New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Jude 1
1
I, Jude, am writing this letter. I serve Jesus Christ. I am a brother of James. I am sending this letter to you who have been chosen by God. You are loved by God the Father. You are kept safe by Jesus Christ.
Reference
Holy
1 Peter 2:9
2 Timothy 1:9
Hebrews 3:1
Parallel theme
John 14:22
John 17:15
Romans 8:30
References God
1 Peter 1:5
References Jesus
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Romans 1:1
2 Peter 1:1
3
Dear friends, I really wanted to write to you about the salvation we share. But now I feel I should write and ask you to stand up for the faith. God's people were trusted with it once and for all time.
Reference
Faith
1 Timothy 6:12
Philippians 1:27
Jude 1:20
Revelation 2:10
2 Timothy 1:13
Love
Revelation 12:11
Parallel theme
1 Timothy 1:18
Galatians 2:5
Hebrews 13:22
Salvation
Titus 1:4
4
Certain people have slipped in among you in secret. Long ago it was written that they would be judged. They are godless people. They use the grace of our God as an excuse for sexual sins. They say no to Jesus Christ. He is our only Lord and King.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Peter 2:10
1 Peter 2:8
2 Timothy 3:6
Galatians 5:13
Psalm 62:2
References God
1 Peter 2:16
2 Peter 3:7
Psalm 1:1
References Jesus
Galatians 2:4
1 John 2:22
5
I want to remind you about some things you already know. The Lord saved his people. He brought them out of Egypt. But later he destroyed those who did not believe.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 106:26
6
Some of the angels didn't stay where they belonged. They didn't keep their positions of authority. The Lord has kept those angels in darkness. They are held by chains that last forever. On judgment day, God will judge them.
Reference
Darkness
Ephesians 6:12
Eternal Life
Matthew 25:41
Judgment
2 Peter 2:4
2 Peter 2:9
Hebrews 10:27
Parallel theme
Matthew 8:29
John 8:44
Revelation 20:10
7
The people of Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them also did evil things. They gave themselves over to sexual sins. They committed sins of the worst possible kind. They are an example of those who are punished with fire. The fire never goes out.
Reference
Eternal Life
Matthew 25:41
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 29:23
2 Peter 2:6
Genesis 13:13
Genesis 18:20
Luke 17:29
Jeremiah 50:40
1 Corinthians 6:9
Isaiah 1:9
Amos 4:11
8
In the very same way, those dreamers pollute their own bodies. They don't accept authority. They speak evil things against heavenly beings.
Reference
Evil
Acts 23:5
Exodus 22:28
Parallel theme
Hebrews 13:17
1 Timothy 1:10
1 Peter 2:17
Ecclesiastes 10:20
1 Corinthians 3:17
9
But not even Michael did that. He was the leader of the angels. He argued with the devil about the body of Moses. But he didn't dare to speak evil things against the devil. Instead, he said, "May the Lord stop you!"
Reference
Evil
1 Peter 3:9
Parallel theme
Revelation 12:7
Deuteronomy 34:6
Daniel 12:1
Daniel 10:21
Daniel 10:13
Mark 15:29
References Lord
Zechariah 3:2
2 Peter 2:11
1 Thessalonians 4:16
10
But those people speak evil things against what they don't understand. They are like wild animals. They can't think for themselves. They do what comes naturally to them. Those are the very things that destroy them.
Reference
Evil
2 Peter 2:12
11
How terrible it will be for them! They followed the way of Cain. They rushed ahead and made the same mistake as Balaam did. They did it because they loved money. They are like Korah. He turned against his leaders. Those people will certainly be destroyed, just as Korah was.
Reference
12
They are like stains at the meals you share. They eat too much. They have no shame. They are shepherds who feed only themselves. They are like clouds without rain. They are blown along by the wind. They are like trees in the fall. Since they have no fruit, they are pulled up. So they die twice.
Reference
13
They are like wild waves of the sea. Their shame rises up like foam. They are like falling stars. God has reserved a place of very black darkness for them. He will keep them there forever.
Reference
14
Enoch was the seventh man in the family line of Adam. He gave a prophecy about those people. He said, "Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones.
Reference
Holy
Deuteronomy 33:2
1 Thessalonians 3:13
Matthew 25:31
Zechariah 14:5
Parallel theme
Matthew 16:27
Genesis 5:18
Revelation 1:7
15
He is coming to judge everyone. He is coming to sentence all ungodly people. He will judge them for all the ungodly acts they have done. They have done them in ungodly ways. He will sentence ungodly sinners for all the bad things they have said about him."
Reference
16
Those people complain. They find fault with others. They follow their own evil longings. They brag about themselves. They praise others to help themselves.
Reference
Kingdom
2 Peter 3:3
Parallel theme
2 Peter 2:10
Philippians 2:14
1 Corinthians 10:10
1 Timothy 6:5
1 Peter 4:2
1 Peter 2:11
Jude 1:18
Psalm 15:4
Word
2 Peter 2:18
17
Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said was going to happen.
Reference
18
They told you, "In the last days, some people will make fun of the truth. They will follow their own ungodly longings."
Reference
19
They are the people who separate you from one another. They do only what comes naturally. They are not led by the Holy Spirit.
Reference
Parallel theme
James 3:15
Hebrews 10:25
Proverbs 18:1
Hosea 9:10
Ezekiel 14:7
Hosea 4:14
Spirit
1 Corinthians 2:14
Romans 8:9
20
Dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith. Let the Holy Spirit guide and help you when you pray.
Reference
Faith
Colossians 2:7
Acts 26:18
Holy
Ephesians 6:18
Love
Ephesians 4:16
Parallel theme
1 Thessalonians 5:11
1 Corinthians 14:26
Ephesians 4:29
Spirit
1 Corinthians 14:15
Romans 8:15
Galatians 4:6
21
The mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ will bring you eternal life. As you wait for his mercy, remain in God's love.
Reference
Eternal Life
Romans 6:23
Kingdom
2 Peter 3:12
Love
1 John 4:16
2 Thessalonians 3:5
Revelation 12:11
John 14:21
Romans 8:39
Romans 5:5
2 Timothy 4:8
References Christ
Hebrews 9:28
23
Pull others out of the fire. Save them. To others, show mercy mixed with fear. Hate even the clothes that are stained by the sins of those who wear them.
Reference
24
Give praise to the One who is able to keep you from falling into sin. He will bring you into his heavenly glory without any fault. He will bring you there with great joy.
Reference
25
Give praise to the only God. He is our Savior. Glory, majesty, power and authority belong to him. Give praise to him through Jesus Christ our Lord. Give praise to the One who was before all time, who now is, and who will be forever. Amen.
Reference
Glory
1 Timothy 1:17
Romans 11:36
Revelation 1:6
Romans 16:27
Parallel theme
Psalm 147:5
Hebrews 13:8
Daniel 4:37
References God
John 5:44
Salvation
Isaiah 12:2
Titus 2:13
Chapter Summary
Jude urgently warns Christians about false teachers who secretly enter the church, distort God's grace into permission for immoral living, reject Christ's authority, divide believers, pursue selfish desires, and face certain judgment, while calling faithful Christians to defend the apostolic faith, remember God's past judgments, remain spiritually strong through faith and prayer, stay within God's love, show mercy to those who doubt, rescue people from spiritual danger, and trust God to preserve His people until they stand joyfully before His glory.
Jude begins by identifying himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, addressing believers who have been called, loved by God, and kept by Jesus Christ.
Although Jude originally intended to write about their shared salvation, the situation among his readers required a more urgent message.
He therefore urges them to contend for the faith that was delivered to God's people.
The reason for this urgency is the presence of people who have secretly entered the Christian community and are distorting God's grace.
These false teachers appear to use God's forgiveness as an excuse for immoral behavior while also denying the authority of Jesus Christ.
Jude makes clear that grace does not remove the responsibility to live faithfully.
He then gives several historical and biblical examples demonstrating that God's patience does not mean that rebellion will escape judgment.
Israel was rescued from Egypt but later experienced judgment because of unbelief.
Jude also refers to rebellious angels and to Sodom and Gomorrah as examples of creatures or people who rejected God's boundaries and consequently faced judgment.
The examples serve as warnings that receiving God's blessings does not provide permission to deliberately reject His authority.
Jude then describes the false teachers as arrogant, immoral, and spiritually reckless.
They defile themselves, reject legitimate authority, and speak arrogantly about spiritual matters they do not understand.
Jude contrasts their behavior with the example of Michael the archangel, who, even while disputing with the devil, did not pronounce an arrogant judgment but left judgment to the Lord.
Jude then compares the false teachers with Cain, Balaam, and Korah.
Cain represents hatred and violence, Balaam represents greed and corrupt spiritual influence, and Korah represents rebellion against God-appointed authority.
Together these examples portray false teachers as people whose spiritual corruption affects both their beliefs and behavior.
Jude uses a series of powerful images to describe them as selfish shepherds, clouds without rain, fruitless trees, wild waves, and wandering stars.
Each image communicates the same basic idea: these people may appear impressive or promising, but they ultimately provide no genuine spiritual nourishment.
They are focused on themselves rather than caring for God's people.
Jude then refers to a prophecy associated with Enoch, describing the Lord coming with His holy ones to judge ungodliness.
The point is that God's judgment will eventually expose every form of rebellion, including corrupt actions, arrogant words, selfish motives, and hidden wrongdoing.
Jude then reminds his readers that the apostles had already warned them that scoffers and ungodly people would appear in the last times.
The existence of false teachers should therefore not surprise Christians because apostolic teaching had already prepared them for such opposition.
These divisive people are described as following worldly desires and lacking the Holy Spirit.
In contrast, faithful Christians are instructed to build themselves up in their faith, pray through the Holy Spirit, remain in God's love, and wait for the mercy of Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
Jude then provides practical instructions for dealing with people who are struggling spiritually.
Believers should show mercy to those who doubt, helping rather than condemning people who are genuinely uncertain.
Others may require more urgent intervention, and Christians should attempt to rescue them from spiritual danger while remaining careful not to become involved in the sinful practices from which they are being rescued.
The letter concludes not by focusing on the power of false teachers but on the greater power of God.
God is able to keep His people from falling and to present them blameless before His glorious presence with great joy.
Jude therefore ends with worship, declaring God's eternal authority, wisdom, power, and glory through Jesus Christ.
The central message of Jude is that Christians must firmly defend the faith against false teachers who misuse God's grace, reject Christ's authority, encourage immoral living, and divide God's people, while remembering that Scripture repeatedly demonstrates God's judgment against persistent rebellion, strengthening themselves through faith and prayer, remaining in God's love, showing wise mercy toward those who doubt, rescuing people from spiritual danger without participating in their corruption, and trusting God to preserve His faithful people until they stand joyfully in His presence.
Jude begins by identifying himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, addressing believers who have been called, loved by God, and kept by Jesus Christ.
Although Jude originally intended to write about their shared salvation, the situation among his readers required a more urgent message.
He therefore urges them to contend for the faith that was delivered to God's people.
The reason for this urgency is the presence of people who have secretly entered the Christian community and are distorting God's grace.
These false teachers appear to use God's forgiveness as an excuse for immoral behavior while also denying the authority of Jesus Christ.
Jude makes clear that grace does not remove the responsibility to live faithfully.
He then gives several historical and biblical examples demonstrating that God's patience does not mean that rebellion will escape judgment.
Israel was rescued from Egypt but later experienced judgment because of unbelief.
Jude also refers to rebellious angels and to Sodom and Gomorrah as examples of creatures or people who rejected God's boundaries and consequently faced judgment.
The examples serve as warnings that receiving God's blessings does not provide permission to deliberately reject His authority.
Jude then describes the false teachers as arrogant, immoral, and spiritually reckless.
They defile themselves, reject legitimate authority, and speak arrogantly about spiritual matters they do not understand.
Jude contrasts their behavior with the example of Michael the archangel, who, even while disputing with the devil, did not pronounce an arrogant judgment but left judgment to the Lord.
Jude then compares the false teachers with Cain, Balaam, and Korah.
Cain represents hatred and violence, Balaam represents greed and corrupt spiritual influence, and Korah represents rebellion against God-appointed authority.
Together these examples portray false teachers as people whose spiritual corruption affects both their beliefs and behavior.
Jude uses a series of powerful images to describe them as selfish shepherds, clouds without rain, fruitless trees, wild waves, and wandering stars.
Each image communicates the same basic idea: these people may appear impressive or promising, but they ultimately provide no genuine spiritual nourishment.
They are focused on themselves rather than caring for God's people.
Jude then refers to a prophecy associated with Enoch, describing the Lord coming with His holy ones to judge ungodliness.
The point is that God's judgment will eventually expose every form of rebellion, including corrupt actions, arrogant words, selfish motives, and hidden wrongdoing.
Jude then reminds his readers that the apostles had already warned them that scoffers and ungodly people would appear in the last times.
The existence of false teachers should therefore not surprise Christians because apostolic teaching had already prepared them for such opposition.
These divisive people are described as following worldly desires and lacking the Holy Spirit.
In contrast, faithful Christians are instructed to build themselves up in their faith, pray through the Holy Spirit, remain in God's love, and wait for the mercy of Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
Jude then provides practical instructions for dealing with people who are struggling spiritually.
Believers should show mercy to those who doubt, helping rather than condemning people who are genuinely uncertain.
Others may require more urgent intervention, and Christians should attempt to rescue them from spiritual danger while remaining careful not to become involved in the sinful practices from which they are being rescued.
The letter concludes not by focusing on the power of false teachers but on the greater power of God.
God is able to keep His people from falling and to present them blameless before His glorious presence with great joy.
Jude therefore ends with worship, declaring God's eternal authority, wisdom, power, and glory through Jesus Christ.
The central message of Jude is that Christians must firmly defend the faith against false teachers who misuse God's grace, reject Christ's authority, encourage immoral living, and divide God's people, while remembering that Scripture repeatedly demonstrates God's judgment against persistent rebellion, strengthening themselves through faith and prayer, remaining in God's love, showing wise mercy toward those who doubt, rescuing people from spiritual danger without participating in their corruption, and trusting God to preserve His faithful people until they stand joyfully in His presence.