The author had intended to write them a pastoral letter, but circumstances have made it necessary for him to write in a different strain and to exhort them to contend earnestly for the faith. These circumstances were the presence in their midst of false brethren whose doom was appointed long ago men... [ Continue Reading ]
Three examples are given as revealing the doom of such evil-livers: the faithless Israelites in the wilderness, who were destroyed; the fallen angels, who are kept in bonds under darkness until the Judgment Day; and the Cities of the Plain, which suffered the punishment of eternal fire. JUDE 1:6. T... [ Continue Reading ]
The false brethren sin in like manner. In their dreamings, _i.e._ vain conceits (yielding to their own wayward fancies, Chase), they are licentious and rebellious. They despise the Lordship (Jude 1:8 *) and rail at the glorious ones (_cf. mg.)._ Unlike Michael, who in his controversy with the devil... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDE 1:17 F. But remember the words of the apostles, how they warned you that in the last times such men would be found. This passage plainly implies that the writer was not himself an apostle; some critics maintain that it also implies that the epistle dates from the sub-apostolic age. But the past... [ Continue Reading ]
These false brethren make divisions among you, but do you build up yourselves by means of your most holy faith. As regards them, show mercy towards those who are in doubt; save others, snatching them from the fire which is consuming them; show mercy to others, yet fear lest you be contaminated by th... [ Continue Reading ]