Commentary on Jude 14-19

Jude VV 14–16

Jude 14–16 is a midrash in which Jude quotes 1 Enoch 1:9 and comments on it to denounce false teachers. Jude prefaces his citation with an introductory formula: “It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying” (v. 14). Jude discusses heretics in vv. 5–10, 11–13; “these” in v. 14 refers to the false teachers. Jude identifies the source of prophecy (Enoch) and also uses the word “prophesied,” which is a word that NT writers usually use as part of the introductory formula when they quote a biblical passage to show its fulfillment in the current time.[1] The question is often raised whether or not Jude attributes authority to Enoch in the same way that NT writers attribute authority to the OT scriptures. Further, Jude attributes the quotation to “Enoch, the seventh from Adam” (v. 14). Enoch occupies seventh place from Adam in the list of genealogies in Gen 5:1–25. A large body of literature was developed around this historical figure during the intertestamental period. He is featured in 1, 2, and 3 Enoch; Jub. 4:16–25; Wis. 4:10–15; and certain texts from Qumran. Jude’s quotation is from 1 Enoch, which is preserved in Aramaic (from Qumran), Greek (a translation of an Aramaic original), and Ethiopic (a translation of a Greek edition).[2] It is debatable which version was used by Jude, but his quotation is much closer to the Greek version, though it differs in significant ways.[3]

The quotation comes from 1 Enoch 1, which talks about divine theophany. The insertion of “Lord” in the quotation (“The Lord comes,” v. 14) implies that Jude applied the eschatological coming of God to the Parousia of Jesus. Jesus comes with the “ten thousand of his holy ones” (v. 14); this Enochian phrase may come from Deut 33:2, since 1 Enoch 1:4 mentions the appearance of the Lord at Sinai. The “holy ones” are angels (cf. Zech 14:5). According to the theology of the early church, a company of angels will accompany Jesus at his Parousia.[4]

The purpose of the coming of Jesus is to judge the ungodly. The Lord will “convict” all the ungodly. The judgment refers to the judgment of condemnation. The quotation is remarkable in repeating the stem ἀσεβ- (ἀσεβεῖς twice, ἀσεβείας, ἠσεβησαν), thereby focusing on the judgment of the actions of the ungodly, both words and deeds. Jude identifies false teachers as ungodly, and they will be judged and condemned.

False teachers are grumblers and faultfinders (v. 16). Murmuring/grumbling reflects his previous description of them: “the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him” (v. 15). The scriptures describe the verbal complaint and stubbornness of Israel against God as murmuring (γογγυσταί); Jude alludes to their murmuring in v. 4 (cf. 11).[5] The implication is that false teachers, like Israel in the wilderness, dispute the authority of God. Jude further denounces them as μεμψίμοιροι, meaning “blaming one's lot or destiny, discontented, complaining.”[6] They are discontent with their situation and also probably the moral restriction of God.[7] They follow their own desires (v. 16), probably referring to the sexual lust and greed of false teachers (see vv. 8, 10–11). “They are loud-mouthed boasters” (v. 16, ESV). The context suggests that they were engaged in arrogant speech through their boasting. Jude also comments that false teachers show “favoritism to gain advantage” (v. 16, ESV). Though the context does not give details, the phrase probably suggests that false teachers show favor to the rich and influential in the church to profit from them.[8]

Jude VV 17-19

The vocative ἀγαπητοὶ in v. 17 indicates a major transition. Jude transitions from appealing to types and prophecies of the OT (vv. 5–16) to the prophecies of the apostles (vv. 17–19) to discuss further the false teachers. The mention of the “prediction of the apostles” in v. 17 is often considered evidence for the late date of writing of Jude. However, there is nothing in the text that gives any clear evidence that the prediction of the apostles was given far in the past.[9] Apostles in this verse may not necessarily refer to the twelve apostles; Jude may be referring to the apostles who founded the church to whom Jude was writing.[10]

Jude gives an apostolic prophecy about false teachers: “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions” (v. 18). “Last time” is a phrase that NT writers use to refer to an eschatological era that began with the death and resurrection of Jesus.[11] It refers to a present reality, not a distinct future. The “last time” will be marked by the emergence of scoffers. The desires of the scoffers are rooted in their ungodliness, a central theme of the prophecy of Enoch (v. 15). They divide the congregation (v. 19). They are worldly-minded people (ψυχικοί). A person who is ψυχικός is devoid of the Spirit (1 Cor 2:14) and earthly (1 Cor 15:46–49). The false teachers are earthly people who are not governed by the Spirit.[12]

Bibliography

Bauckham, Richard. Jude, 2 Peter. WBC. Vol. 50. Waco: Word Books, 1983.

Brosend, William F. James and Jude, New Cambridge Bible Commentary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Green, Gene L. Jude and 2 Peter. BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008.

Green, Michael. The Second Epistle of Peter, and the Epistle of Jude: An Introduction and Commentary. The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. 2nd. Vol. 18. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1987.

https://biblehub.com/greek/3202.htm. n.d. 25 March 2022.

J. N. D. Kelly. Epistles of Peter and Jude. Black's New Testament Commentaries. London: Continuum International Pub. Group, 1990. <http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/mcgill/detail.action?docID=742883.>.

Moo, Douglas J. 2 Peter, and Jude: From Biblical Text-- to Contemporary Life. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.

GLOBAL BIBLE STUDIES

Search This Blog