Jude 1:1

At the time of the *New Testament, most people understood the *Greek language. Jude’s letter follows the usual *Greek custom (as in most *New Testament letters; see also Acts 23:26). The letter begins with three details: (1) The name of the writer (Jude). (2) Those people to whom he sends the letter (those people whom God has ‘called’). (3) A greeting (see verse 2, ‘*pity, calm, love’).

• The writer introduces himself by name (Jude). And by occupation (a slave of Jesus Christ). And by family (a brother of James).

‘Jude’ (or Judas, the same word in the *Greek language) was a common name. In the Bible, it was the name of: (1) Jacob’s son, who became the head of the *tribe of Judah (Matthew 1:2-3). (2) One of the brothers of Jesus (Mark 6:3). (3) One of Jesus’ 12 *disciples (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). (4) A member of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:22). (5) A freedom fighter (Acts 5:37). (6) An inhabitant of the town called Damascus (Acts 9:11). (7) The wicked Judas Iscariot (Matthew 10:4).

Unlike Peter and Paul, Jude does not say that he has the authority of an *apostle. But we might not expect Jude to describe himself as a ‘slave’. Slaves often suffered under bad masters. But the early Christians discovered something that other people did not know. To be always ready to serve Jesus Christ was the way to perfect freedom (1 Corinthians 7:22).

At the time of the Bible, it was usual to call oneself a ‘son’ of one’s father (Luke 3:23-38). But Jude calls himself the ‘brother of James’. It is likely that James was the well-known leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; Acts 15:13). Like Jude, James was a member of Jesus’ human family (Mark 6:3). James believed that Jesus was the Christ only after Jesus’ death. When Jesus became alive again, James saw him (1 Corinthians 15:7). After that, James became one of the first Christians (Acts 1:14).

So the meaning of this verse is ‘I do not dare to say that I am a human brother of Jesus Christ. But I can say that I am a human brother of James.’

• When God ‘calls’ a person, he is not merely trying to attract that person’s attention. The word ‘call’ means much more than that. When God calls someone, he is always asking that person to carry out a particular service (Isaiah 22:20; Romans 1:1).

• The *Old Testament also refers to God’s care as a ‘Father’. There, the description is of God’s *covenant relation with his special people (the *Israelites) as a group (Exodus 4:22-23; Hosea 11:1). But in the *New Testament, Jesus shows us the complete meaning of God as ‘Father’ of a person. God sends sunshine and rain on good and bad people (Matthew 5:45). But this does not mean that he is the ‘Father’ of everybody. In the *New Testament, the title ‘Father’ refers to the special personal relation between God and each believer in Jesus (John 1:12-13; Ephesians 2:4-8).

• God is guarding his people against Satan (the chief evil spirit – 1 John 5:18). God is keeping Christians safe for Jesus until he returns to this world (John 6:39: John 6:44; John 6:54; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Peter 1:4).