Greeting
In part one of my expositon of Jude, I gave you what I call a "contextual overview" of Jude's letter. Remember what I stated, "...doing a contextual overview of any given book or letter is important because it gives you a, "big picture" understanding of that particular piece of literature". In other words, an overview provides key information that will guide and protect you as you dig into the details (i.e., exegesis). Remember that a contextual overview consists of answering several key questions:
1. By whom was it written? (i.e., Author)
2. To who was it written? (i.e., Audience)
3. Why was it written? (i.e. purpose)
4. When was it written? (i.e., date)
5. Where was it written? (i.e., place)
6. About what is it written (i.e., Theme)
Therefore, the first principle in doing an effective Bible study is: "Overview before Exegesis"
Alright, once the overview is completed we then can begin the process of exegesis (i.e., discovering the meaning of the particulars). I will now take us into the very meat of Jude's epistle (i.e., letter). In part 2 of this series, I will deal with verses one and two. I've entitled this study: Jude's introductions and greeting. Verses one and two read as follows: "Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you" (NASB).
I. Jude's introductions (verse one)
The reason why "introductions" is plural is because Jude makes several important introductions. First off, he introduces his self. "....Jude....". Jude begins his letter in a typical first century pattern. The writer(s) of letters would always begin by placing his or her name first. Next the writer(s) would identify the reciepient(s) of the letter. Lastly, the writer(s) would add a greeting to the reciepients. This pattern is found throughout the N.T. (e.g., Acts 15:22-23; Rom 1:1-7; 1 Cor 1:1-3). The only two writings that don't follow this typical pattern are: 1 John and the book of Hebrews. Let me just add for the record, many in Christian circles believe that the book of Hebrews was written by the Apostle Paul. I don't believe that Paul wrote Hebrews simply because Hebrews does not fit the pattern laid down in the rest of Paul's letters. Remember from part one of our study, I pointed out that the Jude mentioned at the beggining of this letter is none other than the brother of our Lord Jesus (see part one). By the way the name Jude or Judas means: "The praise of the Lord". Second, Jude introduces his slavery. He writes, "...a bond-servant of Jesus Christ..." The english word, "bond-servant" is not the best translation of the Greek word "Doulos". A better english translation of "doulos" is the word, "slave". A servant is someone who serves another at his or her discretion, like a hired butler or maid. At the end of the day, that hired servant goes home and does his or her thing. Whereas a slave is the property of another. A slave is someone who's rights are completely assigned to authority and will of another. You see a servant is someone who is in a temporary relation to another, whereas a slave is someone who is in a, "permaneat relation of servitude to another". What a powerful change that took place in Judes life. Before Jude's enslavement to Christ, he and the rest of his brothers were antagonistic toward Christ (cf John 7:5), but when you read Acts 1:14 you find gathered in the Upper room praying 120 disciples among whom were, "...Mary the mother of Jesus AND His brothers...". Somewhere between John Seven and Acts one, Jesus' brothers are converted by the sovereign grace of God. When Christ truly saves an individual, his or her life is NEVER the same. Jude was transformed from sinner to slave, from self-sufficient to totally submitted. "Yes", Jude would say, "Jesus is my brother", "But He's also my LORD". Third, Jude introduces his sibling. He writes, "....and brother of James...". As already mentioned (part one) James is also the brother of Jesus (cf Matt 13:55; Mark 6:3). James became the leader of the Jerusalem church (cf., Acts 12;17; 15:13). James is also credited with writing the letter in the N.T,.that carries his name. So why does Jude introduce us to his sibling James? By referring to himself as, "the brother of James", Jude was demonstrating humility. It is clear that Jude did not have the same prominence as His big brother James, yet he understood the sovereign providence of God in that He exalts whom He will and humbles whom He will. O, that we would learn how to discern God's sovereign providence in the affairs of His people. Fourth, Jude introduces his selected. He writes, "....To those who are the called.........". Jude is writing his letter to those he calls the, "called". The idea behind the word, "called" speaks of a summons or a special invitation. Here the word is used of what's called the, "effectual call". Simply put, the "effectual call" is the divine summons to every elect believer. Every person on the planet who is a true follower of Christ is one because they recieved a special invitation by the Sovereign God. Listen, NO ONE becomes a follower of Christ unless he or she is first called by a sovereign God (cf John 6:37, 44-46; Rom 8:28-30). There are no party crashers in the kingdom of heaven. You are a Christian NOT because you got up one morning and decided to follow Jesus. No, you are a Christian because the Sovereign God supernaturally summoned you and by His irresistable grace ENABLING you to respond (Eph 2:8-10). Had he not called you, you would STILL be dead in your sin and trespasses on your way to an Eternal Hell. But this is not the whole story, Jude describes believers using two other words described as participles. All believers are both, "Beloved" and "Kept". The word, "beloved" is a participle describing an action that took place prior to our being called. In other words, before God sovereignly summoned each believer, He is said to have "Beloved" that believer. Sometime in Eternity past God purposely placed His special love on certain individuals and in time effectually calls (i.e., summons) those beloved individuals to Himself. Jude goes on and states that all that God specially calls to Himself, He, "Keeps". The Greek word for, "kept" means, "...to watch, to stand guard over" It stesses vigil and care, a real committment to guard and keep something, to cherish it as one would a priceless treasure(MacArthur 17).
The word, "kept" also means to, "preserve forever". In other words, He keeps all true believers spiritually unharmed and undistured forever (i.e. secured). This is why Paul could say in Romans 8:38-39: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord". One last thought before I move on. The word, "Beloved" as I mentioned is also a perfect tense participle which indicates that believers are in a LASTING state of love. This means that God's act of selfless committment to us in eternity past is still our experience today and forever. God's love must be understood not as an emotion or feeling per se, but more so as an active, selfless committment. God not only loved (selflessly committed to) you in the eternal past, but he continues to love you (i.e., be selflessly committed to you) TODAY and FOREVER and there is NOTHING that can EVER change that. Therefore STOP doubting and questioning God's committment toward you. God loves you no less than He did in Eternity past and He loves you no more than He will in the Eternal future. So in summary: God in the eternal past made a selfless, unconditional committment to an undeserving group of sinners, and those He committed to He calls to Himself throughout the ages and all that He calls to Himself, He keeps spiritually safe and unharmed forever (Rom 8:28-30).
II. Jude's greeting (verse two)
Jude writes, "May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you". As we will see in further studies, the readers of Jude's epistle faced persecution and false teachers. Jude realizing the difficult situation that his readers faced on a daily basis offers them a greeting of consolation. First, he wants his readers to know the mercy of God. Mercy can be described as God's lovingkindness or compassion toward those suffering. Believers need mercy in times of need. Second, he wants his readers to know the peace of God. The peace mentioned here is not peace WITH God that comes through faith in Christ, rather this is the peace OF God which brings consolation and assurance to believers in times of trouble. Third, he wants his readers to know the love of God. There is nothing better than knowing that the Sovereign God of the universe is totally committed to us even in difficult times of suffering. Jude concludes his encouraging greeting by stating that he desires his readers to know the mercy, peace and love of God in an overflowing, abundant measure.
In closing I want to say this loud and clear. My rallying cry until Jesus takes me home is this - "Sound doctrine is the very life blood of the Church". As we will see throughout the letter of Jude, false teaching and bad doctrine is poison to the believer and death to the church. As we will see in part 3, false teaching was SUCH a big deal that Jude changed what he was going to write about in order to deal with it (cf., vs 3). Brothers and Sisters, may we refuse to continue to sit on our laurels and allow our families, our churches and our communities to be ravaged by the diesease of false doctrine.
For His Glory
Todd
