Exposition Of JudeSample

The first four verses start off with Jude mirroring James’ same designation of a bond-slave of God (James 1:1). Jude also lets us know he is the “brother of James.” Both are half-brothers of Jesus, but do not—perhaps out of humility—claim that title. They are instead, servants of Christ. Jude also has a history as a skeptic of Jesus during his earthly ministry (see John 7:5; Mark 3:20-21).

Jude goes on to explain the nature of the “faith once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3): the body of truth that’s written in Scripture that was delivered to the Church. This is faith that is founded on God’s revelation in God’s Word. This process of both defining and defending the true Scriptures and core teachings of the faith would continue for several centuries. It would result in what is called the "canon."

In verse four, Jude tells about the problem of traveling teachers who distort and twist the “faith once for all delivered.” This was an ongoing issue for the early church as seen throughout Paul’s epistles. The central heresy of these false teachers shows up for us in verse four where Jude tells us that they turn the grace of God into a license for sin. You can compare these thoughts with those found in Romans 6:1-7 and 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.