Jude 1

King James Version

Full text for Jude Chapter 1

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:

2Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

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.

4For 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.

5I 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.

6And 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.

7Even 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.

8¶ Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

9Yet 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.

10But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

11Woe 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.

12These 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;

13Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

14And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

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.

16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

17But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

18How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22And of some have compassion, making a difference:

23And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jude exhorts believers to earnestly contend for the faith against ungodly men who have infiltrated the church, turning grace into license and denying Christ. He warns them by citing historical examples of divine judgment, such as the unbelieving Israelites, fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah. Jude describes these false teachers as corrupt, lust-driven individuals and reminds the faithful to build themselves up in their holy faith, pray in the Spirit, and await eternal life.

Medium Summary

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, addresses believers sanctified by God, urging them to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. He reveals that ungodly men have secretly entered the community, perverting God's grace into immorality and denying the Lord Jesus Christ. To underscore the certainty of divine judgment, Jude recalls the destruction of unbelieving Israelites, the reservation of fallen angels in chains, and the eternal fire that consumed Sodom and Gomorrah. These false teachers, described as "filthy dreamers," despise authority, speak evil of dignities, and follow the destructive paths of Cain, Balaam, and Core. Jude reminds the faithful of Enoch's prophecy concerning the Lord's coming judgment upon the ungodly and the apostles' warnings about mockers in the last days. Therefore, believers are exhorted to build themselves up in their most holy faith, pray in the Holy Ghost, keep themselves in the love of God, and look for Christ's mercy, while also showing compassion and saving others from error. The epistle concludes with a doxology, praising God's power to preserve them faultless unto His glory.

Long Summary

Jude, identifying himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, addresses those who are sanctified by God the Father, preserved in Jesus Christ, and called, extending wishes of multiplied mercy, peace, and love. Though initially desiring to write about the common salvation, he felt compelled to exhort his readers to earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. This urgency arose because certain ungodly men had surreptitiously infiltrated the Christian community, perverting the grace of God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude reminds his audience of past divine judgments to illustrate the fate of such apostates, citing the destruction of the Israelites who, though saved from Egypt, later perished for unbelief. He also recalls the angels who abandoned their original estate and are now reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which suffered the vengeance of eternal fire for their fornication and unnatural lusts. These false teachers are characterized as "filthy dreamers" who defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities, contrasting sharply with Michael the archangel's respectful restraint even when disputing with the devil. They corrupt themselves by acting on natural instincts, likened to brute beasts, and are condemned for following the way of Cain, running greedily after Balaam's error for reward, and perishing in Core's rebellion. Jude vividly describes them as "spots" in love feasts, waterless clouds, fruitless trees "twice dead," raging waves foaming out their shame, and wandering stars destined for eternal darkness. He further recalls Enoch's ancient prophecy of the Lord's coming with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment upon all the ungodly for their deeds and harsh words. These individuals are identified as murmurers, complainers, driven by their own lusts, speaking boastful words, and flattering others for personal gain. Jude urges believers to remember the apostles' warnings about mockers in the last times, who would be sensual and devoid of the Spirit, separating themselves from the faithful. In contrast, believers are exhorted to build themselves up on their most holy faith, pray in the Holy Ghost, keep themselves in the love of God, and anticipate the mercy of Jesus Christ leading to eternal life. They are also instructed to show compassion to some, save others with fear by pulling them from spiritual danger, and utterly reject sin. The epistle concludes with a powerful doxology, praising God, who is able to keep them from falling and present them faultless before His glorious presence with exceeding joy.

Core Concepts

  • Contending for the FaithBelievers are exhorted to earnestly defend and uphold the core doctrines and practices of Christianity against those who seek to corrupt it. This is presented as a necessary response to the infiltration of ungodly men.
  • False Teachers and ApostasyThe chapter warns against ungodly men who have secretly entered the Christian community, perverting God's grace into immorality and denying the Lord Jesus Christ. These individuals lead others astray through their corrupt teachings and conduct.
  • Divine JudgmentJude uses historical examples—the destruction of unbelieving Israelites, the reservation of fallen angels, and the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah—to illustrate God's certain and severe judgment upon rebellion, immorality, and unbelief. These serve as warnings for the ungodly.
  • Characteristics of the UngodlyFalse teachers are vividly described as lust-driven, rebellious against authority, greedy, boastful, and devoid of the Holy Spirit. Their actions are likened to the destructive paths of Cain, Balaam, and Core.
  • Exhortation to SteadfastnessBelievers are encouraged to actively maintain their spiritual walk by building themselves up on their most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping themselves in God's love, and awaiting the mercy of Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
  • Preservation by GodThe epistle concludes with a doxology praising God's ultimate power and ability to keep believers from falling and to present them faultless before His glorious presence. This offers assurance of divine protection and hope for the faithful.