Introduction

The book of Jude was often rejected from the canon in early times due to 1. copying from 2nd Peter, 2. Use of the book of Enoch, 3. Seeming use of a Jewish fable about an argument over the body of Moses. These problems can be overcome with a minimum of speculation. Jude’s use of Enoch can be regarded as counter-apologetic, in which his opponents accepted the book of Enoch, and he is quoting it merely to show the hypocrisy of their licentious lifestyle. Jude’s use of the Jewish fable can be deciphered if we place its writing during the Jewish war, and regard “body of Moses” as code for “Israel,” since the passage in Zechariah 3 is about the restoration of Israel, and speaking about this in the clear would pose a danger to the life of the writer. Finally, Jude clearly had access to 2nd Peter, in which Jude picks the verses from 2nd Peter relevant to his theme. Jude’s reason for writing, then is not to repeat what Peter wrote, but to add his authority to what Peter wrote.

Yehūdah

	The Warnings of History to the Ungodly
1	1 Yehūdah, a servant of Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕs­si­ah, and brother of Ya‘aqōv̱, to those who are the called, beloved in the Al­mĭgh­ty Fă­ther, and kept for Yĕshūa̒, the Mĕs­si­ah: 2 May mercy and shalōm and love be multiplied to you.
3	3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the ne­ces­sity to write to you, appealing that you contend earnestly for the Faith which was once for all delivered to the holy-ones, 4 because certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the loving-kindness of our Al­mĭgh­ty into licentiousness and deny the only Master, even our ’Adŏ­nai̱, Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕs­si­ah.
5	5 Now I desire to remind you, who have known everything, that Yăhwēh, who once having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, the second time destroyed those who did not affirm faithfulness. 6 And messengers who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their own abode, he has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sedōm and ‘Amōrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example, in undergoing the punishment of age-lasting fire.
8	8 Yet in the same manner these dreamers, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile majesties. 9 But Mi̱ḳa’ēl (which means, “who is like Gŏd”), Prince over mes­sengers, when he disputed with Sâtan over the body of Mōshēh did not pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “Yăhwēh rebuke you.” 10 But these men revile the things which they do not understand, and the things which they know by instinct, like un­reasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed.
11	11 Woe to them! Because they have gone the way of Qayin, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Bil‘am, and perished in the rebellion of Qōraḥ. 12 These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves, clouds without water, carried along by winds, autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted, 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam, wandering stars, for whom the black darkness is reserved to time immemorial.
14	14 But prophesied even to these “the seventh from ’Adam,” (‘Ḥanōḳ’), saying “Behold Yăhwēh will have come with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to accomplish judgment on all and to convict every soul concerning all their ungodly deeds by which they have been ungodly, and concerning all the harsh things which ungodly sinners haves spoken against him.”
16	16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts. They speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.
	Keep Yourselves in the Love of Gŏd
17	17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the emissaries of our ’Adŏ­nai̱ Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕs­si­ah, 18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-mind­ed, devoid of the Spĭr­it.
20	20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up with your holiest faithfulness, praying in the Holy Spĭr­it, 21 keep yourselves in the love of the Al­mĭgh­ty, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our ’Adŏ­nai̱ Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕs­si­ah for everlasting life.
22	22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting. 23 Save others, snatching them out of the fire. And on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. 24 - 25 But to the one who is able to guard you without fail, and confirm you in the presence of his glory blameless with great joy, to the only wise Al­mĭgh­ty, to our Savior, be glory, majesty, domi­nion and au­thority, even now and for the ages. ’Amēn.

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Link to Notes