Epistle of Jude

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  • Judas

The Epistle of Jude is the third shortest book of the New Testament with 461 words ( according to Nestle - Aland27 ). The Jude consists of only one chapter, which is divided into 25 verses since the early modern period. It is an exhortation to fight for the only true faith and to avoid succumbing to the false teachers who have crept into the church. Originally wanted to write a letter on the subject of teaching the salvation of the author, but the infiltration of false teachers and immoral people led him to the traditional exhortation.

Author

The author calls himself Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. The Church Fathers based this statement on Jude Thaddeus, who is in Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13 EU EU as one of the apostles with the addition son of James. He is not to be confused with the other apostles named Judas Iscariot. Which James his brother, who was his father is not clear. James, son of Alphaeus ( James the Less, Lk 6,15 EU) is possible as well as James the son of Zebedee ( James the Greater ), which is called next to the beloved disciple John ( v. 14 EU). Possibly were fathers and sons in the circle of disciples as "brothers ", so that it is not the physical but the spiritual relationship is meant.

The name can also refer to James the righteous, the ( oldest ) brother or cousin of Jesus, later head of the Jerusalem church and putative author of the James letter. For another brother of Jesus called Judas ( Mk 6.3 EU). The problem in this respect is, however, why the author does not then describes himself as brother of Jesus. This could be justified with awe. James Rendel Harris has pointed out that Jesus applies in the Syrian tradition, the apostle Thomas as Judas Thomas and brother, the twin is then related to the milk Brotherhood. Then Judas would be a first name of the famous apostle. Contradicted by the fact that the content of Judas letter in no relation to the contents of the apocryphal Thomas tradition.

From the content of his letter here, the author is probably to settle in Jewish-Christian circles. His language is independently (eg the motif of the " most holy faith", v. 20 EU ), but includes related motifs with both Paul ( 2 Corinthians ) as the Epistle of James as the Letters of John ( emphasis on the love and mercy of God, v. 21 EU).

Time of origin

Neither the formation time nor the recipient Epistle of Jude can be made reliable statement. There are links to the 2nd Letter of Peter: The predicted heresies are now occurred (2 Peter 2:1-3 EU). The letter could have been composed around 70 AD.

Content

The Epistle of Jude is directed against false teachers, who have invaded the church. Although they take part in the love-feasts of the church, they deny Jesus Christ and the grace of God ( v. 12 EU).

This situation of doubt and discord in the styled community wants the author overcome by his exhortation, by demonstrating a clear alternative: trust in the only Lord Jesus Christ brings salvation in the final judgment and eternal joy ( v. 24 EU). For the other, the wicked, " has long since written the judgment " ( v. 4 EU), reminiscent of the author his readers. From Israel's election to the Exodus, and even since the creation God has predestined the final judgment ( v. 6 EU): This brings " punishment of eternal fire " and is regarded as the angels which plied with mortal man (1 Mos 6,2 - 4 EU) and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, the fornication, as well as the " dreamers defile the flesh, the " by despise lordship of Christ and " rail at dignities ."

He was referring apparently the previous authorities in the municipality of Judas letter opposing looked competitors. Their action was in the "Debate proud words" and self-serving " respecter of persons ", in the " Convert after their own ungodly lusts " and " make divisions ". In order to rein in, the author refers to subjects that are not familiar with the bible otherwise: a battle between the Archangel Michael and the devil about the body of Moses ( v. 9 EU ), and a prophecy of " Enoch, the seventh from Adam " (1 Mos 5.21 EU or Hen.60 1: 8) from the judgment of God on the wicked. He emphasized so much in late Jewish apocalyptic language ( cf. Ethiopian Book of Enoch 1 Hen Mos 1:14.5 33.2 EU), the salvation-historical continuity with the people of the " saints" ( the elect Jews ) and Christians but has, at the same time on which is to their current threat of the final warp down.

While the ungodly false teachers " do not have spirit " to that exhortation is aimed at understanding: But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God ... ( v. 20 EU ), which now consists the doubters ( the tearing of the false teachers confused ) " out of the fire " and save it from ruin in the final judgment ( v. 22 EU). Therefore, the author addressed his letter to the beginning " are called " ( v. 1 EU). In order to encourage them to do so, he is finally in a doxology ( eulogistic ceremony) again the only authority out who " is able to keep you from stumbling " and " before the presence of his (God's ) glory blameless with joy " ( v. 24 EU): namely Jesus Christ.

The reasoning behind it remains unspoken and is only implicitly recognizable in its emphasis on the supremacy of Christ: He 's just it, the anticipated the final judgment on the cross already taken the punishment of the wicked, and she has so been freed from it.

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