Jude

The children of your chosen sister greet you. ^{▼▼Other mss. read you. Amen}1Pet 5:13

1 The Letter of JudeGreetings from JudeFrom ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks From} Jude, a servant ^{▼▼Or slave} of Jesus Christ and yet a brother of James, to those who have been called, who are loved ^{▼▼Other mss. read sanctified} by God the Father and kept safe by Jesus Christ.Luke 6:16; John 17:11-12, 15; Acts 1:13; Rom 1:7; 1Pet 1:5 2 May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance!1Pet 1:2; 2Pet 1:2

3 Warning about False TeachersDear friends, although I was eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write to you and urge you to continue your vigorous defense of the faith that was passed down to the saints once and for all.Phil 1:27; 1Tim 1:18; 6:12; 2Tim 1:13; 4:7; Titus 1:4 4 For some people have slipped in among you unnoticed. They were written about long ago as being deserving of this condemnation because they are ungodly. They turn the grace of our God into uncontrollable lust and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.Rom 9:21-22; Gal 2:4; Titus 1:16; 2:11; Heb 12:15; 1Pet 2:8; 2Pet 2:1, 10; 1John 2:22

5 Now I want to remind you, even though you are fully aware of these things, that the Lord who once saved his people from the land of Egypt later destroyed those who did not believe.Num 14:29, 37; 26:64; Ps 106:26; 1Cor 10:9; Heb 3:17, 19, 37 6 He has also held in eternal chains those angels who did not keep their own position but abandoned their assigned place. They are held in deepest darkness for judgment on the great day. ^{▼▼I.e. the day of judgment}John 8:44; 2Pet 2:4; Rev 20:10 7 Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities near them, which like them committed sexual sins and engaged in homosexual activities, ^{▼▼Lit. went after other flesh} serve as an example of the punishment of eternal fire.Gen 19:24; Deut 29:23; 2Pet 2:6

8 In a similar way, these dreamers also defile their flesh, reject the Lord's authority, ^{▼▼Lit. reject dominions} and slander his glorious beings.Exod 22:28; 2Pet 2:10 9 Even the archangel Michael, when he argued with the devil and fought over the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!” ^{▼▼This incident is possibly based on The Assumption of Moses, an apocryphal Jewish writing.}Dan 10:13; 12:1; Zech 3:2; 2Pet 2:11; Rev 12:7 10 Whatever these people do not understand, they slander. Like irrational animals, they are destroyed by the very things they know by instinct.2Pet 2:12 11 How terrible it will be for them! For they followed the path of Cain, rushed headlong into Balaam's error to make a profit, and destroyed themselves in Korah's rebellion.Gen 4:5; Num 16:1; 2Pet 2:15; 1John 3:12 12 These people are stains on your love feasts. ^{▼▼Some early Christians had a meal along with the Lord's Supper.} They feast with you without any sense of awe. ^{▼▼Or without fear} They are shepherds who care only for themselves. They are waterless clouds blown about by the winds. They are autumn trees that are fruitless, twice dead, and uprooted.Prov 25:14; Matt 15:13; 1Cor 11:21; Eph 4:14; 2Pet 2:13, 17 13 They are wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their own shame. They are wandering stars for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever.Isa 57:20; Phil 3:19; 2Pet 2:17

14 Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied about these people when he said,Gen 5:18; Deut 33:2; Dan 7:10; Zech 14:5; Matt 25:31; 2Thes 1:7; Rev 1:7

“Look! The Lord has come with countless thousands of his holy ones. 15 He will execute judgment on all people and convict everyone of all the ungodly things that they have done in such an ungodly way, including all the harsh things that these ungodly sinners have said about him.” ^{▼▼1 Enoch 1:9 (The Apocrypha)}1Sam 2:3; Ps 31:18; 94:4; Mal 3:13

16 These people are complainers and faultfinders, following their own desires. Their mouths speak arrogant things, and they flatter people in order to take advantage of them.Prov 28:21; James 2:1, 9; 2Pet 2:18

17 Advice to the ReadersBut you, dear friends, must remember the statements and predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.2Pet 3:2 18 They kept telling you, “In the last times mockers will appear, following their own ungodly desires.”1Tim 4:1; 2Tim 3:1; 4:3; 2Pet 2:1; 3:3 19 These are the people who cause divisions. They are worldly, devoid of the Spirit.Prov 18:1; Ezek 14:7; Hos 4:14; 9:10; 1Cor 2:14; Heb 10:25; James 3:15

20 But you, dear friends, must continue to build yourselves up on your most holy faith. Pray in the Holy Spirit,Rom 8:26; Eph 6:18; Col 2:7; 1Tim 1:4 21 and remain in God's love as you look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life.Titus 2:13; 2Pet 3:12 22 Show mercy to those who have doubts. 23 Save others by snatching them from the fire. To others, show mercy, but with fear, hating even the clothes stained by their sinful lives. ^{▼▼Lit. by their flesh}Amos 4:11; Zech 3:2, 4-5; Rom 11:14; 1Cor 3:15; 1Tim 4:16; Rev 3:4

24 Final PrayerNow to the one who is able to keep you from falling and to make you stand faultless in his glorious presence with rejoicing,Rom 16:25; Eph 3:20; Col 1:22 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time and for all eternity! Amen.Rom 16:27; 1Tim 1:17; 2:3