Jude

Jude (literally in the Greek language “Judas”) clearly distinguishes himself from the villain Judas.  He is a full brother of James, and even though he is (we presume) also a half-brother to Jesus, he declares himself as a “bond-servant of Christ”.  Jude intended to write about our common salvation, but he felt compelled to warn against heresy that was infiltrating the church.  He wanted the saints to “contend for the faith”.  The enemy here, was once again Gnosticism, but this branch of the Gnostics held that since everything material was evil, and everything spiritual was good, they could cultivate their spiritual lives, but allowed their flesh to do anything it desired, since it would not last anyway.  Among Christians, the danger was they would lead believers into sin; they would pervert grace into licentiousness.  Many Old Testament references and allusions are recorded in Jude’s examples.

Here is a simple outline for Jude:

I.                    Greetings and purpose (1:1-4)

II.                  Description and exposure of false teachers (1:5-16)

III.                Defense and exhortation to believers (1:17-23)

IV.                Benediction (1:24-25)