Professional Documents
Culture Documents
http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Epistles-Jude.htm
3-4: Occasion and Theme: "Content for the faith" against "ungodly intruders"
5-7: Three examples of the punishment of unbelief and disobedience: Israelites,
rebellious angels, Sodom & Gomorrah
8-10: Three charges against the "dreamers": they defile the flesh, reject
authority, slander the angels
11: Three more biblical examples of people who cause sin, error, rebellion: Cain,
Balaam, Korah
12-13: Polemic descriptions of the ungodly: waterless clouds, fruitless trees,
wild waves, wandering stars
14-15: Prophecies of Enoch against those who are ungodly in deed and speech
16: More accusations against the "malcontents": grumbling, lust, boasting,
flattery
17-18: Predictions of Jesus' Apostles against the ungodly: scoffers who indulge their
lusts
19: These people are worldly, devoid of Spirit, and cause divisions
20-23: Appeal to the "beloved" to build themselves up and help others, with faith,
prayer, love, mercy, etc.
The Letter of Jude never directly quotes from the Old Testament, but it alludes to
several OT characters:
o v. 5: the Israelites in the desert, who died in the wilderness due to their
faithlessness (Num 14:1-35);
o v. 6: the angels (or "sons of God"), who mated with mortal women (Gen
6:1-4; as interpreted by 1 Enoch 6-19);
o v. 7: people of Sodom and Gomorrah, who sought to have sexual
relations with the angels visiting Lot (Gen 19:4-11);
o v. 11: Cain, who not only slew his brother Abel (Gen 4:1-16), but was the
first "heretic," according to ancient Jewish traditions;
o v. 11: Balaam, who led Israel into apostasy (Num 25:1-4; 31:16);
o v. 11: Korah, who led a rebellion against Moses (Num 16:1-35).
It also quotes from some and alludes to some non-biblical ancient Jewish
sources
o the apocryphal "1 Enoch" is alluded to in v. 6, and directly quoted in vv.
14-15;
o the apocryphal "Assumption of Moses" is quoted in v. 9, and may have
influence the polemic of v. 16.
Finally, it quotes from some "predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus
Christ," namely: "In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own
ungodly lusts" (vv. 17-18);
o this quotation, however, is not found anywhere in the canonical NT
books;
o thus, it must belong to other oral traditions that were not included in the
NT.
Rhetorical Techniques:
The Letter of Jude makes its points not only by quoting from and alluding to
popular ancient Jewish literature (both canonical and non-canonical), but it also
uses several other interesting rhetorical techniques, including parallelisms and
triadic (three-fold) illustrations:
Direct accusations against the "ungodly":
o socially: they have infiltrated the community (v. 4a), but only seek their
own benefit (v. 12), and divide the community (v. 19);
o morally: they pervert the grace of God into licentiousness (v. 4c, 18), and
do other immoral actions (vv. 8, 16a);
o theologically: they "deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ" (v.
4d); their speech is slanderous and bombastic (vv. 10, 16b).
Harshly polemical descriptions of the ungodly (vv. 12-13)
o comparing them with evil people of the past (see above)
o describing them with metaphorical images: waterless clouds, fruitless
trees, wild waves, wandering stars (vv. 12-13)
Direct appeals to the recipients of this letter:
o "contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (v. 3)
o "remember the predictions of the apostles" concerning the ungodly (v.
17)
o "build yourselves up on your most holy faith..." (vv. 20-21)
o "have mercy on some who are wavering, save others..., have mercy on
still others (vv. 22-23)
Encouragement, prayers and blessings for the recipients of the letter:
o Recipients: "to those who are called, who are beloved in God the Father,
and kept safe for Jesus Christ" (v. 1b);
o Initial Blessing: "May mercy, peace, and love by yours in abundance" (v.
2);
o Concluding Doxology: "Now to him who is able to keep you from
falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his
glory with rejoicing..." (v. 24).