Jude 1 Study Notes

11 Jude also compared the heretics to Cain (Gn 4:4-5,8-9), Balaam (Nm 22:1-24:25; 31:16), and Korah (Nm 16:1-35). These men deceived others and were known for their hatred, greed, and rebellion.

12-13 To demonstrate further that the false teachers were like those mentioned earlier (v. 11), Jude portrayed them with several metaphors. He described them as dangerous reefs at your love feasts. This means the false teachers were like submerged rocks, unseen by sailors, that could wreck a ship. “Love feasts” were fellowship meals at which the Lord’s Supper was observed. These heretics were shepherds who only look after themselves without any concern for others. They were useless and full of empty promises like waterless clouds carried along by winds. Jude portrayed them as barren fruit trees and wild waves of the sea that deposited their refuse of shameful deeds on the shore of people’s lives. The heretics were also like wandering stars for whom the blackness of darkness was reserved forever. Some scholars hold that Jude was influenced here by 1 Enoch 18:13-16. In this text the rebellion of heavenly beings caused the planets to wander. Or, Jude was possibly thinking of the angels who fell earlier (Jd 6). Angels falling from heaven were sometimes pictured as falling stars (cp. Is 14:12-15; Rv 9:1). Like disobedient angels destined for eternal punishment, heretics are heading for eternal darkness.

14-15 Jude emphasized that the heretics would suffer divine retribution. He pictured this judgment by quoting a prophecy from 1 Enoch 1:9. Their punishment would take place when the Lord returns to judge the wicked.

16 In the previous verse, Jude warned that the heretics would be judged for their deeds and words. In this verse he focused more on their words. The false teachers were self-indulgent, discontented complainers. They uttered arrogant words, flattering people in order to take what they wanted from them.

17-19 Jude urged his readers to remember that these false teachers were nothing new because the apostles had foretold of such people who scoffed at those who refused to follow them. Jude may have referred to warnings like those in Ac 20:29-30 and 1Tm 4:1-3. The heretics created divisions and followed their ungodly desires. As people who were worldly, they did not have the Spirit.

20-23 After primarily describing the false teachers up to this point, Jude now exhorted his readers on how to contend for the faith (cp. v. 3). They were to show mercy to those who were wavering, reach out to those who had already been taken in and needed to be snatched from the fire (cp. Am 4:11; Zch 3:2), and show concern for the wayward heretics, all at the same time. But believers were to be careful lest they also became defiled.

24-25 Jude ended his letter with a doxology that served as a reminder of the divine power available to believers as they contend against heretics. He praised God because he was able to protect believers from falling into the sinful practices of the false teachers and grant them entrance into his glorious presence.