Jude

Composition

Jude, also known as the letter of Jude, is a book in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a letter, or an epistle, like many other New Testament books. Like many other biblical epistles, the book gets its name from the author Jude, sometimes known as Judah. Little is known about Jude, but many scholars and theologians agree that he was a member of the early Christian Church. Most also agree that he was most likely the same person as a man named Jude who is mentioned multiple times in the New Testament. However, theologians disagree about Jude’s relationship with Jesus.

The Jude named in the New Testament is referred to as Jesus’s brother in multiple places. The New Testament also names other men as Jesus’s brothers and mentions his sisters. Theories about Jesus’s relationship to Jude and the others named as his brothers and sisters in the New Testament have been shaped by the text as well as by doctrinal differences that exist between various Christian sects.

Sects of Christianity have dissimilar doctrinal beliefs about Jesus and his mother, Mary, and these variations affect how various groups of Christians view these relationships. Most sects of Christianity (though not all Christian theologians) believe that Jesus’s mother, Mary, was a virgin when she gave birth to him. They believe that Mary conceived Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit (one person in the triune Christian God) without sexual intercourse. However, sects have different beliefs about Mary after Jesus’s birth.

Catholics and Greek Orthodox Christians believe that Mary remained a virgin her entire life, making it impossible for her to have more children with her husband, Joseph. Protestants, however, do not believe in Mary’s lifelong virginity and contend that Mary and Joseph had multiple children after Jesus’s birth. They believe that Jesus’s brothers and sisters mentioned in the Bible are Mary’s children and Jesus’s siblings.

Catholics and other Christians who believe in Mary’s lifelong virginity have differing beliefs about the relationship between Jesus and those named as his brothers and sisters in the Bible. Some theologians believe the labels “brother” and “sister” showed a closeness between Jesus and the people named. Other scholars have theorized that Joseph may have children from a previous marriage, and those children would have been Jesus’s half-siblings.

Furthermore, some scholars believe that Jude is a pseudonymous letter whose actual author lived after Jude and other prominent New Testament died. Because of the differing opinions about the author’s identity, scholars and theologians also disagree about when the author wrote Jude. Broad estimates indicate that the letter could have been authored between 50 and 120 CE. However, numerous modern scholars believe the work was written in the early second century. If the later time estimates are true, the author was not the Jude mentioned in the New Testament. Scholars point out that the later dating may be correct because the letter seems to warn Christians against embracing gnostic beliefs, which were popular at the beginning of the second century.

Jude’s letter is addressed to a general Christian audience and is meant as a warning to Christians that they should not believe false teachers. It urges Christians to stay true to the faith that was handed down from others. Although Jude is structured as an epistle, the document is more of a literary work than a letter. Whereas some of the Pauline letters, such as Galatians, are personal letters that address issues inside specific churches, epistles such as Jude are more like literary works that address general concerns in the Christian Church and are not addressed to a specific group inside the Church.

Summary

Like other New Testament epistles, the Book of Jude opens with a greeting. Jude refers to himself as “a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James” (Jude 1.1). Jude’s self-identification as a slave is reminiscent of some of Saint Paul the Apostle’s letters as he occasionally used the same phrase to describe himself. The “James” that the author names in the greeting most likely refers to the James identified in the New Testament as Jesus’s brother. Jude then addresses a general Christian audience, saying that his letter is to “those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ” (Jude 1.1). He then wishes peace and mercy on his audience.

In the body of the letter, Jude indicates that he is writing his letter because he is concerned that some Christians are endangering themselves through their beliefs. Jude indicates that people in his audience have not adhered to the faith “that was once for all handed down to the holy ones” (Jude 1.3). People who believe that an author wrote the letter in the early second century characterize this line as indicating that faith can be understood through doctrine that is handed down from one generation to the next. If the Jude of the New Testament was the letter’s author, he would not have this insight about handing down doctrine to new generations. Jude also mentions that he first wanted to write to his audience about Christians’ “common salvation” (Jude 1.3), indicating that his plans for his letter changed after learning about actions and beliefs among Christians who troubled him.

Jude then explains that the troubles in the Church have been caused by “intruders.” Jude indicates that the intruders have nefarious intentions. He says that these people “pervert the grace of our God” (Jude 1.4). He tells the audience these interlopers have tried to change the Church’s teachings, and he says that they are not true followers of Jesus Christ, saying that they “deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 1.4).

In the next part of his letter, Jude reminds Christians about actions that God took in the Old Testament. Jude wants his audience to remember that God helped people who were faithful to him and punished those who did not believe in him. Through this reminder, Jude indicates that his Christian audience could face punishment if they stray from their belief in God.

Jude provides numerous examples of God’s wrath toward those who do not believe or disobey. For example, Jude says, “once saved a people from the land of Egypt later destroyed those who did not believe” (Jude 1.5). Jude also cites the example of angels who defied God and were punished for their wrongdoing. He also includes the Old Testament example of the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah, where God saved the faithful and struck down those who did not believe in him.

Jude then uses Saint Michael the Archangel as a positive example for his audience. He explains that Saint Michael relied on God for help and was faithful to God. He contrasts the saint with the “intruders” he has been condemning throughout the letter. He explains that the intruders are sinful and will experience God’s eternal punishment for their sins.

In the next part of his letter, Jude exhorts the Christian audience to “remember the words spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1.17), again reminding the audience that they should follow the beliefs that were handed down to them and not accept the beliefs of outsiders.

Jude continues to urge Christians to stay faithful, telling them to pray and avoid “the ones who cause division.” He also adds that Christians should have mercy on people of the faith who “waiver,” but he also urges them to try to help other Christians who are in danger of losing their faith.

In the closing of his letter, Jude presents a prayer that praises God. He reminds his audience that God is the only one who can “keep you from stumbling and . . . present you unblemished and exultant” (Jude 1.24).

Themes

One of the important themes in Jude is living according to the Christian faith. Throughout his letter, Jude points out that God punishes people who do not believe in him or disobey him. He uses examples from scripture to show that Christians should do their best to please God and not anger God. He also mentions that Christians should follow the faith that has been handed down to them from previous generations. This indicates that Jude believes that some people are trying to change the Church’s beliefs and the people trying to do so will be punished.

Some of the themes from Jude are repeated in other New Testament books. For example, 2 Peter has themes of faithfulness and the possibility of God’s punishment. Scholars have noted the strong relationship between Jude and 2 Peter, and some have suggested that one of the letters was written based on the other letter. Most scholars believe that Jude was written before 2 Peter, making it likely that 2 Peter’s author borrowed the style and themes of Jude. Furthermore, Jude uses more references to Jewish scripture, which most likely indicates that it was written earlier.

Bibliography

The Bible. New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE). Oxford University Press, 2011.

“Jude.” Insight for Living Ministries, insight.org/resources/bible/the-general-epistles/jude. Accessed 25 Apr. 2022.

“Jude.” USCCB, 2022, bible.usccb.org/bible/jude/1. Accessed 25 Apr. 2022.

Moo, Douglas J. 2 Peter, Jude. Zondervan, 2011.

Schiffer, Kathy. “What About the Brothers and Sisters of Jesus?” National Catholic Register, 23 April 2019, www.ncregister.com/blog/what-about-the-brothers-and-sisters-of-jesus. Accessed 29 Apr. 2022.

Wasserman, Tommy. The Epistle of Jude. Almqvist & Wiksell International, 2006.

Youngblood, Ronald F. NIV Study Bible. Zondervan, 2011.