Emmaus Saturday Morning Men’s Bible Study - Jude Ý
Copyright 2004 by William Meisheid
 

Jude: Introduction                                             May 1. 2004

Today’s theme: Contending for the faith once delivered unto the saints of God.

Scriptural background: Philippians 1:27 “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel”

Quotes to think about 

Would'a, could'a, should'a. “You don't understand. I could have had class. I could have been a contender.” Budd Schulberg, On the Waterfront (film, 1954)”.

Religion and government. “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.” John Adams (1735 - 1826)

Everything has a season. “Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtile; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.” Francis Bacon (1561–1626) Of Studies.

Historical Background

Authorship

Written by the brother of James, the Lord’s brother. So Jude is considered to be the Judas mentioned in Mark 6:3.

Time frame: 70-80 AD.

Location: Unknown.

Purpose: To counter heresies. Strikingly similar to 2 Peter 2:1-3 “1But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”

Problems: References to OT pseudepidrapha (Apocrypha), such as 1 Enoch.

Jude 1-4

Salutation (1-2)

1Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James”

1.  Jude calls himself a servant of Jesus and brother of James rather than brother of Jesus? Why is this important?

 
 

“To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: 2Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.”

2.  Note who he is writing to. How is this salutation different from those in other epistles?

 

 

3.  Why do you think Jude starts out with an offering of mercy?

 

 

Danger revealed (3-4)

3Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

4.  Why is it important that Jude felt compelled to write about the danger he reveals?

 

 

5.  Contending, especially for “religion”, has become extremely objectionable in our culture. Do you think it was any easier for the hearers of Jude? What do you think is the same and what is different for us and them?

 

 

 

6.  Notice who holds the trust of the faith. Why is this significant?

 

 

7.  What is the “faith” once delivered unto the saints?

 

 

4For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

8.  Note that Jude is not concerned about Pagan apologists. Who is he concerned about?

 

 

9.  Can you think of how the Church has distorted grace into license?

 

 

10. Explain how you can both deny Christ, yet appear to accept him at the same time? Why is this deception significant?

 

 

Assignment

Read verses 5-16. Note especially verse 9 and the problem it exposes. Remember to do your review questions first. Think about the dangers of contending for the faith to your soul, not your body or your position in the world.

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