Jude

Book Reviews aim to provide succinct, thoughtful summaries of books I have read. Each review contains quotes from the book, thoughts from others, and also some thoughts of my own. Typically they will be structured in the following order: author, introduction, message and purpose, remarkable chapter, and conclusion. This review will cover Jude, a book written over 2,000 years ago and one that is part of a larger collection of books called The Bible.

Jude

Author

Jude

Introduction

The letter of Jude, one of the General Epistles, is very short. Until recently scholars neglected it more than any other New Testament book. Jude sought to protect Christian truth and strongly opposed heretics who threatened the faith. The letter's message is relevant to any age because believers should defend the gospel vigorously. Jude bears an obvious similarity in content with 2 Peter, a book that also deals firmly with false teachers who were infiltrating the church.

Message and Purpose

Jude had originally meant to write a letter on salvation to his friends. But he changed his plans when he learned of false teachers who had infiltrated the church (v. 3-4). Because of their influence he instead urged his readers to contend for the faith (v. 3). Jude reminded his readers that they shared a common salvation and alerted them to the need for vigilance in contending for the faith. The reason the church must contend for the faith is that intruders were troubling the church.

In verse four, Jude introduces his readers to the opponents, pronounced judgment upon them, and outlined their vices. The message of judgment is especially relevant to people today. Jude's letter reminds us that errant teaching and promiscuous living have dire consequences. Jude was written so believers would contend for the faith that was transmitted to them and so they would not abandon God's love at a crucial time in the life of the church.

Remarkable Chapter

Only twenty-five short verses, Jude is another short book that packs a heavy punch. Jude's final exhortation and benediction provides fierce instruction and encouragement to believers. In verses twenty-one through twenty-three, Jude exhorted his readers on how to contend for the faith:

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh."

Jude exhorted his readers to show mercy to those who were wavering, reach out to those who had already been taken in and needed to be snatched from the fire, and show concern for the wayward heretics, all at the same time. But believers were to be careful lest they also became defiled.

Conclusion

Jude is often overlooked because of its brevity. Nevertheless, some of the Bible's most beautiful statements about God's sustaining grace are found in Jude, and they shine with a greater brilliance when contrasted with the false teachers who had departed from the Christian faith.