Introduction to the Epistle of Jude[1]
Author, Date, and Recipients
The book was written by Jude, the brother of James
and Jesus (see Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3, where “Judas” is the same in Greek as “Jude”).
Jude was probably written in the mid-60s A.D. Considering the letter’s apparent
Jewish perspective, Jude’s audience was probably Jewish Christians, or a
mixture of Jewish and Gentile readers where the Gentiles were familiar with
Jewish traditions.
Since Jude addresses a situation similar to the one
addressed by 2 Peter and exhibits a literary relationship to Ch.
2
of that letter (Jude may have been a source for 2 Peter), the two letters are commonly dated in
fairly close proximity, even though evidence for the date of writing within the
book of Jude
is sparse.
Theme
The church must defend the one true faith (v. 3). Believers must be
faithful to the end by resisting false teachers and following the truth.
Purpose, Occasion, and Background
Jude warns against following false teachers who have
infiltrated the church and are distorting the one true faith. Jude calls the
church to defend the truth aggressively against such false teaching.
While the false teachers of Jude were profoundly
libertine (morally unrestrained), it would be historically inaccurate to argue
that they were Gnostics. This heretical sect (or group of sects) was
influential primarily from the second century A.D. onward.
Jude accomplishes his purpose by drawing analogies
with OT events, using the same principles of interpretation found in 2 Peter (and elsewhere in the NT). He also draws
on Jewish apocalyptic traditions from nonbiblical literature (he refers to 1
Enoch and the Testament of Moses) in building his case. Thus, as
literature, Jude has a distinctively Jewish flavor.
The format is of a NT epistle (letter), with its
loose divisions of salutation, body, and closing. But the central unit of the
letter (vv. 5–16)
fits the style of a judgment oracle: it has an object of attack, an attack
coming from several directions, a harsh tone, and an implied standard on which
the attack is being conducted (“the faith that was once for all delivered to
the saints”; v. 3).
The description of those who left the faith (vv. 8–16)
provides a picture of their character and actions. The use of images and
allusions (e.g., to Sodom and Gomorrah and the archangel Michael) lends a
poetic quality to the letter.
The writer displays horror over the apostasy and the
false teachers who have caused it. The only NT passage that goes beyond Jude in
these traits is Jesus’ denunciation of the religious leaders in Matthew
23. But this letter begins with the usual soothing notes of NT epistles,
and in the last two verses it becomes one of the most moving benedictions in
the NT.
Key Themes
1. Christians
need to defend the doctrines of the faith (v. 3).
2. False
teachers may be identified by their immoral character (vv. 4, 8, 10, 12–13, 16, 18–19).
3. God will
judge false teachers (vv. 4, 5–7, 11, 14–15).
4. Saints
must endure to be saved (vv. 17–23).
5. As God
grants mercy to those who are called, they must show mercy to others (vv. 2,
21–23).
6. God
grants the grace to ensure that his people will persevere (vv. 1–2, 24–25).
OCTOBER 14 Wednesday
Jude,
Chapter 1, Verse 12
These are blemishes on your love feasts, as they carouse FEARLESSLY and look after themselves.
They are waterless clouds blown about by winds, fruitless trees in late autumn,
twice dead and uprooted.
Jude
is talking about people who only come to church for the food and drink or for
social interaction. God will not be mocked. Maintain your life with God first
then glory in Him with others. Remember God is your true spouse via the Holy
Spirit. Love the Lord by spending time alone with Him.
Plan
to make use of the US National Park Service and get out there where He can
speak to you in that still small voice.
Max
Oliva, in “The Masculine Spirit”[2]
recommends a four-step process to the art of reflecting.
1.
Get
to a special place of quiet for you where you are able to slow down as Christ
stated, “Let us go off by ourselves to some place where we will be alone and
you can rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31)
2.
Promote
self-searching and look for deeper meanings. Look where you are vulnerable;
surrender to Him. It requires faith to find Him.
3.
Are
you afraid? Stay with the
experience; be it painful or pleasant in order to discover its deeper meaning.
You must pass through fear to find your true self. You must acquaint yourself with your dark
side, your faults and vices. Hear the words of T.S. Eliot:
Old men
ought to be explorers, Here and there does not matter, we must be still and
still moving, into another intensity, For a further union, a deeper communion,
Through the dark cold and the empty desolation, The wave cry, the wind cry, the
vast waters, Of the petral and the porpoise. In my end is my beginning.
4.
Sharing
is the last step, not the first. After you met Him share Him, with someone you
trust that will take in your feelings and thoughts.
Every Wednesday is
Dedicated to St. Joseph
The Italian culture has
always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make
Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or
spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass.
You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous you
could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family
night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.
·
Do the St.
Joseph Universal Man Plan.
·
Do Day 8 of the
Consecration to St. Joseph.
Daily
Devotions
·
Litany
of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
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