This letter looks very similar to 2 Peter. Scholars are not sure who went first. Interestingly, this isn’t a letter the author intended to write. Apparently he was going to write a treatise about becoming and being Christian. Unfortunately, if he ever got around to writing the intended letter no-one thought to preserve a copy for us.
The author calls himself the brother of James and is almost certainly the Jude who is listed among the brothers (or half-brothers) of Jesus. James became very well known, but Jude was obviously a kid brother. He obviously came to believe in Jesus Christ, too, but we don’t know how or when.
The famous words at the end of Jude shine like the sun through a hole in a storm. It is both a prayer and a reassuring statement. Trust God and he will keep you safe through all the changing scenes of life, because he alone has the power and authority in heaven and on earth.
To remind the church of the need for constant vigilance - to keep strong in the faith and to oppose heresy.
Jude, brother of Jesus and James.
To the Jewish Christians and all the believers everywhere.
The date is believed to have been around AD 65.
From the first century on, the church had been threatened by heresy and false teaching - we must always be on our guard.
“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share. I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (1:3)
“To the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and for evermore! Amen.” (1:25)
Is there anything more valuable than God?