Jude 1

      1, 2. Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ. See /Commentaries/PeoplesNewTestament/pnt.cgi?book=re&chapter=000#" for his identification. Had he been an apostle, he would hardly have omitted to state it. See Salutations of the Epistles of Paul and Peter. Brother of James. James, "the brother of the Lord," the James of Jerusalem. The brethren of Jesus were James and Joses, and Jude and Simon ( Matt. 13:55 ). Called. Those invited who have accepted are styled the called.

      3, 4. When I gave all diligence. His thought was that when he proposed to write diligently and carefully some need impelled him to write at once, more briefly perhaps than he had purposed. Earnestly contend for the faith which was once, etc. He exhorts to contend for the faith delivered once for all, the faith without innovation, the gospel of the apostles in distinction from the adulterations of false teachers. The doctrine of a progressive revelation after the apostles is not found in the New Testament. 4. For there are certain men. Men who have crept in without their character being understood. Who were before of old ordained to this condemnation. Whose coming was predicted and whose lives were placed under condemnation. See Jude 1:14 Jude 1:17 . To this condemnation. This condemnation which comes on all the ungodly. Turning the grace of our God. Of the gospel. Instead of self-restraint they live lascivious lives. The warrant for this was found in "the freedom of the children of God." From the very times of the apostles there have been Antinomians who have held that what was sin to others might be permitted to the sanctified. They asserted that the Spirit was not defiled by the sins of the body. Denying our only Lord Jesus Christ. "Lord God" is not found in the best manuscript. Their denial of Christ was a denial that he had come in the flesh. These sectaries held that the flesh was wholly sinful.

      5-7. I will therefore put you in remembrance. Of how God speaks judgments on sinners. How that the Lord, etc. Having saved the people out of Egypt, the people were destroyed for their sins in the wilderness. See Num. 14:29 . 6. And the angels which kept not their first estate. See note on /Commentaries/PeoplesNewTestament/pnt.cgi?book=&chapter=000#_" These angels, then, had fallen. Created holy, they had sinned and become wicked angels, or evil spirits. Left their own habitation. Their own proper home. Some see a reference to Gen. 6:2 . He hath reserved. God hath imprisoned them and kept them for judgment. 7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha. See notes on /Commentaries/PeoplesNewTestament/pnt.cgi?book=&chapter=000#_" /Commentaries/PeoplesNewTestament/pnt.cgi?book=&chapter=000#_" also Gen. 19:24 . For their lasciviousness terrible destruction came upon them. Set forth for an example. Utterly destroyed by fire they are an example that points to the eternal fire.

      8-10. Likewise also these filthy dreamers. These men who are agitated by impure dreams. Despise dominion. See notes on /Commentaries/PeoplesNewTestament/pnt.cgi?book=&chapter=000#_" 9. Yet Michael the archangel. Michael is brought forward as a contrast with those who speak evil of dignities. He is called by Daniel "the Great Prince," and here the archangel, or head angel. Yet in addressing the devil, a fallen angel, he did not rail at him, but only said, "The Lord rebuke thee." The reference is not to a statement of the Bible, but to a Jewish tradition which held that the burial place of Moses was placed under the charge of Michael. 10. But these speak evil of those things which they know not. Of spiritual and unseen things. But what they know naturally. By the natural senses. In these things they corrupt themselves.