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Author |
Jude (the brother of James, and the half-brother of Jesus Christ) |
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Date |
Between A.D. 65 and 80 |
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Title |
From the book's author: Jude |
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Background |
Jude writes this letter to combat a false teaching in the Church that is a form of Gnosticism. This erroneous doctrine teaches that the sins of the body do not affect the purity of the soul and, thus, opens the door for people to engage in all kinds of immoral and perverted evils. |
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Where |
Uncertain |
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To Whom |
To believers in Jesus Christ |
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Content |
Jude writes this letter to warn believers that godless men bearing false doctrines about Jesus and the Christian life are polluting the churches. Jude reminds the people of God's previous dealings with the sins of Israel's unbelief, of angels' disobedience, and of Sodom and Gomorrah's corruption. These 3 Old Testament judgments are followed by 3 declarations of woe upon the sins of Cain, Balaam, and Korah. Jude refers to Enoch's prophecy of the doom of the ungodly and refers to the Apostles' predictions of evil, divisions, and apostasy. But still Jude encourages the faithful to remain strong and true and to show mercy to those who doubt. He states that his purpose in the letter is to call them to “contend earnestly for the faith”. |
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Themes |
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Key |
“Contend”; “Ungodly.” The mission of this letter from Jude is to urge the believers to “contend” for the faith, which has been entrusted to them. It painstakingly details the sin and the assured judgment of all “ungodly” people. |
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Outline |
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