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Beloved, I wanted to quickly write to you about our shared salvation1 but I found it necessary to encourage you to struggle for the faith2 once delivered to the Saints.
| 1 | I wanted to quickly write to you about our shared salvation: This was the subject really close to Jude’s heart: the hope of heavenly salvation. What a joy to have read those godly words of hope and joy. Yet a more pressing matter confronts him. “The man of lawlessness” and the “antichrist” mentioned by Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 John 2:18) have already begun to materialize in the years before the desolation of Jerusalem. (66-70 CE) Jude must be under considerable pressure for he surely could have written another letter and perhaps he did. It is this brief epistle that has found its way into the inspired canon of the New Testament. |
| 2 | I found it necessary to encourage you to struggle for the faith: The Greek word here for “struggle” is EP-AGONIZESTHAI from which English gets “agonize.” Or, KJV: contend for the faith; TCN: to fight in defense of; NEB: join in the struggle in defense of; TAY: stoutly defend. The Greek root for agony is found in two most interesting places – Luke 13:24; 2 Timothy 4:7 (“agonize the agony”) |
Dear Friends of the Nazarene,
Today we examine the epistle of Jude – Fight For the Faith. We choose Jude 4 as the theme verse. Jude addresses the preserved Elect. [1, 2] Jude wanted to write about salvation but felt moved to encourage Christians to continue to “struggle for the faith.” [3, 4] His reason is that certain persons have sneaked into the Church. Jude calls them “irreverent” and those who pervert the grace of God through their loose conduct. Such persons deny Christ.
Jude now compares salvation with a judgment that leads to condemnation. [5-10] He uses examples like the Israelites, the angels before the Flood, and the men and women of Sodom. These spiritual perverts “disrespect authority.” They are not like Michael the Arch-Angel who did not condemn Satan.
Just as Peter does in 2 Peter 2 Jude now characterizes these infiltrating perverts. [11-13] They are rebellious and selfish shepherds and make be likened to Cain, Balaam and Korah. Jude uses a number of analogies to describe these men and women. He refers to the prophetic vision of Enoch to prove that condemnation will befall these persons. [14, 15] These counterfeits are slanderers, complainers, lustful, loud-mouthed boasters who “flatter men for the sake of what they can get from them.” [Twentieth Century Version]
Jude exhorts Christians to build up their faith and remain in God’s love. [17-23] They must remember the original teachings of Jesus and his apostles. They should be patient with those who have doubts. Jude concludes with eternal praise of the Guardian of all Christians. [24, 25]
Abba our Father bless those who fight hard for the Faith.
[14 September 2002]
He exhorts to contend for the faith delivered once for all, the faith without innovation, the gospel of the apostles in distinction from the adulterations of false teachers. The doctrine of a progressive revelation after the apostles is not found in the New Testament.
