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The Warnings of History to the Ungodly

Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and [a]brother of [b]James, [writes this letter],

To those who are the called (God’s chosen ones, the elect), dearly loved by God the Father, and kept [secure and set apart] for Jesus Christ: May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you [filling your heart with the spiritual well-being and serenity experienced by those who walk closely with God].

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I was compelled to write to you [urgently] appealing that you [c]fight strenuously for [the defense of] the faith which was once for all [d]handed down to the saints [the faith that is the sum of Christian belief that was given verbally to believers]. For certain people have crept in unnoticed [just as if they were sneaking in by a side door]. They are ungodly persons whose condemnation was predicted long ago, for they distort the grace of our God into decadence and immoral freedom [viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want], and deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Now I want to remind you, although you are fully informed once for all, that [e]the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe [who refused to trust and obey and rely on Him].(A) And angels who did not keep their own designated place of power, but abandoned their proper dwelling place, [these] He has kept in eternal chains under [the thick gloom of utter] darkness for the judgment of the great day, just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent cities, since they in the same way as these angels indulged in gross immoral freedom and unnatural vice and sensual perversity. They are exhibited [in plain sight] as an example in undergoing the punishment of everlasting fire.(B)

Nevertheless in the same way, these dreamers [who are dreaming that God will not punish them] also defile the body, and reject [legitimate] authority, and revile and mock angelic majesties. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil (Satan), and [f]arguing about the body of Moses, did not dare bring an abusive condemnation against him, but [simply] said, “The Lord rebuke you!”(C) 10 But these men sneer at anything which they do not understand; and whatever they do know by [mere] instinct, like unreasoning and irrational beasts—by these things they are destroyed. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone the [defiant] way of Cain, and for profit they have run headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of [mutinous] Korah.(D) 12 These men are hidden reefs [elements of great danger to others] in your [g]love feasts when they feast together with you without fear, looking after [only] themselves; [they are like] clouds without water, swept along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted and lifeless; 13 wild waves of the sea, flinging up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of deep darkness has been reserved forever.

14 It was about these people that [h]Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, when he said, “Look, the Lord came with [i]myriads of His holy ones 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the [j]ungodly of all the ungodly deeds they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh and cruel things ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” 16 These people are [habitual] murmurers, griping and complaining, following after their own desires [controlled by passion]; they speak arrogantly, [pretending admiration and] flattering people to gain an advantage.

Keep Yourselves in the Love of God

17 But as for you, beloved, remember the [prophetic] words spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They used to say to you, “In the last days there will be scoffers, following after their own ungodly passions.”(E) 19 These are the ones who are [agitators] causing divisions—worldly-minded [secular, unspiritual, carnal, merely sensual—unsaved], devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit, 21 and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ [which will bring you] to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy but with fear, loathing even the clothing spotted and polluted by their shameless immoral freedom.(F)

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumphant joy and unspeakable delight, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Jude 1:1 Jude and James were among the younger half brothers of Jesus (Mark 6:3).
  2. Jude 1:1 James was a prominent leader in the early church (Acts 15).
  3. Jude 1:3 Lit contend earnestly.
  4. Jude 1:3 There is no “secret knowledge” or “better way” or alternative belief system which God has revealed to some unique group or teacher. The truth is available to everyone.
  5. Jude 1:5 Two early mss read Jesus.
  6. Jude 1:9 In Jewish tradition, Michael claimed to be Moses’ teacher and was present when God put Moses to death (Midrash on Deut 11:10). Jude’s point is that if the archangel Michael had such respect for Satan’s power, then mere humans are extremely foolish to insult or show disrespect to angelic beings. This does not mean that true Christians cannot or should not engage in spiritual warfare with satanic forces; quite the contrary (Eph 6:12; James 4:7). But they should follow Michael’s example and act only as legitimate representatives of Christ who are in good standing with Him.
  7. Jude 1:12 The early church frequently met together for a communal meal followed by the Lord’s Supper.
  8. Jude 1:14 The descendant of Seth (Gen 5:18-24).
  9. Jude 1:14 A Greek word meaning “ten thousand” in the singular. It is often used to refer to vast numbers of people or things that are virtually beyond counting.
  10. Jude 1:15 The purpose of the repetition is to emphasize the punishment determined for the false teachers.

Jude Ioudas, a servant of Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos and de brother adelphos of James Iakōbos, to those ho who are called klētos, who are loved agapaō in en God theos the Father patēr and kai kept tēreō for Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos: May mercy eleos, peace eirēnē, and kai love agapē be yours hymeis · kai in ever increasing measure plēthunō.

Dear friends agapētos, although I was poieō eager pas spoudē to write graphō to you hymeis about peri · ho our hēmeis common koinos salvation sōtēria, nevertheless I find echō it necessary anankē to write graphō and encourage parakaleō you hymeis to carry on the struggle epagōnizomai for the ho faith pistis that was once for all hapax delivered paradidōmi to the ho saints hagios. For gar certain tis men anthrōpos have stolen in unawares—men who ho long ago palai were designated prographō for eis this houtos · ho condemnation krima ungodly men asebēs who turn metatithēmi the ho grace charis of ho our hēmeis God theos into an excuse for eis blatant immorality aselgeia, and kai · ho deny arneomai our hēmeis only monos Master despotēs and kai Lord kyrios, Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos.

Now de I want boulomai to remind hypomimnēskō you hymeis, though you hymeis once hapax knew oida all this pas, that hoti the ho Lord Iēsous, having saved sōzō his people laos out of ek Egypt Aigyptos, · ho afterward deuteros destroyed apollymi those ho who did not believe pisteuō. And te the angels angelos who ho did not stay tēreō within · ho their own heautou domain archē but alla abandoned apoleipō their ho proper idios dwelling oikētērion, he has kept tēreō in desmos eternal aidios chains desmos in hypo utter darkness zophos for eis the judgment krisis of the great megas day hēmera. Likewise hōs, Sodom Sodoma and kai Gomorrah Gomorra and kai the ho neighboring peri autos towns polis, which indulged ekporneuō in sexual immorality houtos in the ho same homoios way tropos as the angels and kai pursued aperchomai opisō unnatural heteros desire sarx, are exhibited prokeimai as an example deigma by undergoing hypechō the punishment dikē of eternal aiōnios fire pyr.

Yet mentoi in the same way homoiōs these people houtos also kai, relying on their dreams enypniazomai, defile miainō the flesh sarx, reject atheteō authority kyriotēs, · de and de blaspheme blasphēmeō the glorious ones doxa. · ho But de when hote Michael Michaēl the ho archangel archangelos, in debate diakrinō with the ho devil diabolos, was arguing dialegomai about peri the ho body sōma of Moses Mōysēs, he did not ou presume tolmaō to condemn krisis him for blasphemy blasphēmia, but alla said legō, “The Lord kyrios rebuke epitimaō you sy!” 10 But de these houtos people blaspheme blasphēmeō whatever hosos they do not ou understand oida, and de what hosos they do understand epistamai by instinct physikōs as hōs · ho irrational alogos beasts zōon, by en these houtos they are being destroyed phtheirō. 11 Woe ouai to them autos! For hoti they take poreuō the ho way hodos of ho Cain Kain, and kai abandon themselves ekchunnomai to the ho error planē of ho Balaam Balaam for the sake of gain misthos, and kai perish apollymi in the ho rebellion antilogia of ho Korah Kore. 12 These houtos people are eimi · ho blemishes spilas on en · ho your hymeis love-feasts agapē, feasting with syneuōcheomai you without reverence aphobōs, caring poimainō only for poimainō themselves heautou. They are waterless anydros clouds nephelē, swept along parapherō by hypo winds anemos; autumn phthinopōrinos trees dendron without fruit akarpos and uprooted ekrizoō completely dis dead apothnēskō; 13 wild agrios waves kyma of the sea thalassa, casting up epaphrizō · ho their heautou shameful deeds aischunē like foam ; wandering planētēs stars astēr for whom hos the ho gloom zophos of ho utter darkness skotos has been reserved tēreō for eis eternity aiōn.

14 · de It was also kai about these houtos that Enoch Henōch, the seventh hebdomos in descent from apo Adam Adam, prophesied prophēteuō, saying legō, “ Behold idou, the Lord kyrios comes erchomai with en ten thousands myrias of his autos holy ones hagios 15 to execute poieō judgment krisis on kata all pas and kai to convict elenchō all pas the ungodly psychē of peri all pas · ho their autos ungodly asebeia acts ergon that hos they have committed in their ungodliness asebeō, and kai of peri all pas the ho harsh things sklēros that hos ungodly asebēs sinners hamartōlos have spoken laleō against kata him autos.” 16 These houtos people are eimi grumblers gongystēs, malcontents mempsimoiros who follow poreuō · ho their heautou sinful desires epithumia; · kai · ho their autos speech stoma is laleō arrogant hyperonkos, they flatter thaumazō others prosōpon to charin gain advantage ōpheleia.

17 But de you hymeis, dear friends agapētos, must remember mimnēskomai the ho predictions rhēma · ho foretold by hypo the ho apostles apostolos of ho our hēmeis Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos, 18 how hoti they said legō to you hymeis, “ In epi the final eschatos · ho age chronos there will be eimi scoffers empaiktēs driven poreuō by kata · ho their heautou own ungodly asebeia desires epithumia.” · ho 19 These houtos are eimi the ho ones causing division apodiorizō, worldly-minded psychikos, and devoid of the Spirit pneuma.

20 But de you hymeis, dear friends agapētos, build epoikodomeō yourselves heautou up in ho your hymeis most holy hagios faith pistis and pray proseuchomai in en the Holy hagios Spirit pneuma. 21 Keep tēreō yourselves heautou in en the love agapē of God theos as you wait for prosdechomai the ho mercy eleos of ho our hēmeis Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos to grant eis you eternal aiōnios life zōē. 22 And kai have mercy on eleaō some hos men who are wavering diakrinō; 23 save sōzō others hos de by snatching harpazō them out of ek the fire pyr; and have mercy on eleaō others hos de with en fear phobos, hating miseō even kai the ho garment chitōn stained spiloō by apo the ho flesh sarx.

24 Now de to the ho one who is able dynamai to keep phylassō you hymeis from stumbling aptaistos, and kai to make you stand histēmi in his autos glorious doxa presence katenōpion · ho without blame and with en great joy agalliasis 25 to the only monos God theos, our hēmeis Savior sōtēr, through dia Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos · ho our hēmeis Lord kyrios, belong glory doxa, majesty megalōsynē, power kratos, and kai authority exousia, before pro all pas · ho time aiōn, · kai now nyn and kai for eis all pas · ho time aiōn. Amen amēn.