Topical Encyclopedia Introduction: The Epistle of Jude is a brief yet potent letter found in the New Testament, attributed to Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. This epistle is positioned as the penultimate book of the Bible, preceding the Book of Revelation. Jude's primary purpose is to address the early Christian community, warning them against false teachers and urging them to contend for the faith. Authorship and Date: Jude identifies himself as the brother of James, who is widely believed to be James the Just, a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church and the brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55). This connection suggests that Jude is also a half-brother of Jesus, though he humbly refers to himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. The epistle is generally dated to the late first century, around 65-80 AD, though exact dating remains uncertain. Audience and Purpose: The letter is addressed to "those who are called, loved by God the Father, and kept in Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:1). Jude writes to a Christian audience facing the threat of false teachers who have infiltrated the church. These individuals are described as ungodly, perverting the grace of God into a license for immorality and denying Jesus Christ (Jude 1:4). Jude's purpose is to exhort believers to defend the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). Structure and Content: The Epistle of Jude is composed of a single chapter with 25 verses. It can be divided into several key sections: 1. Greeting (Jude 1:1-2): Jude opens with a salutation, extending mercy, peace, and love to his readers. 2. Purpose of the Letter (Jude 1:3-4): Jude explains his initial intention to write about the common salvation but feels compelled to address the pressing issue of false teachers. 3. Condemnation of False Teachers (Jude 1:5-16): Jude provides a series of examples from history and Scripture to illustrate the fate of those who rebel against God. He references the unbelief of the Israelites, the rebellion of angels, and the immorality of Sodom and Gomorrah (Jude 1:5-7). Jude also cites non-canonical texts, such as the Assumption of Moses and the Book of Enoch, to emphasize the severity of the false teachers' actions. 4. Exhortation to Believers (Jude 1:17-23): Jude reminds the believers of the apostles' warnings about scoffers who would follow their own ungodly desires (Jude 1:17-18). He encourages them to build themselves up in their most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep themselves in God's love (Jude 1:20-21). Jude also advises showing mercy to those who doubt and rescuing others from the fire (Jude 1:22-23). 5. Doxology (Jude 1:24-25): The letter concludes with a doxology, praising God for His ability to keep believers from stumbling and to present them blameless before His glorious presence with great joy. Theological Themes: The Epistle of Jude emphasizes several key theological themes: · Contending for the Faith: Jude underscores the importance of defending the apostolic faith against false teachings and moral corruption. · Judgment and Salvation: The letter highlights God's judgment on the ungodly while assuring believers of His power to preserve them. · Authority of Scripture: Jude's use of both canonical and non-canonical texts reflects the early church's engagement with a wide range of Jewish traditions to affirm doctrinal truths. Significance: The Epistle of Jude serves as a timeless reminder of the need for vigilance in maintaining doctrinal purity and moral integrity within the Christian community. Its call to contend for the faith remains relevant in addressing contemporary challenges posed by false teachings and moral relativism. Smith's Bible Dictionary Epistle Of JudeIts author was probably Jude, one of the brethren of Jesus, the subject of the preceding article. There are no data from which to determine its date or place of writing, but it is placed about A.D. 65. The object of the epistle is plainly enough announced ver. 3; the reason for this exhortation is given ver.
ATS Bible Dictionary Epistle To the 1 and 2Thessaloniansp>These were the earliest of Paul's epistles, and were written from Corinth, in A. D. 52 and 53. In the first epistle, Paul rejoices over Timothy's good report of the faith of Christians at Thessalonica; and confirms them against the persecutions and temptations they would meet, by discussing the miraculous testimony of God to the truth of the gospel, 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10; the character of its preachers, 1 Thessalonians 2:13; the holiness of its precepts, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; and the resurrection of Christ and his people, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11. The remainder of the epistle consists of practical exhortations. In the second epistle, he corrects certain errors into which they were falling, particularly respecting the second coming of Christ. This, he shows, must be preceded by the career of "the man of sin," "the son of peredition," "whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders;" who usurps divine authority over the church, and "opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God." The exact fulfillment in the Romish church of these predictions, at first so contrary to human anticipation, proves that the apostle wrote by inspiration. Library The General Epistle of Jude The General Epistle of Jude The Epistle of Saint Jude. The Catholic Epistles. The Second General Epistle of Peter The Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude Preached and Explained The Second Epistle General of Peter Chronology of the Apostolic Age. Sanctified by God the Father. The Catholic Epistles. Resources Summary of the Book of Philippians - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.orgSummary of the Book of Galatians - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org Summary of the Book of Titus - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org Epistle: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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