Barren Results

Jude 1–2 

Chapter summary. Jude modestly identifies himself and greets fellow believers (vv. 1–2). He had hoped to write a positive letter about the salvation they enjoy but instead felt compelled by the appearance of so many false teachers to write a letter of warning (vv. 3–4). History has shown that God punishes the wicked and perverse (vv. 5–7). He will surely punish the arrogant false teachers who reject authority and approach spiritual realities with no more understanding than brute beasts (vv. 8–10). These false teachers follow the example of others in history whom God rejected and punished (v. 11) and are like specters, walking among them without life or the capacity to enrich those who do have life (vv. 12–13). Here Jude approvingly quotes a contemporary Jewish religious tract: The writer is correct in his vision of the Lord coming to judge ungodly sinners—like these false teachers who follow their own evil desires (vv. 14–16). Such persons are sure to infiltrate the church and try to divide the fellowship (vv. 17–19). The best way to resist them is to keep on growing in the faith, to live in God’s love, and to show mercy and concern for those who doubt (vv. 20–23). Jude closes with a doxology that expresses his complete confidence that God is able to keep the true believer from falling and will present us “before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (vv. 24–25).

Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.