Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

“Mercy--in a time of wretchedness. Therefore mercy stands first; the mercy of Christ (Jude 21). peace--in the Holy Ghost (Jude 20). love--of God (Jude 21).”

Beloved, although I made every effort to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith…

“Having intended to write generally of "the common salvation," he found it necessary from the existing evils in the Church, to write specially that they should contend for the faith against those evils. earnestly contend--Compare Php 1:27, "striving together for the faith of the Gospel."”

For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation.

“Translate as the Greek, "the only Master"; here used of Jesus Christ, who is at once Master and "Lord" (a different Greek word). By virtue of Christ's perfect oneness with the Father, He, as well as the Father, is termed "the ONLY" God and "MASTER."”

And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great…

“But though Jude accords with it in some particulars, it does not follow that he accords with it in all. The Hebrews name the fallen angels Aza and Azael. left--on their own accord. their own--Greek, "their proper."”

In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain…

“BENGEL translates as the Greek will admit, "Suffering (the) punishment (which they endure) as an example or sample of eternal fire (namely, that which shall consume the wicked)." Eze 16:53-55 shows that Sodom's punishment, as a nation, is not eternal.”

But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord…

“Jude, as inspired, could distinguish how much of the tradition was true, how much false. We have no such means of distinguishing, and therefore can be sure of no tradition, save that which is in the written word.”

These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.

“(2Pe 2:12.) those things which--Greek, "all things whatsoever they understand not," namely, the things of the spiritual world. but what . . . naturally--Connect thus, "Whatever (so the Greek) things naturally (by natural, blind instinct), as the unreasoning (so the Greek) animals, they know," &c.”

Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

“Woe--See on 2Pe 2:14, "cursed children." Cain--the murderer: the root of whose sin was hatred and envy of the godly, as it is the sin of these seducers. ran greedily--literally, "have been poured forth" like a torrent that has burst its banks.”

They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

“Jude has in mind Isa 57:20. shame--plural in Greek, "shames" (compare Php 3:19). wandering stars--instead of moving on in a regular orbit, as lights to the world, bursting forth on the world like erratic comets, or rather, meteors of fire, with a strange glare, and…”

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones

“There are reasons given by some for thinking the book of Enoch copied from Jude rather than vice versa. It is striking how, from the first, prophecy hastened towards its consummation.”

to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”

“Some think Lamech's speech, which is also in poetic parallelism, was composed in mockery of Enoch's prophecy: as Enoch foretold Jehovah's coming to judgment, so Lamech presumes on impunity in polygamy and murder (just as Cain the murderer seemed to escape with impunity). convince--convict.”

These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.

“The secret of their murmuring and complaining is the restless insatiability of their desires. great swelling words-- (2Pe 2:18). men's persons--their mere outward appearance and rank. because of advantage--for the sake of what they may gain from them.”

But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ

“Jude does not exclude himself from the number of the apostles here, for in Jude 18, immediately after, he says, "they told You," not us (rather as Greek, "used to tell you" implying that Jude's readers were contemporaries of the apostles, who used to tell…”

These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit.

“Arrogant setting up of themselves, as having greater sanctity and a wisdom and peculiar doctrine, distinct from others, is implied. sensual--literally, "animal-souled": as opposed to the spiritual, or "having the Spirit." It is translated, "the natural man," 1Co 2:14.”

keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.

“Man's need of watching is implied; at the same time he cannot keep himself, unless God in His love keep him. looking for--in hope. the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ--to be fully manifested at His coming.”

save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.

“Sin is the only thing which God hates: so ought we. even the garment--a proverbial phrase: avoiding the most remote contact with sin, and hating that which borders on it.”

to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.

“God our Saviour--The oldest manuscripts add, "through Jesus Christ our Lord." The transcribers, fancying that "Saviour" applied to Christ alone, omitted the words.”