Mercy
The Greek word for "mercy" is "ἔλεος" (eleos), which conveys a deep sense of compassion and kindness. In the biblical context, mercy is a fundamental attribute of God, reflecting His willingness to forgive and show compassion to those who are undeserving. Historically, mercy was a key theme in the Jewish understanding of God's covenant with Israel, where God repeatedly showed mercy despite the people's failings. In the New Testament, mercy is extended through Christ's sacrifice, offering believers a new covenant of grace. Jude's invocation of mercy here is a reminder of God's continual compassion and forgiveness, encouraging believers to reflect this attribute in their own lives.

Peace
The term "peace" is translated from the Greek "εἰρήνη" (eirēnē), which encompasses not only the absence of conflict but also the presence of harmony and wholeness. In the Hebrew tradition, this concept is akin to "shalom," a state of complete well-being and fulfillment. Peace is a gift from God, often associated with the presence of the Holy Spirit and the reconciliation brought by Jesus Christ. In the early Christian communities, peace was a crucial element, as believers faced persecution and internal conflicts. Jude's blessing of peace serves as a call for unity and tranquility among the faithful, rooted in the peace that Christ Himself imparts.

Love
The word "love" here is derived from the Greek "ἀγάπη" (agapē), which signifies selfless, unconditional love. This is the highest form of love, often associated with God's love for humanity and the love that believers are called to exhibit towards one another. In the scriptural context, agapē is central to the Christian faith, as it embodies the essence of God's nature and the commandment to love one's neighbor. Jude's emphasis on love highlights the importance of maintaining a community characterized by genuine care and concern, reflecting the love that God has shown through Jesus Christ.

Be multiplied
The phrase "be multiplied" comes from the Greek "πληθυνθείη" (plēthyntheiē), which suggests an increase or abundance. This expression is a common biblical benediction, indicating not just a simple addition but an overflowing abundance of the qualities mentioned. In the historical context of Jude's letter, the early church faced challenges that required an abundance of mercy, peace, and love to overcome. By invoking this multiplication, Jude is encouraging believers to seek and experience these virtues in ever-increasing measure, allowing them to thrive spiritually and relationally in a challenging world.

To you
The phrase "to you" personalizes the blessing, directing it specifically to the recipients of Jude's letter. This personal touch underscores the communal and individual nature of the Christian faith, where each believer is a recipient of God's grace and is called to embody these virtues. In the broader scriptural narrative, the personal address serves as a reminder that God's promises and blessings are not abstract concepts but are meant for each individual within the body of Christ. Jude's letter, though addressing a specific audience, extends this blessing to all believers, inviting them to partake in the rich spiritual life that God offers.

Verse 2. - The greeting. This takes the form of a prayer or benediction in three articles. It is rendered in precisely the same terms - mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied - in Tyndale, Cranmer, the Genevan, the Authorized Version, and the Revised Version. In Paul's Epistles the opening salutations usually mention only "grace and peace," and these as proceeding from "God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." But in the pastoral Epistles (as also in 2 John) the three blessings, "grace, mercy, and peace," appear, and these as coming from the same twofold source of Father and Son. In the Petrine Epistles we have again the two Pauline blessings of grace and peace, but with the distinctive addition of the "be multiplied." Here, in Jude, we have the characteristic Petrine "be multiplied," but this connected with three blessings, and these somewhat different from those which appear in the Pastoral Epistles - "mercy, peace, and love," instead of "grace and mercy and peace." What the writer desires, therefore, on behalf of the readers is an abounding measure of the three great qualities of grace, which refer respectively to the case of the miserable, the case of the hostile, and the case of the unworthy. Are these regarded as subjective qualities in man, or as objective gifts from God? The former view is favoured by some, who point especially to the closing benediction in the Epistle to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:23) as a case in point. But the latter view is sustained by the force of the "beloved" in the previous verse, and the mention of" love" in verse 21, as well as by the general analogy of the inscriptions of Epistles. What Jude prays for, therefore, is not that his readers may be helped to exhibit in large measure a merciful, peaceful, and loving disposition to others, but that they may enjoy in liberal degree the great blessings of God's mercy, peace, and love bestowed upon themselves.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Mercy,
Ἔλεος (Eleos)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1656: Pity, mercy, compassion. Of uncertain affinity; compassion.

peace,
εἰρήνη (eirēnē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1515: Probably from a primary verb eiro; peace; by implication, prosperity.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

love
ἀγάπη (agapē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 26: From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.

be multiplied
πληθυνθείη (plēthyntheiē)
Verb - Aorist Optative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4129: To increase, multiply. From another form of plethos; to increase.

to you.
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


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NT Letters: Jude 1:2 Mercy to you and peace and love (Jud. Ju Jd)