Jude 1

Ver. 3. — earnestly contend] The original word refers to the severe struggles of the champions in the Grecian games. The same allusion upon the same subject is employed by St. Paul to the Philippians: “Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together,” (according to the original, ‘wrestling together’) “for the faith of the Gospel, and in nothing terrified by your adversaries,” Phil. i. 27, 28. Bp. Horne.

— once delivered] ‘Delivered once for all:’ so as to need no further confirmation besides the evidence given of it by Christ and His Apostles, and so as to admit of no alterations or additions. Pyle.

This faith is that system of truths revealed in the Holy Scriptures concerning the dispensations of the

God whom we adore, and into whose name we were baptized, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three Persons, one God. These truths are proposed to us as the ground of our hope, our comfort, and our joy; as the principles on which the conduct of life is to be framed, accepted, and rewarded. We receive the revelation, which contains the truths, upon that plenary and satisfactory evidence vouchsafed us of its authenticity; and we receive the truths, which it contains, on the authority of the revealer. The different articles of our belief, dispersed in the Scriptures, were very early collected into summaries, styled creeds, recited at baptism, and constituting thenceforward the badge and test of a man’s profession. By a formulary of this kind the catechumen

The punishment of certain false teachers foretold, and their Anno DOMINI about 66.

sied of these, &c.] Though Moses hath said nothing concerning Enoch’s prophesying, yet by telling us that he was a person of such piety, as to be translated to heaven in the body without dying, he hath prepared us to believe St. Jude’s account of Him; namely, that God employed Him, as He did Noah, in reforming the wicked of the age in which he lived, and that He inspired him to deliver the prophecy, of which St. Jude speaks. Enoch is called “the seventh from Adam,” to distinguish him from Enoch, the son of Cain, Gen. iv. 17. Dr. Macknight.

Jude 1:4

4. — before of old ordained to this condemnation.] Of whom it was ‘before written,’ or prophesied, that this should be their condemnation, according to the import of the original word, and to the parallel passage of St. Peter, 2 Pet. ii. 3. Of these men Enoch prophesied, ver. 14, that they should be condemned for their wickedness. God ordaineth none to punishment but sinners and ungodly men, as the persons here are styled. Dr. Whitby.

— turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.] So perverting the doctrine of the Gospel, as to teach that it even countenances and encourages lasciviousness. Dr. Wells.

Jude 1:6

6. — which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation.] Which, not contented with that estate, wherein they were first created, but rebelling against God and proudly affecting a higher glory, were thereupon cast down from their heavenly habitations. Bp. Hall.

By this declaration the Apostle intimates, that the angels attempted to raise themselves to a higher station than that which God had allotted to them; consequently that the sin, for which they are to be punished, was pride and rebellion. Dr. Macknight.

Jude 1:7

7. — suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.] Having their cities so consumed by fire as to be incapable of being rebuilt, and thus exhibiting in their punishment a proper emblem of that “eternal fire,” which is to be the punishment of the wicked at the last day. Dr. Wells.

Jude 1:8

8. Likewise also these filthy dreamers &c.] These impure and wicked miscreants, who are carried away with

ers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Jude 1:9

9. Yet Michael the archangel, &c.] We may collect from this passage, that Moses was buried by the ministry of angels. Dr. Hales.

Jude 1:10

10. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: &c.] These men are brutish and grossly ignorant in their understanding, not knowing how to value the worth of any thing that is good; and yet have their mouths open, to disgrace and rail on that which they know not; and those things, which they cannot but naturally know, as brute beasts, which are led and carried by their senses, those they abuse in a sensual and sinful want of moderation, and make them occasions of their sin and destruction. Bp. Hall.

Jude 1:11

11. Woe unto them! &c.] Certainly the curse of God hangs over the heads of these men; for they have, in respect of envy and murder, followed the courses of Cain; and, in respect of corrupting the truth for filthy lucre’s sake, they have greedily run on in the wicked steps of Balaam; and, in respect of opposing themselves to authority, they have imitated the rebellion and in utiny of Korah, and shall perish in that damnable presumption. Bp. Hall. Concerning the offences of the persons here alluded to, see Gen. iv. 8, 9; Numb. xxiv. 25; xvi. 1, 9, 35.

Jude 1:12

12, 13. These are spots in your feasts of charity, &c.] It is impossible to describe them by any comparisons that are black enough to reach them. When they are invited to gratify their appetites, it is indifferent to them, whether it be to an idol feast, or a feast of charity among the true worshippers of God. They bring nothing but scandal and danger to all they communicate with. The lewdness and slanders of their conversation are as blasting as a tempest; and a virtuous word or action is no more to be expected from them, than fruit is from a tree, that is perfectly withered and stubbed up. They

Anno DOMINI about 66. a Zoch. 3. 2. evil doctrine and manners described. Exhortation to persevere in the faith. Anno DOMINI about 66. ing out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

Jude 1:19

19. These be they who separate themselves, &c.] That is, who make schisms and divisions in the church of God; severing themselves from the communion of other Christians, both in opinion and conversation; men, secretly given up to their own sensuality, having, howsoever they pretend, no share at all in the Spirit of God. Bp. Hall.

Jude 1:22

22. And of some have compassion, &c.] Of some, who through simplicity have been seduced, have compassion: “making a difference” betwixt those spirits which are stubborn and turbulent, and those which are meek and gentle. Bp. Hall.

Jude 1:23

23. And others save with fear, &c.] And others, that are stiff and perverse, save if ye may with vehemently urging upon them the terrours of judgment; as it were violently pulling them out of the fire of God’s wrath, wherein they be. Bp. Hall. This is doubtless the meaning of the Apostle’s rule, that, in admonishing the faulty, we express more sorrow than anger where circumstances will allow it; that we use tender expostulations by choice; and harsh expressions, but, above all, terrifying and threatening ones, only when nothing else will prevent ruin. Abp. Secker. — hating even the garment &c.] An allusion to the strictness of the Jewish law against touching unclean things. Pyle. This, which is a direction to those, who snatch others out of the fire, implies that, in doing them that compassionate office, they are to avoid all familiarity with them, even as they would avoid touching a garment spotted by the flesh of one who had died of the plague, lest they be infected by their vicious conversation. Dr. Macknight.

The following Verses from St Jude are appointed as a Proper Lesson and an Epistle on Holydays:

Vaa. …1— 8, St. Simon and St. Jude, … Epistle. — …6—16, St. Michael and all Angels, … Evening.