Jude’s Contemporary History
Introduction:
Jude in declaring a relation to James, has established himself as one of Jesus’ half-brothers. The declaration He has proclaimed, is that they all ought to be continuing in the Good News (‘the Faith’), which was ‘once’ delivered. Thus, they are not to be subject to perversion or reshaping of It by men. This is thought to be before the fall of Jerusalem to Rome (AD70) and during the move of many out of Judah because of the war with Rome that the Jews began in AD66. Most of the Apostles appear to have died and the New Covenant is being written, published, and circulating, but it is not finished, as the Holy Spirit will add five additional Books by Professor John over the next 30 years. Those will conclude the contemporary histories concerning Jesus.
Date: A.D. 68ish
Text:
(1st) Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, and a brother of James, to those who are beloved in God the Father, called and guarded in Jesus Christ: Mercy and peace to you all, and may love be multiplied [increased]! {2}
(2nd) Beloved, I am eager, yes, I am compelled to write to you about our common salvation, to encourage you to strive earnestly in defense for ‘the Faith’, which was entrusted once for all to the saints. ‘Certain godless men’, long ago marked out unto this condemnation, have slipped in stealthily, and have distorted God’s Grace into sensuality, disowning our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. {4}
(3rd) I want you, who are fully aware of all this, [1] to remember that the Lord, having once saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. [2] Also, angels, who did not keep their own dwelling; but more so, deserted it, He has kept in an eternal prison, under darkness, unto the Judgment of the great Day. [3] In the same way, Sodom and Gomorrah, and neighboring cities also, which fornicated and practiced unnatural lust, serve as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. {7}
[4] Likewise, ‘these’ dreamers: [a] defile the flesh, and [b] reject authority, and [c] revile rulers. But Michael the archangel, disputing and arguing with the devil about Moses’ body, did not take it upon himself to bring a charge of blasphemy, but more so, said, “May the Lord rebuke you.” But ‘these’ blaspheme things of which ‘they’ have [a] no knowledge, and [b] in the things ‘they’ do understand naturally, like unreasoning, wild animals, they corrupt themselves.
Woe to ‘them’, because: [A] ‘they’ [1] walk in the way of Cain, and [2] abandon ‘themselves’ into Balaam’s deception for pay, and [3] destroy ‘themselves’ in the rebellion of Korah. [B] ‘These’ are rocks in your love feasts. Brazenly ‘they’ feast with you, feeding ‘themselves’. [C] ‘They’ are waterless clouds driven by the wind, [D] trees in late autumn, without fruit, twice dead, uprooted; [E] wild waves of the sea, foaming up with ‘their’ own shameless deeds; [F] wandering stars, for whom the gloom of darkness has been forever reserved. {10}
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied of ‘these’, saying, “Behold! The Lord comes with His holy myriads to bring judgment against all, and to condemn every soul for all their godless deeds which they have wickedly committed, and for all the harsh things which godless sinners have spoken against Him.” [G] ‘These’ are grumblers, faultfinders, who walk after ‘their’ own lusts, and ‘their’ mouth speaks boastfully, flattering people for favors. {16}
(4th) But you, beloved, remember the Words previously spoken by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockery, walking after ‘their’ own godless lusts.” ‘These’ are divisive, and worldly, and have not the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up in ‘the most sacred Faith’, pray in the Holy Spirit, and you must keep yourselves in [the] love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. {21}
You all [a] must have mercy on those who are in doubt; and [b] save others, snatching them out of the fire; and [c] have mercy on others with trembling, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. {23}
(5th) Now, [A] to the One who [1] can guard you from stumbling and [2] make you stand faultless before His splendor in gladness, [B] to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord is the [a] splendor, [b] majesty, [c] power, and [d] authority before all time, and now, and forever, amen.