Friday 15 April 2011

Jude

An encyclical letter—that is, one not directed to the members of one church in particular, but intended rather to be circulated and read in all churches
Part is very similar to 2 Peter 2.
Jude, brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ. Mercy, peace and love. Judge writes exhorting his addressees to defend the faith. Ungodly men turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny God and our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord, having saved the people from Egypt, afterwards destroyed those who did not believe. Angels who did not keep their proper domain were kept in everlasting chains for the judgment of the great day. Sodom and Gomorrah suffered the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise, these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Michael the archangel is an example of someone who does not speak evil of others: when contending about the body of Moses, Michael did not dare to bring a reviling accusation aganist the devil, but instead said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ (2 Peter 2:2 made a general reference to angels as not bringing railing accusations against others before the Lord.) The ungodly men speak evil of what they do not know. They have gone in the way of Cain, Balaam and Korah. These men are spots at love feasts, clouds without water, late autumn trees without fruit, raging waves, wandering stars, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Jude quotes from the book of Enoch: God will come with ten thousand of his saints to execute judgment on the ungodly. These men complain and flatter. Jesus himself said that there would be mockers. These men cause divisions, not having the Spirit. Look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have compassion on some, and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. Concluding doxology: God is able to keep you from stumbling and keep you faultless; to Him be dominion and power both now and forever. Amen.

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