Faith & Reason Nexus

AUTHOR: Jude, one of the Lord’s brothers

TIME WRITTEN: Probable range: A.D. 66-80

POSITION IN THE BIBLE:

• 65th Book in the Bible
• 26th Book in the New Testament
• 21st and last of 21 Epistle Books (Romans – Jude)

CHAPTERS: 1

VERSES: 25

WORDS: 613

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT JUDE:

• Author’s Identity:
• Jude is identified as one of Jesus’ brothers, referred to as Judas in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3.
• His only other New Testament reference is in 1 Corinthians 9:5, which mentions the “brothers of the Lord” taking their wives on missionary journeys.
• Judas and James are the only brothers of Jesus who authored New Testament books.
• Audience and Purpose:
• Jude does not specify his audience or geographical location.
• He begins by focusing on the common salvation of believers and then urges them to contend for the faith.
• The letter addresses the issue of false teachers who were using God’s grace as a pretext for immoral behavior.
• Warnings and Exhortations:
• Jude reminds readers of God’s judgment on:
  • Unbelieving Israel
  • Disobedient angels
  • Wicked Sodom and Gomorrah
• The epistle condemns the corrupt practices of ungodly libertines and encourages believers to:
  • Stand firm
  • Grow in their faith
  • Contend earnestly for the faith
• Unique References:
• Jude is the only book that refers to the dispute between Michael the archangel and the devil over the body of Moses (Jude 9).
• Benediction:
• Jude’s closing benediction is one of the most beautiful in the Bible: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).