Jude 22-23
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
22 And have mercy on some who are wavering; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.[a]
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- Jude 1:23 Gk by the flesh. The Greek text of verses 22–23 is uncertain at several points
Jude 22-23
New English Translation
22 And have mercy on those who waver; 23 save[a] others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy[b] on others, coupled with a fear of God,[c] hating even the clothes stained[d] by the flesh.[e]
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- Jude 1:23 tn Grk “and save.”
- Jude 1:23 tn Grk “and have mercy.”
- Jude 1:23 tn Grk “with fear.” But as this contrasts with ἀφόβως (aphobōs) in v. 12 (without reverence), the posture of the false teachers, it most likely refers to reverence for God.sn Joining a fear of God to mercy is an important balance when involved in disciplinary action. On the one hand, being merciful without fear can turn to unwarranted sympathy for the individual, absolving him of personal responsibility, but fearing God without showing mercy can turn into personal judgment and condemnation.
- Jude 1:23 sn The imagery here suggests that the things close to the sinners are contaminated by them, presumably during the process of sinning.
- Jude 1:23 tn Grk “hating even the tunic spotted by the flesh.” The “flesh” in this instance could refer to the body or to the sin nature. It makes little difference in one sense: Jude is thinking primarily of sexual sins, which are borne of the sin nature and manifest themselves in inappropriate deeds done with the body. At the same time, he is not saying that the body is intrinsically bad, a view held by the opponents of Christianity. Hence, it is best to see “flesh” as referring to the sin nature here and the language as metaphorical.
Jude 22-23
J.B. Phillips New Testament
Look after your own faith: save whom you can
20-23 But you, dear friends of mine, build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith and by praying through the Holy Spirit keep yourselves within the love of God. Wait patiently for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which will bring you to the life eternal. For some of these men you can feel pity and you can treat them differently. Others you must try to save by fear, snatching them as it were out of the fire while hating the very garments their deeds have befouled.
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