The book of Jude is the last of the seven ‘catholic’ (or ‘universal’) letters of the New Testament. It is also one of the shortest books in the Bible and comprises a single chapter of only 25 verses.
Authorship The author identifies himself as Jude (v. 1), which is a form of the common Hebrew name Judah (or, in Greek, ‘Judas’).
Of those named Jude in the NT, those most likely to be author of this letter are:
1. The apostle Jude Thaddeus, one of the twelve Apostles and the brother of James the Less (see Lk 6:16; Ac 1:13 and note). It was this Jude who asked
Jesus at the Last Supper, ‘Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?’ (John 14:22).
Jesus at the Last Supper, ‘Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?’ (John 14:22).
2. Judas the brother of the Lord (Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3).
3. He is definitely not Judas Iscariot because he died before the resurrection.
The second-named is the more likely. For example, the author does not claim to be an apostle and even seems to separate himself from the apostles (v. 17). Furthermore, he describes himself as a 'brother of James' (v. 1). Ordinarily a person in Jude’s day would describe himself as someone’s son rather than as someone’s brother. The reason for the exception here may have been James’s prominence in the church at Jerusalem.
Neither Jude nor James sought special privileges from being brothers of Jesus. Indeed, neither describes himself as a brother, but others always spoke of them in that way (see Mt 13:55; Jn 7:3–10; Ac 1:14; 1Co 9:5; Gal 1:19).
Date There is nothing in the letter that requires a date beyond the lifetime of Jude the brother (or stepbrother) of the Lord. The question of the relationship between the books of Jude and 2 Peter has a bearing on the date of Jude. If 2 Peter makes use of Jude—which is a commonly accepted view—then Jude needs to be dated before 64 AD when Peter was martyred. It certainly appears that Jude’s readers were first-hand witnesses of the apostles (see vv. 17–18).
Content Jude wrote his letter to Messianic believers who were familiar with Old Testament scriptures and Jewish literature. He uses these texts intelligently.
Although Jude was eager to teach his readers about salvation, his main teaching is a warning against men who were perverting the grace of God (see v. 4). He refutes these corrupt teachers who he thought were leading his flock astray, and describes them in vivid terms as apostates.
Although Jude was eager to teach his readers about salvation, his main teaching is a warning against men who were perverting the grace of God (see v. 4). He refutes these corrupt teachers who he thought were leading his flock astray, and describes them in vivid terms as apostates.
Both Jude and 2 Peter sought to combat a heresy that was common at the time of Peter’s death (cf. Ac 20:29–30; Rom 6:1; 1 Cor 5:1–11; 2 Cor 12:21; Gal 5:13; Eph 5:3–17; 1 Thess 4:6).
These false teachers seem to have tried to convince believers that being saved by grace gave them licence to sin since their sins would no longer be held against them. The teachers believed their own teaching and therefore lived immoral lives. (It is generally thought that these false teachers were Gnostics — they taught that matter is evil, so Jesus can’t have been a real flesh-and-blood human.) Jude taught his readers against such men and told them to be prepared to oppose them using the truth about God’s saving grace.
Finally, Jude is unique in containing the only verse in the Bible that refers to Michael being an Archangel (verse 9). It also quotes extensively from books in the so-called apocrypha, such as Enoch.
Jude fact file
Author Jude the brother of James. He is probably the same Jude who was the brother / stepbrother of Jesus.
Date Soon before the martyrdom of St Peter, which occurred in 64 AD.
Main purpose of writing Jude wrote to warn the Church against immoral teachers who taught alarming heresies which endangered the faith of the
believers.
believers.
Key verse Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the
salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated for this
condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 3–4, NIV)
salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated for this
condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 3–4, NIV)
https://thebibleproject.com/explore/jude
https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/intro-to-jude
http://biblescripture.net/Jude.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistle_of_Jude
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