📖 Biblical Definition
A short, fierce general epistle written by Jude (brother of James, half-brother of Jesus — brother of James in v. 1; cf. Matt 13:55, Mark 6:3) probably in the mid 60s AD. Twenty-five verses in length. The letter's explicit purpose: Jude had intended to write a general treatise on common salvation but instead found it needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints (v. 3) — the canonical mandate for doctrinal contention. The concern is specific: certain men crept in unawares... ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 4). Jude warns by citing three OT examples of judgment (Israel in the wilderness, the fallen angels, Sodom and Gomorrah), uses material parallel to 2 Peter 2, and closes with one of the great Trinitarian benedictions of Scripture (vv. 24-25). The letter is the canonical warrant for doctrinal contending against false teachers and antinomian smuggling.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
JUDE, n. The brother of James; the brief epistle which bears his name.
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JUDE, n. The half-brother of Jesus and brother of James, author of the canonical epistle in which he denounces apostates who have crept in unawares, perverting the grace of God into licentiousness, and exhorts the faithful to build themselves up in their most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep themselves in the love of God.
📖 Key Scripture
Jude 3 — "I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."
Jude 4 — "For certain men have crept in unnoticed…ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness."
Jude 20-21 — "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God."
Jude 24 — "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Contending replaced by congeniality; apostates renamed 'dialogue partners.'
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Jude wanted to write a sweet letter about our common salvation. Instead the Spirit redirected him: contend. The faith is once for all delivered — not perpetually evolving. The line between gospel and apostasy is fixed, and Jude pulls no punches naming the wolves: greedy, grumblers, sensual, twice dead.
Yet the same letter ends in the canon's most luminous benediction — the One able to keep you from stumbling and present you faultless. Contending is hard; the One who keeps is faithful. Both truths, twenty-five verses apart.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Key terms: epagōnizomai (contend earnestly), aselgeia (licentiousness), tēreō (to keep).
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G1864 — epagōnizomai — contend earnestly
G766 — aselgeia — licentiousness
G5083 — tēreō — to keep, guard
Usage
"Jude is the church's emergency siren."
"The faith was delivered once for all — not up for renegotiation."
"He is able to keep what He has called."