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 ]