Some notes on the language of the "little-big" book of Jude
Below are some of the notes I've made this week in preparing to preach on Jude. Reading through, Praying through, and Listening to the book of Jude this week has given me an insatiable desire (at least for now) to read Jude in light of other New Testament epistles.
Below are some of my chicken scratch notes surrounding the passage of this little-big book of Jude.
*The purpose of why Jude writes is to contend against this central problem - a “perversion of the grace of our God” v4. The NIV translates “Meta-Tithamee” “Pervert”. This word μετατίθημι appears 6 times in the New Testament: Acts 7:16, Galatians 1:6, Hebrews 7:12, Hebrews 11:5, Jude 1:4.
This is a changing - fallen over, exchange, change sides, turning - transforming sort of feel to the word.
*What does Jude mean by “contend” for the faith? ἐπαγωνίζομαι This word only occurs once in the NT - and it’s right here in Jude 1:3. The word in greek is Ep-a-go-ne-zo-mi - “To contend with”. This word is a combination of the preposition “Epi” and the verb “Agonezomi”.
*Epi ἐπί is a simple preposition that occurs over 800 times in the New Testament. It’s most often translated as “on”, “in”, “upon”, “unto”, or “to”.
*The verb “Agonozomi” ἀγωνίζομαι occurs 7 times in the New Testament and is used in the following places, Luke 13:24, John 18:36, 1 Corinthians 9:25, Colossians 1:29, 4:12, 1 Timothy 4:10, 6:12, and 2 Timothy 4:7. Most often this is translated as strive, fight, or labor vigorously.
*Jude was urging his first century audience - to enter into contest, to fight with adversaries, to struggle with dangers that are antagonistic to the gospel, to endeavor with strenuous zeal. So Jude is urging his audience, and urging us in this timeless teaching in God’s Word for God’s people - to contend for the faith. To strive, to earnestly engage in contests for the faith.
*Jude has several overlapping aspects with the book of 2nd Peter - these overlaps/similarities are found in language, (potentially style) and concepts.
Language:
*Interesting to note that there is a difference between 2 Peter 2’s warnings (which sound incredibly similar in their use of language) in who the warning concerns: False Teachers. Jude does not name false teachers - but names members of the body 3 times using...
*Ἀγαπητός agapētos occurs 62 times in the NT and features 6 times in 2 Peter and twice in 1 Peter while appearing 3 times in Jude. These “beloved” or “dearly beloved” (often rendered in NIV as dear friends) are the audience members of both Peter’s epistles and Jude’s epistles. Whether or not this is a stylistic approach from both Peter and Jude, or an overlap in some key way of audiences, or a common colloquial early Christian term for members of Christ’s church I am yet unsure.
Overlapping words from both Jude & 2 Peter
*Ζῷον zōon - occurs 23 times in the NT (mostly in Revelation) - Once in Jude, and Once in 2 Peter 2. This word simply seems to mean animal, beast, or a living being. The zōon are described in 2 Peter 2 as...
*Ἄλογος alogos - which is found 3 times in the NT - Once in Jude, Once in 2 Peter 2. The most wooden translation is a combination of the negative particle with logos - in other words, the negative of logical/reasonable. To be irrational, contrary to reason, absurd.
*Βαλαάμ Balaam - (the name means “perhaps/maybe”) it is referenced 3 times in the NT in 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11 and Revalation 2:14. 2 Peter speaks longer in the description of Balaam - this could simply be a stylistic difference rather than substantive difference with Jude as Peter seems to be a bit longer than Jude as an author in general.
*συνευωχέομαι syneuōcheomai Another example of a word which only occurs in 2 Peter and Jude.
This word seems to combine together two other words resulting in "sumptuously feast".
Style:
*A brief note on style. There are other commentators that agree there are stylistic approaches that are similar - not only in the specific words which overlap between 2 Peter and Jude, but also in the nature of overlapping concepts. When I say there is potentially a stylistic similarity it is rooted in the combination of:
A. Specific word choices that are used uniquely in these two epistles or authors (2 Peter & Jude)
B. Specific concepts (most often in poetry and stories as point of reference) that go mentioned explicitly in both epistles (2 Peter & Jude).
Concepts:
*Both Jude and 2 Peter have several overlapping themes -
*a steady, ongoing, zealous pursuit of submission to the Sovereign Lordship of Christ Jesus.
*explicit lessons cited from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
*exaggerated, accusatory, slanderous speech against spiritual beings (angels, demons)
*explicit references to "pop" literature and mythologies of the day (Book of Enoch, Assumption of Moses)
*continual ongoing reference to their audiences as beloved "of" God - a recognition and stark underlining that the identity of the audience is one that is found within the bounds of God's love.
*explicit eternal warnings concerning the level of destruction that comes to the one who rejects Christ as sovereign Lord.
*and....a great many others (This isn't a throwaway line, there are more, I encourage you to read 2 Peter and Jude in an afternoon and see if other concepts overlap)
*Lastly, one point of application on the differences between Jude and 2 Peter. 2 Peter explicitly mentions, warns, and condemns false teachers. Jude however discusses of the problems which the audience must "contend" with without explicit mention of teachers, preachers, leaders, or prophecy. The only seeming connection that I can discern in regards to leadership between 2 Peter and Jude would be the mention of Balaam as a false teacher and leader, but this example is mentioned in regards self profit - a category of sin which is hardly restricted to leadership, albeit leadership can most easily abuse power with the motive of self gain. This one example alone does not justify claiming Jude is directing any sort of polemic against leadership - but rather is directing his purpose (contending for the faith), his warnings (pertaining to the perversion of grace), and his commands (build up holy faith and prayer in the Holy Spirit) towards his audience.
*This isn't a book with fingers pointing towards a particular group (the NT epistles frequently do this in numerous places, both by specific given names of threats to the church, groups, or doctrines/false understandings of scripture). This is a book pointedly directed to the people of God within the church to be ever vigilant and zealous in their submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ through the righteous and holy works of a humble life dedicated to the love of God and the Mercy of the Lord Christ Jesus.
*May the Spirit of Christ go forward to convict, convince, and save through the preaching of God's word across the world this day, and every day.
Below are some of my chicken scratch notes surrounding the passage of this little-big book of Jude.
*The purpose of why Jude writes is to contend against this central problem - a “perversion of the grace of our God” v4. The NIV translates “Meta-Tithamee” “Pervert”. This word μετατίθημι appears 6 times in the New Testament: Acts 7:16, Galatians 1:6, Hebrews 7:12, Hebrews 11:5, Jude 1:4.
This is a changing - fallen over, exchange, change sides, turning - transforming sort of feel to the word.
*What does Jude mean by “contend” for the faith? ἐπαγωνίζομαι This word only occurs once in the NT - and it’s right here in Jude 1:3. The word in greek is Ep-a-go-ne-zo-mi - “To contend with”. This word is a combination of the preposition “Epi” and the verb “Agonezomi”.
*Epi ἐπί is a simple preposition that occurs over 800 times in the New Testament. It’s most often translated as “on”, “in”, “upon”, “unto”, or “to”.
*The verb “Agonozomi” ἀγωνίζομαι occurs 7 times in the New Testament and is used in the following places, Luke 13:24, John 18:36, 1 Corinthians 9:25, Colossians 1:29, 4:12, 1 Timothy 4:10, 6:12, and 2 Timothy 4:7. Most often this is translated as strive, fight, or labor vigorously.
*Jude was urging his first century audience - to enter into contest, to fight with adversaries, to struggle with dangers that are antagonistic to the gospel, to endeavor with strenuous zeal. So Jude is urging his audience, and urging us in this timeless teaching in God’s Word for God’s people - to contend for the faith. To strive, to earnestly engage in contests for the faith.
*Jude has several overlapping aspects with the book of 2nd Peter - these overlaps/similarities are found in language, (potentially style) and concepts.
Language:
*Interesting to note that there is a difference between 2 Peter 2’s warnings (which sound incredibly similar in their use of language) in who the warning concerns: False Teachers. Jude does not name false teachers - but names members of the body 3 times using...
*Ἀγαπητός agapētos occurs 62 times in the NT and features 6 times in 2 Peter and twice in 1 Peter while appearing 3 times in Jude. These “beloved” or “dearly beloved” (often rendered in NIV as dear friends) are the audience members of both Peter’s epistles and Jude’s epistles. Whether or not this is a stylistic approach from both Peter and Jude, or an overlap in some key way of audiences, or a common colloquial early Christian term for members of Christ’s church I am yet unsure.
Overlapping words from both Jude & 2 Peter
*Ζῷον zōon - occurs 23 times in the NT (mostly in Revelation) - Once in Jude, and Once in 2 Peter 2. This word simply seems to mean animal, beast, or a living being. The zōon are described in 2 Peter 2 as...
*Ἄλογος alogos - which is found 3 times in the NT - Once in Jude, Once in 2 Peter 2. The most wooden translation is a combination of the negative particle with logos - in other words, the negative of logical/reasonable. To be irrational, contrary to reason, absurd.
*Βαλαάμ Balaam - (the name means “perhaps/maybe”) it is referenced 3 times in the NT in 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11 and Revalation 2:14. 2 Peter speaks longer in the description of Balaam - this could simply be a stylistic difference rather than substantive difference with Jude as Peter seems to be a bit longer than Jude as an author in general.
*συνευωχέομαι syneuōcheomai Another example of a word which only occurs in 2 Peter and Jude.
This word seems to combine together two other words resulting in "sumptuously feast".
Style:
*A brief note on style. There are other commentators that agree there are stylistic approaches that are similar - not only in the specific words which overlap between 2 Peter and Jude, but also in the nature of overlapping concepts. When I say there is potentially a stylistic similarity it is rooted in the combination of:
A. Specific word choices that are used uniquely in these two epistles or authors (2 Peter & Jude)
B. Specific concepts (most often in poetry and stories as point of reference) that go mentioned explicitly in both epistles (2 Peter & Jude).
Concepts:
*Both Jude and 2 Peter have several overlapping themes -
*a steady, ongoing, zealous pursuit of submission to the Sovereign Lordship of Christ Jesus.
*explicit lessons cited from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
*exaggerated, accusatory, slanderous speech against spiritual beings (angels, demons)
*explicit references to "pop" literature and mythologies of the day (Book of Enoch, Assumption of Moses)
*continual ongoing reference to their audiences as beloved "of" God - a recognition and stark underlining that the identity of the audience is one that is found within the bounds of God's love.
*explicit eternal warnings concerning the level of destruction that comes to the one who rejects Christ as sovereign Lord.
*and....a great many others (This isn't a throwaway line, there are more, I encourage you to read 2 Peter and Jude in an afternoon and see if other concepts overlap)
*Lastly, one point of application on the differences between Jude and 2 Peter. 2 Peter explicitly mentions, warns, and condemns false teachers. Jude however discusses of the problems which the audience must "contend" with without explicit mention of teachers, preachers, leaders, or prophecy. The only seeming connection that I can discern in regards to leadership between 2 Peter and Jude would be the mention of Balaam as a false teacher and leader, but this example is mentioned in regards self profit - a category of sin which is hardly restricted to leadership, albeit leadership can most easily abuse power with the motive of self gain. This one example alone does not justify claiming Jude is directing any sort of polemic against leadership - but rather is directing his purpose (contending for the faith), his warnings (pertaining to the perversion of grace), and his commands (build up holy faith and prayer in the Holy Spirit) towards his audience.
*This isn't a book with fingers pointing towards a particular group (the NT epistles frequently do this in numerous places, both by specific given names of threats to the church, groups, or doctrines/false understandings of scripture). This is a book pointedly directed to the people of God within the church to be ever vigilant and zealous in their submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ through the righteous and holy works of a humble life dedicated to the love of God and the Mercy of the Lord Christ Jesus.
*May the Spirit of Christ go forward to convict, convince, and save through the preaching of God's word across the world this day, and every day.
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