King James Version
Jude
Jude in the King James Version (1769), public domain in the United States.
Background and History
The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of Jude: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.
At a Glance
| Author | Jude, servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, traditionally a brother of the Lord. Some scholars regard it as written in his name. |
|---|---|
| Date | AD 65–80 in one survey. |
| Place written | Not named. |
| Genre | A short polemical letter. |
| Chapters | 1 |
| Verses | 25 in the King James Version |
| Key verse | Jude 1:3Jude 1:3 · King James VersionBeloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.Jude 1:3 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Who Wrote It
Jude 1:1Jude 1:1 · King James VersionJude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
Jude 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) names Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James. Mark 6:3Mark 6:3 · King James VersionIs not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
Mark 6:3 · King James VersionOpen the Source lists a Juda among Jesus’ brothers with James. Eusebius lists Jude among the disputed books. (2) In 3.20 he tells of Jude’s grandsons questioned under Domitian. Clement of Alexandria commented on Jude, according to Eusebius 6.14. (3) The Muratorian fragment counts an epistle of Jude among the received books. (4) Athanasius lists it. (5) Critics who doubt the attribution point to the letter’s Greek. Defenders note that a pseudonymous writer would likely have chosen a more famous name than Jude.
Who It Is Not
Judas Iscariot is not the author. Judas the son of James, one of the Twelve, in Luke 6:16Luke 6:16 · King James VersionAnd Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
Luke 6:16 · King James VersionOpen the Source, is a different man in most readings.
When and Where
Bible Gateway gives AD 65–80. (6)
Audience and Setting
Those who are sanctified and called, in Jude 1:1Jude 1:1 · King James VersionJude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
Jude 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source, probably Jewish Christians. The purpose is to urge them to contend for the faith against ungodly intruders.
Rulers at the Time
The letter names no ruler. This page adds none.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| The letter | AD 65–80 in one survey. (6) |
Places in This Book
| Ancient name | Modern-day location | References |
|---|---|---|
| Sodom and Gomorrah | Cities of judgment from Genesis. Their location is disputed and this page does not choose a site. | Jude 1:7Jude 1:7 · King James VersionEven as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.Jude 1:7 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
What Is Happening
Jude 1:1–4Jude 1:1–4 · King James Version1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
1:2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:1–4 · King James VersionOpen the Source state the purpose. Jude 1:5–16Jude 1:5–16 · King James Version1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
Jude 1:5–16 · King James VersionOpen the Source give examples of judgment and describe the false teachers. Jude 1:17–25Jude 1:17–25 · King James Version1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:17–25 · King James VersionOpen the Source call readers to persevere and close with a doxology.
Key Themes
Contending for the faith in Jude 1:3Jude 1:3 · King James VersionBeloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jude 1:3 · King James VersionOpen the Source. God’s keeping power in Jude 1:24Jude 1:24 · King James VersionNow unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jude 1:24 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
Apologetics Questions
Jude 1:14–15Jude 1:14–15 · King James Version1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Jude 1:14–15 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) cites a prophecy of Enoch, matching 1 Enoch 1:9, and Jude 1:9Jude 1:9 · King James VersionYet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Jude 1:9 · King James VersionOpen the Source refers to Michael disputing over Moses’ body, which ancient writers linked to a work called the Assumption of Moses. Quoting a book does not make the whole book Scripture, as Paul quoting Greek poets in Acts 17:28Acts 17:28 · King James VersionFor in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Acts 17:28 · King James VersionOpen the Source shows. This site’s page on the Book of Enoch covers that book’s canon history.
How the Book Points to Christ
Jude 1:4Jude 1:4 · King James VersionFor there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source in the King James reads the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Many Greek copies lack the word God and read our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, one person under two titles. Jude 1:5Jude 1:5 · King James VersionI will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Jude 1:5 · King James VersionOpen the Source in some early Greek copies says Jesus saved the people out of Egypt. The verse pages state those readings. Jesus is God.
Text and Manuscripts
Codex Sinaiticus contains Jude. (7) The reading in Jude 1:5Jude 1:5 · King James VersionI will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Jude 1:5 · King James VersionOpen the Source varies between Lord and Jesus in early copies.
Canon Reception
Disputed by some, listed in the Muratorian fragment, and received by Athanasius’s time. (2) (4) (5)
Further Reading
References
- Epistle of Jude, 1:1; 1:9; 1:14–15Jude 1:1 · King James Version
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
Jude 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source. King James Version - Church History, Book 3, 3.25.3Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New Advent
Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter, who adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no intention of giving a connected account of the Lord's discourses, so that Mark committed no error while he thus wrote some things as he remembered them. For he was careful of one thing, not to omit any of the things which he had heard, and not to state any of them falsely.
Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New AdventOpen the Source (Eusebius, Church History 3.3, 3.24–25, and 3.39, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 1, on New Advent. Chapter 25 sorts books into acknowledged, disputed, and rejected. Chapter 39 reports Papias on Mark and Matthew.) - Church History, Book 6, 6.14.1 (Eusebius, Church History 6.14 and 6.25, reporting Clement of Alexandria and Origen. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 1, on New Advent.)
- Muratorian fragment, an epistle of JudeMuratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5
Moreover, the Acts of all the Apostles are comprised by Luke in one book, and addressed to the most excellent Theophilus, because these different events took place when he was present himself; and he shows this clearly-i.e., that the principle on which he wrote was, to give only what fell under his own notice-by the omission of the passion of Peter, and also of the journey of Paul, when he went from the city-Rome-to Spain.
Muratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5Open the Source (Roberts-Donaldson translation, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 5. The Latin is damaged and the English follows restorations. The fragment lists the books read in the church and those rejected.) - Festal Letter 39, 39.4–5 (Athanasius of Alexandria, AD 367, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 4, on New Advent. The letter lists twenty-two Old Testament books and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, and places Esther among books to be read rather than in the canon.)
- When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?, Jude (Jacob Edson, Bible Gateway, 16 September 2024. The survey gives Jude as AD 65–80. It is one editor’s approximation, not a manuscript date.)
- Codex Sinaiticus, About the manuscriptCodex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus Project
Codex Sinaiticus, a manuscript of the Christian Bible written in the middle of the fourth century, contains the earliest complete copy of the Christian New Testament.
Codex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus ProjectOpen the Source (The Codex Sinaiticus project’s description of the manuscript, a fourth-century Greek Bible with the earliest complete copy of the New Testament.)
The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.