Scofield Reference Bible Notes/Jude
Book Introduction - Jude[edit]
Read first chapter of Jude
WRITER: Jude, the brother of James (Jude 1:1)
DATE: Probably A.D. 66
THEME: It is not so much Jude who speaks, as the constraining Spirit (Jude 1:3) and the theme is, "Contending for the faith" (Luke 18:8), (See Scofield "Luke 18:8"). In this brief letter the apostasy (See Scofield "2 Thessalonians 2:3") of the professing church is predicted, and the cause and course described. As in Second Timothy and Second Peter the apostasy is treated as having already set in.
The Epistle is in five divisions:
- Introduction vs. 1,2
- Occasion of the Epistle, vs. 3,4
- Apostasy is possible, vs. 5-7
- Apostate teachers described, vs. 8-19
- The saints assured and comforted, vs. 20-25
CHAPTER 1[edit]
Verse 1[edit]
preserved
Assurance is the believer's full conviction that, through the work of Christ alone, received by faith, he is in possession of a salvation in which he will be eternally kept. And this assurance rests only upon the Scripture promises to him who believes.
Verse 3[edit]
salvation (See Scofield "Romans 1:16").
it was needful Lit. constraint was upon me, i.e. of the Spirit.
Verse 5[edit]
saved
(See Scofield "Romans 1:16").
Verse 6[edit]
great day
The judgment of the fallen angels. The "great day" is the day of the Lord Isaiah 2:9-22. As the final judgment upon Satan occurs after the thousand years, and preceding the final judgment Revelation 20:10 it is congruous to conclude, as to the time, that other fallen angels are judged with him ; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 20:10. Christians are associated with Christ in this judgment. For association with angels at judgment 1 Corinthians 6:3.
For other information (See Scofield "Revelation 20:12").
angels (See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4").
Verse 11[edit]
Cain
Cain (cf) Genesis 4:1 type of the religious natural man, who believes in a God, and in "religion," but after his own will, and who rejects redemption by blood. Compelled as a teacher of religion to explain atonement, the apostate teacher explains it away.
error of Balaam
Balaam, the "error" of Balaam must be distinguished from his "way" (See Scofield "2 Peter 2:15") and his "doctrine" See Scofield "Revelation 2:14".
The "error" of Balaam was that, reasoning from natural morality and seeing the evil in Israel, he supposed a righteous God must curse them. He was blind to the higher morality of the Cross, through which God maintains and enforces the authority and awful sanctions of His law, so that He can be just and the justifier of a believing sinner. The "reward" of Jude 1:11 may not be money, but popularity, or applause.
Core
See Nu 16. The sin of Korah was denial of the authority of Moses as God's chosen spokesman, and intrusion into the priest's office.
gainsaying antilogia = against the Word.
Verse 15[edit]
sinners
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").
Verse 23[edit]
flesh
Flesh, Summary: "Flesh," in the ethical sense, is the whole natural or unregenerate man, spirit, soul, and body, as centered upon self, prone to sin, and opposed to God Romans 7:18. The regenerate man is not "in the sphere of the flesh," but in the sphere of the Spirit Romans 8:9 but the flesh is still in him, and he may, according to his choice, "walk after the flesh" or "in the Spirit" ; 1 Corinthians 3:1-4; Galatians 5:16,17. In the first case he is a "carnal," in the second a "spiritual," Christian. Victory over the flesh will be the habitual experience of the believer who walks in the Spirit ; Romans 8:2,4; Galatians 5:16,17.