Contending for the Faith: The book of Jude

Contending for the Faith

I. Introduction to Jude

    A. Authorship: Jude, brother of James (and likely Jesus)

    B. Audience: Jewish Christians familiar with OT and apocryphal texts

    C. Purpose: Address false teachers misusing grace

    D. Date and Location: ~60 AD, possibly from Southern Israel

II. Structure of the Epistle

    A. Greeting (vv. 1–2)

    B. Body Introduction (vv. 3–4)

    C. Body Proper (vv. 5–16)

        1. Historical examples of judgment

        2. Description of false teachers

    D. Call to Action (vv. 17–23)

    E. Benediction (vv. 24–25)

III. Central Themes

    A. Contending for the Faith

    B. The misuse of grace as a license for immorality

    C. The denial of Jesus as Lord

IV. Warnings and Illustrations

    A. Historical Judgments:

        1. Egypt (unbelievers destroyed)

        2. Fallen angels (Gen 6 / 1 Enoch)

        3. Sodom and Gomorrah

    B. Examples of Rebellion:

        1. Cain – murder

        2. Balaam – greed and immorality

        3. Korah – rejection of authority

    C. Descriptions of False Teachers:

        1. Waterless clouds, fruitless trees, wandering stars

        2. Relying on instinct, not the Spirit

        3. Dangerous to the community

V. Call to Faithful Living (vv. 17–23)

    A. Remember the Apostolic Warnings

    B. Build your faith and pray in the Spirit

    C. Stay in God’s love, await Christ’s mercy

    D. Rescue and show mercy to those wavering

VI. Theological Closing (vv. 24–25)

    A. God’s power to preserve believers

    B. Christ’s eternal authority and glory

    C. Doxology affirming hope and confidence

VII. Use of Extra-Biblical References

    A. 1 Enoch (vv. 14–15)

    B. Assumption of Moses (v. 9)

    C. Purpose: Common knowledge as illustrative tools

VIII. Additional Scriptures 

Galatians 5:13, 1 Timothy 4:1, Titus 1:16, Matthew 7:15, Ephesians 4:14, Romans 6:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:1-5