The big idea
In short: power serves. The false leaders are shepherds “feeding themselves without fear” (verse 12), who run “greedily after the error of Balaam for reward” (verse 11). Balaam was a prophet who took pay to curse Israel (Numbers 22).
The answer is mercy: “of some have compassion” and “others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire” (verses 22–23).
The rule underneath: Law 11 · Power serves
Authority serves the people under it and answers to God.
Keep it: People do well under their leaders.
Break it: Leaders take, and kingdoms fall.
Shows up in: Numbers, Ezekiel, Matthew, 1 Peter, 2 Peter
Other rules in this book: Love the actual person, Enough, and give
Live it: Playbook 09 · How to lead
20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.Jude 1:20-23 · KJV
At a glance
- What it is
- A one-chapter warning letter. 25 verses.
- Who wrote it
- “Jude… brother of James” (verse 1), traditionally a brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3, where he is called Juda). Some scholars think it was written in his name. debated
- When
- About AD 50–90.
- Read it in
- About 4 minutes.
What it says
Verses 1–4 · Contend. Jude meant to write about salvation, but must urge them to “earnestly contend for the faith” (verse 3). Some have crept in, “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,” into an excuse for anything (verse 4).
Verses 5–16 · Old warnings. Jude reminds them of Israel in the desert, fallen angels, and Sodom (verses 5–7). Even the archangel Michael didn’t insult the devil, but said, “The Lord rebuke thee” (verse 9). These people are “clouds… without water” and “trees… without fruit” (verse 12). He quotes an old Jewish book, 1 Enoch, on the coming judgment (verses 14–15).
Verses 17–25 · Keep yourselves. Build up your faith, pray, “keep yourselves in the love of God” (verses 20–21). Show mercy to doubters and rescue others (verses 22–23). It ends with a famous blessing: “unto him that is able to keep you from falling” (verse 24).
Go deeper
- Original words. Spilades, “spots” (verse 12), can mean stains or hidden rocks, reefs that wreck ships. At the shared “feasts of charity,” these people were a hidden danger.
- Books outside the Bible. Verses 14–15 quote 1 Enoch, a Jewish book from before Jesus’ time (1 Enoch 1:9). The story of Michael and Moses’ body (verse 9) likely comes from a lost book, the Assumption of Moses. Some early Christians doubted Jude because of these quotes.
- How the laws interlock. Law 11 is verse 12: leaders who feed themselves. Law 8 is verse 11: greed. Law 2 is verses 22–23: mercy.
Hard parts
Quoting the book of Enoch
What it says “Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints” (verse 14).
The rule underneath Tell the truth. Test every source.
What people added 1 Enoch is scripture in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, but not in other churches. Some readers say Jude quoted a true line without treating the whole book as scripture, as Paul quoted Greek poets (Acts 17:28). Others see it as part of Jude’s own Bible. debated Readers differ.
Where it leads
- 09 · How to lead: leaders who feed themselves (verses 11–12).
- 02 · How to love: mercy for doubters (verses 22–23).
One thing to do
This week
Mercy for a doubter
Think of someone who is struggling with faith, or with anything they used to be sure of. Reach out this week, not to argue, but to listen and stay close (verse 22). Write in your journal what you heard.