Jude 1

Jude 1

JUDE, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

a. NLT: This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.

b. NIV: Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

c. YLT: Judas, of Jesus Christ a servant, and brother of James, to those sanctified in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ kept -- called,

d. Amplified Bible: Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and brother of James, [writes this letter] to those who are called (chosen), dearly loved by God the Fatherand separated (set apart) and kept for Jesus Christ:

e. Worrell Translation: Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the called, beloved in God theFather, and kept for Jesus Christ:

1. “JUDE, the servant of Jesus Christ,…”

a. Jude [2455 * Ioudas] [Strong: of Hebrew origin (3063); Judas (i.e. Jehudah), the name of ten Israelites; also of the posterity of one of them and its region:--Juda(-h, -s); Jude.]

b. the servant [1401 * doulos] [Strong: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition, a slave,  metaph., one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men,  devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests, a servant, attendant.]

c. of Jesus [2424 * Iesous] [Strong: of Hebrew origin (3091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.]

d. Christ [5547 * Christos] [Strong: from 5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ.]

1). There were two Jude’s mentioned as Apostles in Luke 6:16. One of course was Judas the traitor, the other Jude [the Apostle],could not be the author of this epistle because the Jude who is the writer of this epistle refers to himself as “the servant” of Jesus Christ. He does not call himself an Apostle, as Paul and Peter do in their epistles, (2 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1). He distinguishes himself from the Apostles in verses 17 & 18, “…the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you…”

2). Jude the Apostle and Jude the writer of this epistle both had brothers by the name of James.

2. “…and brother of James,…”

a. and [1161 * de] [Strong: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. brother [80 * adephos] [Strong: from 1 (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1):--brother.]

c. of James [2385 * Iakobos] [Strong: the same as 2384 Graecized; Jacobus, the name of three Israelites:--James.]

1). This Jude was the half-brother of Jesus and the full brother of James the leader of the Jerusalem Church. Jude, not mentioning his natural relationship to Jesus might have been because he felt it was inferior to the spiritual. Blood is thicker than water, but spirit is thicker than blood.

a). Mark 3:31-35 There came then his brethren and his mother, and standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

3:32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

3:33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

3:34 And he looked round on them which sat about him, and said, Behold, my mother and my brethren!

3:35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

b). Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

2). Jesus had four half brothers and at least two half-sisters.

a). Matthew 13:55, 56 Is not this the carpenter’s Son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

13:56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

b). Dake feels that because of the use of the word “all” instead of the word both in describing the sisters, that there must be more than two.

3). In the years of his ministry, the brothers of Jesus did not believe in him.

a). John 7:2-4 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.

7:3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

7:4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him.

4). After his resurrection though, his mother and his brothers were his disciples.

a). Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

5). Two of his brothers were leaders in the Jerusalem church, James, of course, the writer of the epistle of James and Jude, the writer of the epistle of Jude. While he was in the beginning of his ministry though, his family thought he was nuts. There was one point after he had ordained the twelve apostles, and they had gone into a home, and it was packed with people that his family when they heard what he was doing tried to get him for they thought he was crazy.

a). Mark 3:21 “And when his friends heard of it, they went to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.”

(1) friends [3844 * para] [Zodhiates] Figuratively, of persons, particularly of those close to someone, meaning his kindred, relatives.]

3. “…to them that are sanctified by God the Father,…”

a. to them that are sanctified [37 * hagiazo] [Strong: from 40; to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate:--hallow, be holy, sanctify.] [Vine: Since every believer is sanctified in Christ Jesus, a common N.T. designation of all believers is “saints”…Thus sainthood, or sanctification, is not an attainment, it is the state into which God in grace, calls sinful men, and in which they begin their course as Christians…”]

1). There are two different kinds of sanctification, the first is a positional standing that occurs by faith in Jesus Christ.

a). 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye Christ Jesus, who is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

2). The second is a practical kind that we walk out in our relationship with him by obedience to his word.

a). 1Thessalonians 4:3, 4 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

b. by [1722 * en] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

c. God [2316 * theos] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

d. the Father [3962 * pater] [Strong: apparently a primary word; a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote):--father, parent.]

 4. “…and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. preserved [5083 * tereo] [Strong: from teros (a watch; perhaps akin to 2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from 5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from 2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), i.e. to note (a prophecy; figuratively, to fulfil a command); by implication, to detain (in custody; figuratively, to maintain); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried):--hold fast, keep(- er), (pre-, re-)serve, watch.]

1). This gives a new perspective to the saying, “I’ve got my eye on you.”

c. Jesus [2424 * Iesous] [Strong: of Hebrew origin (3091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.]

d. Christ [5547 * Christos] [Strong: from 5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ.]

e. and called [2822 * kletos] [Strong: from the same as 2821; invited, i.e. appointed, or (specially), a saint:--called.]