The Letter of Jude

The Letter of Jude is a short and urgent letter that calls the community of believers to contend for the faith that was once for all handed down to the saints. It provides a sharp warning against certain individuals who had secretly entered the Church and were perverting the grace of God into licentiousness. We find a series of historical examples of divine judgment that serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences of rebellion and immorality. This book reminds us that we should remain built up in our most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.

The text contains a magnificent doxology that praises the One who is able to keep us from falling and to present us without blemish before the presence of His glory. We are encouraged to have mercy on those who waver and to save others by snatching them from the fire as we keep ourselves in the love of God. The Letter of Jude stresses the importance of waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. This letter invites us to a vigilant and courageous faith that is anchored in the promises of the Lord and the power of His protection.

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Chapters

Chapter 1

¹Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are beloved in God the Father, and who are guarded and called in Jesus Christ: ? ²May mercy, and peace, and love be fulfilled in you. ? ³Most beloved, taking all care to write to you about your common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you in order to beg you to contend earnestly for the faith that was handed down once to the saints. ? ⁴For certain men entered unnoticed, who were written of beforehand unto this judgment: impious persons who are transforming the grace of our God into self-indulgence, and who are denying both the sole Ruler and our Lord Jesus Christ. ? ⁵So I want to caution you. Those who once knew everything that Jesus did, in saving the people from the land of Egypt, afterwards perished because they did not believe. ? ⁶And truly, the Angels, who did not keep to their first place, but instead abandoned their own domiciles, he has reserved with perpetual chains under darkness, unto the great day of judgment. ? ⁷And also Sodom and Gomorrah, and the adjoining cities, in similar ways, having given themselves over to fornication and to the pursuing of other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. ? ⁸Similarly also, these ones certainly defile the flesh, and they despise proper authority, and they blaspheme against majesty. ? ⁹When Michael the Archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring against him a judgment of blasphemy, so instead he said: �The Lord commands you.� ? ¹⁰But these men certainly blaspheme against whatever they do not understand. And yet, whatever they, like mute animals, know from nature, in these things they are corrupted. ? ¹¹Woe to them! For they have gone after the way of Cain, and they have poured out the error of Balaam for profit, and they have perished in the sedition of Korah. ? ¹²These ones are defiled within their banquets, enjoying themselves and feeding themselves without fear; waterless clouds, which are tossed about by winds; autumn trees, unfruitful, twice dead, uprooted; ? ¹³raging waves of the sea, foaming from their own confusion; wandering stars, for whom the whirlwind of darkness has been reserved forever! ? ¹⁴And about these, Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied, saying: �Behold, the Lord is arriving with thousands of his saints, ? ¹⁵to execute judgment against everyone, and to reprove all the impious concerning all the works of their impiety, by which they have acted impiously, and concerning all the harsh things that impious sinners have spoken against God.� ? ¹⁶These ones are complaining murmurers, walking according to their own desires. And their mouth is speaking arrogance, admiring persons for the sake of gain. ? ¹⁷But as for you, most beloved, be mindful of the words which have been foretold by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, ? ¹⁸who declared to you that, in the end time, there would arrive mockers, walking according to their own desires, in impieties. ? ¹⁹These are the ones who segregate themselves; they are animals, not having the Spirit. ? ²⁰But you, most beloved, are building yourselves up by your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ? ²¹keeping yourselves in the love of God, and anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. ? ²²So certainly, reprove them, after they have been judged. ? ²³Yet truly, save them, seizing them from the fire. And have mercy on others: in fear, hating even that which is of the flesh, the defiled garment. ? ²⁴Then, to him who has the power to keep you free from sin and to present you, immaculate, with exultation, before the presence of his glory at the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, ? ²⁵to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord: to him be glory and magnificence, dominion and power, before all ages, and now, and in every age, forever. Amen. ?