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New Testament Notes
The Epistle of Jude
The following notes are intended to supplement, not replace, the readings from the Bible and the text book.
Comments or questions should be sent to: Dr. Rollinson.
Jude
The author identifies himself as "Jude, the brother of James". "Jude" is a version of the Hebrew name Judah, which becomes Judas in Greek. Of the several men called Judah/Judas in the New Testament, the most likely author of this epistle is Judas, "the brother of the Lord" (Matt. 13:55). He writes to Christians in general, to warn them about false teachers and those who are bringing immorality into the Church (Jude v.4).
The date of the letter is not known, but it seems that 2 Peter incorporates material from Jude, so a date of around A.D. 65 is probable.
Commentary
Jude v.1 - see Matt. 13:55, Mark 6:3
Jude v.3 - "the saints" refers to all who have been "sanctified" or "set apart for God" - all Christians. Compare Romans 1:7, 1 Cor. 1:2, Eph.1:1, Phil. 1:1, Col.1:2, 1 Peter 1:2, 15-16
Jude v.4 - compare Matt. 24:11, 24, Luke 21:7-8, Acts 20:30, 2 Cor. 11:3-4 & 13-15, Gal 1:6-9, Col. 2:8, 1 Tim. 1:3-7 & 4:1-2, 7 & 6:20-21, 2 Tim. 2:14, 16-18, & 4:3-4, Titus 1:10-11, 2 Peter 2:1-3, 1 John 2:26, 2:1
Jude v.5 - see Exodus, chapters 3-15 & Numbers 11:1-3, 14:20-23, 26-30, 36-37, 16:20-35 & 41-50, 21:5-9
Jude v.6 - see Matt. 25:41, Rev. 12:7-8 & 20:1-3, 7-10, 2 Peter 2:4, 9
Jude v.7 - see Genesis 18:20-21, 19:1-29, 2 Peter 2:6
Jude v.8 - see 2 Peter 2:10
Jude v.9 - this refers to a non-canonical story called "The Assumption of Moses"
Jude v.11 - Cain - see Gen. 4:3-12; Balaam - see Numbers, chapters 22-24, 2 Peter 2:15, Balaam was a prophet for hire; Korah - see Numbers 16:1-35
Jude v.12-13 - see 2 Peter 2:13-22, Ezekiel 34:8-10, Isaiah 57:20-21
Jude v.14 - Enoch was the seventh generation of mankind (counting Adam as the first), see Genesis 5:1-24. The quotation is from the non-canonical "Book of Enoch", see also Rev., chapters 19 & 20
Jude v.15 - see 2 Peter 2:6-9
Jude v.16 - see 2 Peter 2:10, 18
Jude v.17-19 - see 2 Peter 3:2-3, Acts 20:29, Eph. 4:11, 1 Tim. 4:1, 2 Tim. 3:1-5
Jude v.20 - see Rom. 8:26-27, Eph. 6:18
Jude v.21 - see John 11:25, 2 Peter 3:12
Jude v.22-23 - see James 5:19-20
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