Jude 1
Greetings from Jude
1
This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.
I am writing ttoo aallll w
whhoo hhaavvee bbeeeenn ccaalllleedd by God the Father, who loves yyoouu and
keeps yyoouu safe in the care of Jesus Christ.[a]
2
May God give yyoouu more and more mercy, peace, and love.
The Danger of False Teachers
Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to yyoouu about the salvation we
all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging yyoouu to
defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. 4 I say
this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into yyoouurr churches,
saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The
condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only
Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
3
So I want to remind yyoouu, though yyoouu already know these things, that Jesus[b] first
rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later He destroyed those who did not
remain faithful. 6 And I remind yyoouu of the angels who did not stay within the limits of
authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them
securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment.
7
And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were
filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were
destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment.
5
In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live
immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings.[c] 9 But even
Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels,[d] did not dare accuse the devil of
blasphemy, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (This took place when
Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.) 10 But these people scoff at
things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their
instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. 11 What sorrow
awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like
Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their
rebellion.
8
When these people eat with yyoouu in your fellowship meals commemorating the
Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck yyoouu.[e] They are like
shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing
over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly
dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. 13 They are like
wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like
wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness.
12
14
Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these
people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy
ones 15 to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every
person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly
sinners have spoken against Him.”[f]
16
These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires.
They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.
A Call to Remain Faithful (actions)
But yyoouu, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus
Christ said. 18 They told yyoouu that in the last times there would be scoffers whose
purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. 19 These people are the ones who
are creating divisions among yyoouu. They follow their natural instincts because they
do not have God’s Spirit in them.
17
But yyoouu, dear friends, must build each other up in yyoouurr most holy faith, pray in
the power of the Holy Spirit,[g] 21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
will bring yyoouu eternal life. In this way, yyoouu will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
20
And yyoouu must show mercy to[h] those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others
by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others,[i] but do
so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.[j]
22
A Prayer of Praise
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep yyoouu from falling away and will bring
yyoouu with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to
Him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory,
majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond
all time! Amen.
24
Footnotes:
 Jude 1:1 Or keeps you for Jesus Christ.
 Jude 1:5 As in the best manuscripts; various other manuscripts read [the] Lord, or God, or Christ; one reads
God Christ.
 Jude 1:8 Greek at glorious ones, which are probably evil angels.
 Jude 1:9 Greek Michael, the archangel.
 Jude 1:12 Or they are contaminants among you; or they are stains.
 Jude 1:15 The quotation comes from intertestamental literature: Enoch 1:9.
 Jude 1:20 Greek pray in the Holy Spirit.
 Jude 1:22 Some manuscripts read must reprove.
 Jude 1:23 Some manuscripts have only two categories of people: (1) those whose faith is wavering and
therefore need to be snatched from the flames of judgment, and (2) those who need to be shown mercy.
 Jude 1:23 Greek with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
Jude 1 - Amplified Bible (AMP)
1
JUDE, A servant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and brother of James, [writes this letter] to those who are called
(chosen), dearly loved by God the Father and separated (set apart) and kept for Jesus Christ:
2
May mercy, [soul] peace, and love be multiplied to you.
3
Beloved, my whole concern was to write to you in regard to our common salvation. [But] I found it
necessary and was impelled to write you and urgently appeal to and exhort [you] to contend for the faith which
was once for all [a]handed down to the saints [the faith which is that sum of Christian belief which was delivered
[b]
verbally to the holy people of God].
4
For certain men have crept in stealthily [[c]gaining entrance secretly by a side door]. Their doom was
predicted long ago, ungodly (impious, profane) persons who pervert the grace (the spiritual blessing and favor)
of our God into lawlessness and wantonness and immorality, and disown and deny our sole Master and Lord,
Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
5
Now I want to remind you, though you were fully informed once for all, that though the Lord [at one time]
delivered a people out of the land of Egypt, He subsequently destroyed those [of them] who did not believe
[who refused to adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him].
6
And angels who did not keep (care for, guard, and hold to) their own first place of power but abandoned
their proper dwelling place--these He has reserved in custody in eternal chains (bonds) under the thick gloom of
utter darkness until the judgment and doom of the great day.
7
[The wicked are sentenced to suffer] just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent towns--which likewise
gave themselves over to impurity and indulged in unnatural vice and sensual perversity--are laid out [in plain
sight] as an exhibit of perpetual punishment [to warn] of everlasting fire.(A)
8
Nevertheless in like manner, these dreamers also corrupt the body, scorn and reject authority and
government, and revile and libel and scoff at [heavenly] glories (the glorious ones).
9
But when [even] the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, judicially argued (disputed) about the
body of Moses, he dared not [presume to] bring an abusive condemnation against him, but [simply] said, The
Lord rebuke you!(B)
10
But these men revile (scoff and sneer at) anything they do not happen to be acquainted with and do not
understand; and whatever they do understand physically [that which they know by mere instinct], like irrational
beasts--by these they corrupt themselves and are destroyed (perish).
11
Woe to them! For they have run riotously in the way of Cain, and have abandoned themselves for the sake
of gain [it offers them, following] the error of Balaam, and have perished in rebellion [like that] of Korah!(C)
12
These are hidden reefs (elements of danger) in your love feasts, where they boldly feast sumptuously
[carousing together in your midst], without scruples providing for themselves [alone]. They are clouds without
water, swept along by the winds; trees, without fruit at the late autumn gathering time--twice (doubly) dead,
[lifeless and] plucked up by the roots;
13
Wild waves of the sea, flinging up the foam of their own shame and disgrace; wandering stars, for whom
the gloom of eternal darkness has been reserved forever.
14
It was of these people, moreover, that Enoch in the seventh [generation] from Adam prophesied when he
said, Behold, the Lord comes with His myriads of holy ones (ten thousands of His saints)
15
To execute judgment upon all and to convict all the impious (unholy ones) of all their ungodly deeds which
they have committed [in such an] ungodly [way], and of all the severe (abusive, jarring) things which ungodly
sinners have spoken against Him.
16
These are inveterate murmurers (grumblers) who complain [of their lot in life], going after their own desires
[controlled by their passions]; their talk is boastful and arrogant, [and they claim to] admire men's persons and
pay people flattering compliments to gain advantage.
17
But you must remember, beloved, the predictions which were made by the apostles (the special messengers)
of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
18
They told you beforehand, In the last days (in the end time) there will be scoffers [who seek to gratify their
own unholy desires], following after their own ungodly passions.
19
It is these who are [agitators] setting up distinctions and causing divisions--merely sensual [creatures,
carnal, worldly-minded people], devoid of the [Holy] Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life.
20
But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [[d]make progress, rise like an
edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;
21
Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus
Christ (the Messiah)--[which will bring you] unto life eternal.
22
And refute [so as to] convict some who dispute with you, and on some have mercy who waver and doubt.
23
[Strive to] save others, snatching [them] out of [the] fire; on others take pity [but] with fear, loathing even
the garment spotted by the flesh and polluted by their sensuality.(D)
24
Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you]
unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with
unspeakable, ecstatic delight]-25
To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might and
dominion, and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). Amen
(so be it).
Footnotes: Jude 1:3 G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.
 Jude 1:3 G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.
 Jude 1:4 The use of this verb paints this kind of picture.
 Jude 1:20 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.
Cross References:
 Jude 1:7 : Gen 19
 Jude 1:9 : Zech 3:2
 Jude 1:11 : Gen 4:3-8; Num 16; 22-24
 Jude 1:23 : Zech 3:2-4