_Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ_ The highest glory which any, either man or angel, can aspire to. The word _servant_, under the old covenant, was adapted to the spirit of fear and bondage, which cleaved to that dispensation. But when the time appointed of the Father was come for the sending of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_When I gave all diligence_ Or _made all haste_, as πασαν σπουδην ποιουμενος literally signifies, Jude being informed of the assiduity, and perhaps the success, with which the false teachers were spreading their pernicious errors, found it necessary to write this letter to the faithful without delay... [ Continue Reading ]
_For there are certain men_ (see the margin) _crept in unawares_ Insinuating themselves into people's affections by their plausible pretences, and leavening them by degrees with their errors. The ungodly teachers here described seem to have been the Nicolaitans, mentioned Revelation 2:6, whose doctr... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will therefore put you in remembrance, &c._ I will remind you of some examples of God's judgments against such persons. Œcumenius observes, that “by proposing the following examples of the destruction of sinners from the Old Testament history, the apostle designed to show, that the God of the Old... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the angels which kept not their first estate_ Or, as the clause may be rendered, _their first dignity_, or _principality_, (see on 2 Peter 2:4,) namely, the dignity or principality assigned them; _but left their own habitation_ Properly _their own_ by the free gift of God. The apostle's manner... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even as Sodom and Gomorrha_ See on 2 Peter 2:6; _and the cities about them_ These were Admah and Zeboim. The four are mentioned Deuteronomy 29:23; Zoar, the fifth city in the plain of Sodom, was spared, at the request of Lot, for a place of refuge to him and his family. _In like manner_ Τον ομοιον... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet Michael_, &c. It does not appear whether St. Jude learned this by any revelation, or from an ancient tradition. It suffices that these things were not only true, but acknowledged to be so by them to whom he wrote. Michael is mentioned Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21; Daniel 12:1, as standing up in d... [ Continue Reading ]
_But these_ Without any shame; _speak evil of those things which they know not_ Namely, the things of God; of whose nature and excellence, truth and importance, they are entirely ignorant. See on 1 Corinthians 2:14. _But what they know naturally as brute beasts_ By instinct, as animals void of reaso... [ Continue Reading ]
_These_ Ungodly teachers; _are spots_ Blemishes; _in your feasts of charity_ Or _love-feasts_, as αγαπαις is rendered by many interpreters. Commentators, however, are not agreed what sort of feasts they were. Some think they were those suppers which the first Christians ate previous to their eating... [ Continue Reading ]
_Raging waves of the sea_ Unstable in their doctrine, and turbulent and furious in their tempers and manners, having no command of their irascible passions. _Foaming out their own shame_ By their wicked and outrageous behaviour, even among their disciples, showing their own filthiness to their great... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam_ Thus described to distinguish him from Enoch the son of Cain, (Genesis 4:17,) who was only the third from Adam; so early was the prophecy delivered, referred to Judges 1:4: _prophesied of these_ As well as of the antediluvian sinners. The first coming of Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
_These are murmurers_ Against God and men, never contented with the allotments of Providence, or with the conduct of any about them; _complainers_ Μεμψιμοιροι, literally, _complainers of their fate._ Some think that the two expressions, _murmurers_ and _complainers_, are synonymous terms to express... [ Continue Reading ]
_But, beloved_ To prevent you from giving heed to the vain speeches of these deceivers; _remember the words which were spoken before_ Or spoken prophetically; _by the apostles_ Who have preached the gospel to you in all its purity. He does not exempt himself from the number of apostles; for in the n... [ Continue Reading ]
_These be they who separate themselves_ Namely, from the communion of the church and from other Christians, under pretence of their greater illumination; _sensual_ Ψυχικοι, _animal; not having the Spirit_ Having a natural understanding and natural senses, but not the Spirit of God, either as the Spi... [ Continue Reading ]
_But ye, beloved_ Not separating yourselves from your Christian brethren, but _building up_ Or edifying one another in knowledge and grace; _on_, or _in, your most holy faith_ The true Christian faith, having for its object all the doctrines, precepts, and promises of the gospel; a faith, than which... [ Continue Reading ]
_And of some_ Who are perverted by these seducers, erring only through infirmity, and in lesser points; _have compassion_ Treat with lenity, and endeavour to reclaim, in a mild and gentle way, by the winning method of persuasion; _making a difference_ Between them and others that are more guilty and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now unto him who_ alone _is able to keep you from falling_ Into any of these errors or sins, or _from stumbling_, as απταιστους literally signifies, rugged and dangerous as the ways of life are, and feeble as you know yourselves to be; _and_ at length _to present you faultless_ Fully sanctified and... [ Continue Reading ]