THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JUDE. _Chronological Notes relative to this Epistle._ -Year of the Constantinopolitan era of the world, or that used by the Byzantine historians, and other eastern writers, 5573. -Year of the Alexandrian era of the world, 5567. -Year of the Antiochian era of the world, 555... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:2. _MERCY UNTO YOU_] For even the _best_ have no _merit_, and must receive every blessing and grace in the way of _mercy_. _PEACE_] With God and your consciences, _love_ both to God and man, _be multiplied_-be unboundedly increased.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:3. _WHEN I GAVE ALL DILIGENCE_] This phrase, πασαν σπουδηνποιουμενος, is a Grecism for being _exceedingly intent_ upon a subject; _taking it up seriously with determination to bring it_ _to good effect_. The meaning of the apostle seems to be this: "Beloved brethren, when I saw it neces... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:4. _FOR THERE ARE CERTAIN MEN CREPT IN UNAWARES_] παρεισεδυσαν. They had got into the Church under _specious_ _pretences_; and, when in, began to sow their bad seed. _BEFORE OF OLD ORDAINED_] Οἱ παλαι προγεγραμμενοι Such as were _long ago proscribed, and condemned in the most public m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:5. _I WILL THEREFORE PUT YOU IN REMEMBRANCE_] That is, how such persons were _proscribed_, and _condemned_ to bear the punishment due to such crimes. _THOUGH YE ONCE KNEW THIS_] The word απαξ, here translated _once_, has greatly puzzled many interpreters. It has _two_ meanings in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:6. _THE ANGELS WHICH KEPT NOT THEIR FIRST ESTATE_] την εαυτωναρχην _Their own principality_. The words may be understood of their having invaded the office or dignity of some others, or of their having by some means forfeited their own. This is spoken of those generally termed the _fall... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:7. _EVEN AS SODOM AND GOMORRHA_] What their sin and punishment were may be seen in Genesis 19, and the notes there. This is the _third_ example to illustrate what is laid down Jude 1:4. _ARE SET FORTH FOR AN EXAMPLE_] Both of what God will do to such transgressors, and of the position... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:8. _LIKEWISE ALSO THESE_ FILTHY _DREAMERS_] He means to say that these false teachers and their followers were as _unbelieving_ and _disobedient_ as the _Israelites_ in the wilderness, as _rebellious_ against the authority of God as the _fallen angels_, and as _impure_ and _unholy_ as t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:9. _YET MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL_] Of this personage many things are spoken in the Jewish writings "Rabbi Judah Hakkodesh says: Wherever _Michael_ is said to appear, the glory of the Divine Majesty is always to be understood." _Shemoth Rabba_, sec. ii., fol. 104, 3. So that it seems as if... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:10. _SPEAK EVIL OF THOSE THINGS WHICH THEY KNOW NOT_] They do not understand the origin and utility of civil government; they revile that which ever protects their own persons and their property. This is true in most insurrections and seditions. _BUT WHAT THEY KNOW NATURALLY_] They are... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:11. _THEY HAVE GONE IN THE WAY OF CAIN_] They are _haters_ _of their brethren_, and they that are such are _murderers_; and by their false doctrine they corrupt and destroy the souls of the people. _THE ERROR OF BALAAM_] For the sake of gain they corrupt the word of God and refine away... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:12. _SPOTS IN YOUR FEASTS OF CHARITY_] It appears that these persons, unholy and impure as they were, still continued to have outward fellowship with the Church! This is strange: but it is very likely that their power and influence in that place had swallowed up, or set aside, the power... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:13. _RAGING WAVES OF THE SEA, FOAMING OUT THEIR OWN_ _shame_] The same metaphor as in Isaiah 57:20: _The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose_ _waters cast up mire and dirt_. These are like the sea in a storm, where the _swells_ are like mountains; the _breakers_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:14. _ENOCH ALSO, THE SEVENTH FROM ADAM_] He was the _seventh_ patriarch, and is distinguished thus from _Enoch, son of_ _Cain_, who was but the _third_ from Adam; this appears plainly from the genealogy, 1 Chronicles 1:1: Adams Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, Henoch or _Enoch_, c... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:15. _TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT_] This was originally spoken to the antediluvians; and the coming of the Lord to destroy that world was the thing spoken of in this prophecy or declaration. But as God had threatened this, it required no direct inspiration to foretell it. _To execute judgment_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:16. _THESE ARE MURMURERS_] Grudging and grumbling at all men, and at all things; _complainers_, μεμψιμοιροι, _complainers of_ _their fate_ or _destiny_-finding fault with God and all his providential dispensations, making and governing worlds in their own way; persons whom neither God n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:17. _REMEMBER - THE WORDS_] Instead of following those teachers and their corrupt doctrine, remember what Christ and his apostles have said; for they foretold the coming of such false teachers and impostors.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:18. _MOCKERS IN THE LAST TIME_] See the notes on 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1, c. and particularly 2 Peter 3:2, c., to which Jude seems to refer. _The last time_. - The conclusion of the Jewish polity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:19. _WHO SEPARATE THEMSELVES_] From the true Church, which they leave from an affectation of _superior wisdom_. _SENSUAL_] ψυχικοι. _Animal_-living as brute beasts, guided simply by their _own lusts_ and _passions_, their Bible being the manifold devices and covetousness of their own h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:20. _BUILDING UP YOURSELVES_] Having the most _holy_ _faith-the Gospel of our Lord Jesus_, and the _writings_ of his _apostles_, for your foundation; founding all your expectations on these, and seeking from the Christ who is their sum and substance; all the grace and glory ye need. _P... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:21. _KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD_] By building up yourselves on your most holy faith, and praying in the Holy Ghost; for without this we shall soon lose the love of God. _LOOKING FOR THE MERCY OF OUR LORD_] For although they were to build _themselves_ up, and to _pray_ in the Ho... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:22. _AND OF SOME HAVE COMPASSION, MAKING A DIFFERENCE_] The general meaning of this exhortation is supposed to be, "Ye are not to deal alike with all those who have been seduced by false teachers; ye are to make a difference between those who have been led away by weakness and imprudenc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:23. _AND OTHERS SAVE WITH FEAR_] "Some of them snatch from the fire: but when they repent, have mercy upon them in fear."-_Syriac_. "And some of them rebuke for their sins; and on others have mercy when they are convicted; and others save from the fire and deliver them."-Erpen's _Arabi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:24. _NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING_] Who alone can preserve you from the contagion of sin, and preserve you from falling into any kind of error that might be prejudicial to the interests of your souls; and thus to _present you faultless_, or, as many others read, ασ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Jude 1:25. _TO THE ONLY WISE GOD_] Who alone can _teach_, who alone has declared the _truth_; that truth in which ye now stand. Romans 16:27. _OUR SAVIOUR_] Who has by his blood washed us from our sins, and made us kings and priests unto God the Father. _BE GLORY_] Be ascribed all light, exc... [ Continue Reading ]