salvation, i.e., in Heaven, please show me.  Otherwise, See my Bible Study:  “ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED.”

​

1:9: “Michael” = See my Bible Study, “MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL, IDENTIFICATION OF.”

“I saw that Moses passed through death, but Michael came down and gave him life before he saw corruption. Satan claimed the body as his, but Michael resurrected Moses, and took him to Heaven. The Devil tried to hold his body, and railed out bitterly against God, denounced Him as unjust, in taking from him his prey. But Michael did not rebuke the Devil, although it was through his temptation and power that God’s servant had fallen. Christ {Here Michael equals Christ} meekly referred him to His Father, saying, The Lord rebuke thee.” 1SG:43.

“Moses came under the dominion of death. If he had continued faithful, and his life had not been marred with that one transgression, in failing to give to God the glory of bringing water from the rock [see Num. 20:7-12 Note], he would have entered the promised land, and would have been translated to Heaven without seeing death.” 1SP:342; 4aSG:57; ST, March 31, 1881; SR:173.

“[57] Satan exulted that he had succeeded in causing Moses to sin against God. For this transgression, Moses came under the dominion of death. If he had continued faithful, and his life had not been marred with [58] that one transgression, in failing to give to God the glory of bringing water from the rock, he would have entered the promised land, and would have been translated to Heaven without seeing death. Michael, or Christ, with the angels that buried Moses, came down from Heaven, after he had remained in the grave a short time, and resurrected him, and took him to Heaven.” 4aSG4:57-58; 1SP:342.

“[342] Michael, or Christ, with the angels that buried Moses, came down from Heaven, after he had remained in the grave a short time, and resurrected him, and took him to Heaven.

“As Christ and the angels approached the grave, Satan and his angels appeared at the grave, and were guarding the body of Moses, lest it should be removed. As Christ and His angels drew nigh, Satan resisted their approach, but was compelled, [343]

“by the glory and power of Christ and His angels, to fall back. Satan claimed the body of Moses, because of his one transgression; but Christ meekly referred him to His Father, saying, ‘The Lord rebuke thee.’ {Jude 1:9} Christ told Satan that he knew Moses had humbly repented of this one wrong, that no stain rested upon his character, and that his name in the Heavenly Book of Records stood untarnished. Then Christ resurrected the body of Moses, which Satan had claimed.” 1SP:342-343.

“Many who had been unwilling to heed the counsels of Moses while he was with them would have been in danger of committing idolatry over his dead body had they known the place of his burial. For this reason it was concealed from men.” ST, March 31, 1881; PP:477-478.

“durst not bring against him a railing accusation” = “. . . lest men should put on zeal of their own creating, born of their hereditary and cultivated traits of character, and count it true zeal for God, permitting Satan to get advantage of them in so doing, Jude presents the example of Christ. He says, (verse quoted).” 19MR:106.

“The course of Christ in dealing even with the adversary of souls, should be an example to us in all our intercourse with others, never to bring a railing accusation against any; much less should we employ harshness or severity toward those who may be as anxious to know the right way as we are ourselves.” 9T:240.2; CW:59.3; RH October 14, 1902, paragraph 5.

 

1:11:  “Core” = The Greek form of “Korah.”  The account is given in Numbers 16:1-30.

 

1:14-16:  “the Lord Cometh with ten thousands of His saints” = Enoch’s “face was radiant with a holy light which would remain upon his countenance while instructing those who would hear his words of wisdom.  His Heavenly and dignified appearance struck the people with awe.”  1SP:63.

 

Here is my First Thessalonians 3:13 Note:  “with all His saints” = The Greek word “Hagios” is translated “holy” 161 times, mostly referring to the Holy Ghost.   It is translated as “saints” 61 times, and “Holy One” 4 times.  In Matthew 25:31, “hagios” is translated “holy angels” which return with Christ, while in Matthew 27:52, “hagios” is translated “saints,” which arose with Christ.

 

In Luke 1:70, Acts 3:21, Ephesians 3:5, and Second Peter 3:2, “hagios” is again used to indicate the holiness of mankind, i.e., “prophets” (see also 1Pe. 3:5 and 2Pe. 1:21).  In Acts 6:13; 7:33; 21:28, “hagios” is used in reference to a Holy place.  In Romans 16:15, First Corinthians 1:2 and other places, we find a clear reference to the fact that this Greek word “hagios” can be used to mean “saints.”

 

If the Greek word “Hagios” simply means “holy ones,” as in referring only to God and angels, than it is not “the saints [that] shall judge the world,” First Corinthians 6:2, or “golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints,” Revelation 5:8; 8:3.  Therefore, since the word “hagios” can be translated either way here, i.e., “saints” or “holy ones,” as in angels (and the same is true for Jude 1:14), then this passage can only be referring to Christ’s Third Coming, since angels are not the “saints” in this passage.

 

1:16:  “having men’s persons” = Meaning, having wealth, surface countenance aspects, or admiration, marvel, and wonder properties; which gives them an “advantage.”

 

1:18:  “there should be” = A better translation of the word “should” would be “would,” the Greek being, “hoti,” meaning “because.”  This makes more sense, in that “because there will be mockers,” as opposed to the idea that there “should be mockers” in the last days.