Jude
About this date: Dates are broad scholarly estimates of composition or final editing, not dates of the events narrated. Traditional attributions and scholarly assessments can differ.
Jude urges its readers to contend for the faith amid disruptive teachers. It draws on Israel's Scriptures and other Jewish traditions, including material associated with 1 Enoch. The greeting identifies a Jude who is brother of James; connecting him to other New Testament figures requires historical argument.
Key points
- The letter's use of noncanonical Jewish material does not itself define that material's canonical status.
- Jude's warnings and final mercy instructions belong together.
- Its close literary relation to 2 Peter should be studied without assuming which work borrowed from the other as a settled fact.
Scripture
- Jude 1:1-4 — The greeting and purpose introduce the warning.
- Jude 1:5-16 — Judgment examples include Jewish traditions beyond the canonical books.
- Jude 1:17-25 — The closing calls for memory, mercy, and praise.
Primary sources
Jude 1:14 states:
Jude explicitly introduces a prophecy by Enoch; this shows its use of an Enochic tradition, without declaring the entire book of 1 Enoch canonical.
About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,
Passage context and translation
Judgment examples include Jewish traditions beyond the canonical books.
Before the excerpt
wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.
After the excerpt
to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”