Bible Commentaries

Questions For The Book of Jude

1.Does Jude call himself an elder?

2.Whose brother is he?

3.To whom does he write?

4.How is it to be preserved in Christ Jesus?

5.By what are they called?

6.For what did he give diligence?

7.Explain "common" salvation?

8.Was Jude indifferent about writing?

9.How should they contend?

10.Does this violate1Cor1: 10: 11?

11.By what means was this faith delivered?

12.Why delivered unto the saints?

13.How had certain crept in?

14.In what sense had they been ordained of old?

15.What kind of men?

16.Made what perversion of grace of God?

17.What were they denying?

18.Why would such men want to deny Him?

19.What historic fact does Jude recall?

20.Does this agree with "once in grace always in grace" ?

21.Do angels have their own proper sphere?

22.If they break over what is done?

23.Unto what day are they reserved?

24.What can they do to be redeemed?

25.To what did Sodom and others give themselves?

26.What is meant by "strange flesh"?

27.Explain last of verse7 by2Thes1: 19.

28.What do they do as to flesh?

29.State their attitude toward dignitaries.

30.Whose example should shame them in this?

31.On what subject did they have this dispute?

32.What had been done with the body of Moses?

33.Did Michael know about the body of Moses?

34.Did the others know whereof they spoke?

35.How did they act as to what they did know?

36.From what basis did they know some things?

37.What is pronounced upon them here?

38.In what way had they gone?

39.Whom else did they imitate?

40.What was the motive?

41.Who is meant by Core?

42.Explain "feasts of charity."

43.Were they ever commanded?

44.What is significance of "clouds without water"?

45.Why "carried about of winds"?

46.Explain the figure of the trees here.

47.What kind of stars?

48.Into what will they wander?

49.What darkness does this astronomy represent?

50.What prophet is here mentioned?

51.Is his prophecy elsewhere recorded?

52. Compare these many saints with Matthew 27:52-53.

53.For what will the Lord come as to evil ones?

54.Had such characters been predicted before?

55.After what principles will they walk?

56.They have not what?

57.On what should the saints be built up?

58.Keep themselves in what?

59.Looking for what?

60.What "difference" is here corrunanded?

61.What should be hated?

62.How can a garment be thus spatted?

63.Compare verses22 , 23with 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15.

64.Who is able to keep us from falling?

65.By what power does he do this?

Verse1. The writer of this epistle calls himself brother of James 1:1. This epistle is addressed to them that are sanctified which means Christians. (See the comments at 1 Peter 1:1.)

Verse2. To be multiplied means the blessings are to be very abundant.

Verse3. The definition "thoughtful activity" has been offered the readers for the word diligence. Jude says he used it in writing this epistle which indicates its importance, also the tustworthiness of him as an author. Common salvation means a plan of salvation that is offered to all people alike, whether they be Jews or Gentiles. Earnestly contend. Both words are from EPAGONIZOMAI, which Thayer defines with the single word "contend"; it means that Christians should "face the foe" wherever he is met. The faith means the New Testament in which the common salvation is reavealed. Once delivered to the saints. This denotes that the plan was put into the hands of men (who are saints; Christians) and that once is as often as it had to be revealed.

Crept in unawares means they came in some underhanded manner to get advantage over the disciples. Ordained is from a Greek word that means they were predicted in old times, that they would do the things that would bring this condemnation. They misused the face (favor) of God by making it seem to support their lasciviousness (filthy desires). It would be expected that such characters would deny Jesus Christ because he would condemn their wicked deeds.

The improtance of reminders is again indicated, for these brethren had known of the history of the Israelites. The point is that it is not enough to startr serving the Lord, but it must be continued or He will judge his people.

This has the same point as the preceding verse ( Jude 1:5). These angels had a favorable estate at first, but left their own habitation (their proper domain). These are the angels that sinned in 2 Peter 2:4, and they are kept in everlasting chains under darkness which means Hades; they will be judged at the last day.

Even as denotes that the people of Sodom and Gomorrha will also be punished at the last day. Suffering the vengeance refers to the future judgment day. The last word means a sentence unto punishment the same as 2 Thessalonians 1:9. The destruction of those cities was for this world only and did not constitute the eternal fire, for that is to come at the day of judgment. But their destruction in Genesis was intended as an example for the warning of others, and when that calamity came upon them they were given this sentence to be carried out at the last day. Strange flesh refers to their filthy immorality as described in Romans 1:27.

Filthy dreamers means they had visions of depraved indulgencies which defiled the flesh. Speak evil of dignities is explained at 2 Peter 2:10.

The reference to Michael is for a contrast on the same principle as 2 Peter 2:11. Devil disputed about the body of Moses. All we know about this dispute is what is said here, but we learn from Deuteronomy 34:6 that no man knew his burying place; that does not say the devil and the angels did not know. We are not told what was the point in their discussion; the important thing is the mildness of Michael in contrast with the false teachers.

This means they act more like beasts than men. (See 2 Peter 2:12)

Way of Cain refers to his life of wicked selfishness, and they are compared to Balaam because of his willingness to be bribed. Gainsaying means contention for one's personal desires. Such a person is like Core (Korah in Numbers 16:1-50).

Spots is a figure of speech drawn from a hidden rock in the sea that wrecks the vessels. Jude says they will come to the feasts of charity (love feasts, 2 Peter 2:13) for the purpose of feeding themselves. Clouds withou water is explained at 2 Peter 2:17. Trees....twice dead is another figure, indicating something utterly useless; the same is meant by being plucked up by the roots.

Raging waves is used because such things make great disturbances but accomplish nothing but threatening appearances. Wandering stars refers to the planets that seem to have no fixed position and these men are like that. Blackness of darkness refers to the "outer darkness" awating the wicked.

The Bible does not record the prophecy of Enoch, but Jude was an inspired man and knew what he was talking about. Seventh from Adam means he was in that numerical place in the genealogy of Christ. The ten thousand saints include those mentioned in Matthew 27:52-53. For complete comments on this subject see those at Romans 8:29-30 in the first volume of the New Testament Commentary.

This verse describes some of the work Jesus will do when he comes at the last day. Convince means to convict and punish these ungodly persons. All their ungodly deeds and hard speeches are considered as being against Him.

Murmurers and compainers are usually those who wish to walk after their own lusts. They speak great swelling words for their effect upon those whom they think they can deceive. Having men's persons (desireable appearances) in admiration. That Romans 10:17) Praying in the Holy Ghost (or Spirit) means to pray s.

All who keep the commandmentswill have the love of God, and such persons may expect the mercy of the Lord when he comes to judge the world.

People shoule be dealt with according to their ability, and also their opportunity for knowing right from wrong. (See Galatians 6:1.)

Save with fear denotes a feeling of terror over the wilfull doing of wrong by others. Those deserve no mercy especially and should be delat with sternly in the hopes they may possibly be rescued, just as we would snatch a person from drowning even if we had to grasp him by the hair of his head. Hating even the garment denotes that we should abhor anything that has been near fleshly sin. James 1:27 says that pure religion consists in one's keeping himself unspotted from the world.

This and the next verse are a form of praise to the Lord that is most impressive. Keep you from falling will be done according to 2 Peter 1:10. Christ will present us faultless if we serve him in this life ( Luke 12:8), and He will do this with exceeding joy to Him and us.

Transferring the praise to God directly Jude says He is only wise. That means that God is the First Cause of wisdom as He is of all things. Glory means grandeur and majesty means greatness. Dominion means domain and power means authority. Jude ascribes these dignities to God to last now and ever.