Jude 21-23
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.(A) 22 On those who waver, have mercy;[a] 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; on others have mercy with fear,[b] abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh.
Doxology.[c]
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- 22 Have mercy: some manuscripts read “convince,” “confute,” or “reprove.” Others have “even though you waver” or “doubt” instead of who waver.
- 23 With fear: some manuscripts connect the phrase “with fear” with the imperative “save” or with the participle “snatching.” Other manuscripts omit the phrase “on others have mercy,” so that only two groups are envisioned. Rescue of those led astray and caution in the endeavor are both enjoined. Outer garment stained by the flesh: the imagery may come from Zec 3:3–5, just as that of snatching…out of the fire comes from Zec 3:2; the very garments of the godless are to be abhorred because of their contagion.
- 24–25 With this liturgical statement about the power of God to keep the faithful from stumbling, and praise to him through Jesus Christ, the letter reaches its conclusion by returning to the themes with which it began (Jude 1–2).
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