Steve Walton on Jude 17–25

Steve Walton has provided slides on Jude 17–25 from one of his recent talks here.

Genesis 6:1-4

Mitchell Chase has a very thorough and clear discussion here of the meaning of this much debated text.

New Photo Resource: Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, Jude, and 1, 2, & 3 John

BiblePlaces has released their latest volumes in the "Photo Companion to the Bible" series. These resources contains nearly 5,000 photos related to Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, Jude, and 1, 2, & 3 John. The BiblePlaces photo companions are excellent resources for teaching and preaching. The photos are carefully curated, painstakingly researched, attractively presented, helpfully organized, and currently on sale.

Hebrews - 1,950 photos; reg. $59; on sale: $39
James - 950 photos; reg. $49; on sale: $39
1 & 2 Peter, Jude - 1,400 photos; reg. $59; on sale: $39
1, 2, & 3 John - 650 photos; reg. $49; on sale: $29

Or you can purchase all four collections for the special sale price of $49. These companions are available as either a  DVD+download or as a download-only.

Check out these free downloads excerpted from the collection if you are still uncertain.

Hebrews 7 PowerPoint (145 slides).
James 3 PowerPoint (185 slides
1 Peter 2 PowerPoint (175 slides)
1 John 4 PowerPoint (90 slides)

Jude 5: A Text-Critical Problem

Although this post came out several years ago, Todd Scacewater has a good discussion here of the academically well-known text-critical problem associated with Jude 5. For what its worth, I also tend to agree with Todd's conclusion.

Jude's Three Wishes

Clint Archer talks here about the three "wishes" in Jude. Some in biblical studies call such statements wish-prayers.

Online Resources for Jude

Michael Kok has a brief list of online resources for Jude here.

The Opponents in Jude

Mike Bird discusses briefly the identity of the opponents in Jude here.

Jude in the Southwestern Journal of Theology

You can access a free PDF of the latest issue of the Southwestern Journal of Theology for free here. The theme of this issue is the book of Jude. Other free issues are also available at the same link.

Audio from the 2015 Expository Preaching Workshop

Free audio for the 2015 Expository Preaching Workshop focusing on the book of Jude can be accessed here or you can access the individual links below.

Plenary Session 1 - Dr. Jerry Vines
Plenary Session 2 - Dr. David Allen
Plenary Session 3 - Dr. Paige Patterson 
Plenary Session 4 - Dr. Matthew McKellar
Plenary Session 5 - Dr. Vern Charette
Plenary Session 6 - Dr. Steven Smith
How to Survive and Thrive in the Apostasy

2015 Expository Preaching Workshop - Preaching Jude in Today's Culture

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is holding its annual Expository Preaching Workshop on March 2-3, 2015. The theme this year is "Preaching Jude in Today's Culture." Early registration for the workshop is $25 for students and $50 for non-students through February 26, 2015. After February 26, registration fees increase to $50 for students and $75 for non-students. The workshop will run from 4:00-8:00 pm on Monday and 8:00 am-4:15 pm on Tuesday. You can see the list of speakers, schedule, and more information here.

A Reflection on Older Commentaries

Contemporary students of the Bible often ignore or disparage older commentators and commentaries. But I try to make them a regular part of my study. While these older works may be bereft of the latest research, they are often rich sources of pastoral wisdom and spiritual depth. As a case in point, note the following words from William Jenkyn's dedication to his exposition of Jude.

"My aim in publishing these Lectures is to advance holiness, and, as far as I could do it, by following the mind of the apostle, to oppose those sins, which if people hate not most, are like to hurt them most; and to advance those duties with which, if people be not most in love, yet in which they are most defective, and thereby most endangered. And now again, I beseech you, that I may testify my unfeigned affection as well by my epistle as my book —labour to keep close to God in a loose age; spend not your time in complaining of the licentiousness of the times, in the mean while setting up a toleration in your own hearts and lives. That private Christian who does not labour to oppose profaneness with a river of tears, would never, if he could, bear it down with a stream of power. Lay the foundation of mortification deep. Reserve no lust from the stroke of Jesus Christ. Take heed of pleasing yourselves in a bare formal profession. Labour to be rooted in Christ. He who is but a visible Christian, may in a short time cease to be so much as visible; he who speaks of Christ but notionally, may in time be won to speak against him. Love not the world. Beware of scandals; take them not where they are, make them not where they are not. The common sin of our times, is to blacken religion, and then to fear and hate it. Despise not the providences of God in the world; they are signs of God's mind, though not of his love. Delight in the public ordinances, and highly esteem faithful ministers; they and religion are commonly blasted together. Shun seducers. Sit down under a minister as well as under a preacher. He who will hear every one, may at length be brought to hear none; and lie who will hear him preach who ought not, may soon be left to learn that which he ought not. Preserve a tender conscience; every step you take fear a snare; read your own hearts in the wickedness of others. Be not slight in closet services; and oft think of God in your shops, for there you think you have least leisure, but sure you have most need to do so. Let your speech be alway with grace, and a word or two of Christ in every company, if possible; and yet not out of form, but feeling."

Jenkyn, William and Jean Daillé, Exposition of the Epistle of Jude and the Epistles to the Philippians and Colossians (Edinburgh: James Nichol, 1865), vii.

Review of Interpreting the General Letters

Herbert W. Bateman IV, Interpreting the General Letters, Handbook for New Testament Exegesis, ed. John D. Harvey (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2013).

Interpreting the General Letters is the third of four volumes intended to introduce and demonstrate a methodology for interpreting and communicating the books of the New Testament. The volume at hand covers Hebrews through Jude. The book consists of seven chapters. The first three relate more to background issues, namely, the genre, background, and theology of the General Letters. The next three chapters present a nine-step process moving from translation, text-criticism, exegesis, to homiletics. The final chapter uses two passages (Jude 5–7; Hebrews 10.19–25) to demonstrate the nine step process. This volume includes a nice bibliography and brief glossary.

Interpreting the General Letters has at least three commendable qualities. First, Bateman packs a lot in. This is a 315-page work that in many ways could stand alone as a general handbook on interpretive process. There are also additional features that add value to the work. For example, the discussion on choosing commentaries will prove valuable to many. Second, the author communicates well. The writing is clear and there are numerous charts, tables, and diagrams for the more visually inclined. The discussion on Greco-Roman letters is a good example of this. Third, I believe that the methodology presented is sound, even if a bit ambitious for many pastors and teachers. (For example, I am not sure that generating a fresh translation of a given passage is a realistic goal for the average pastor/teacher with limited time and skills.)

While Interpreting the General Letters provides significant help and insight in the process of moving from exegesis to exposition, there are a few minor critiques that can be made. First, I am not sure that all the material included is truly necessary. A case in point is Bateman’s brief history of the English Bible (pp. 135–39). While the discussion is interesting, it is doubtful that it is essential for the task at hand. Second, the importance of some material is not really demonstrated well. For example, after an extended discussion of Greco-Roman letters (pp. 19–54) a few comments, mostly speculative, are made related to how understanding this material contributes to a specific understanding of the General Letters (pp. 54–56). It would be nice to see specific ways in which this background material impacts the interpretation of specific texts. It is also puzzling that so much is made about Greco-Roman letter forms and little is noted about ancient homiletical practices. This absence is significant since many interpreters today believe that Hebrews and perhaps James are more homily than letter. Third, while one hesitates to mention typos (since all works have them), they are somewhat conspicuous in this work (see pp. 77, 78, 88, 91, 102, 105, 109, 111, 114, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 292, 295, 298, 304). Finally, many will not be convinced that Bateman has the provenance correct in seeing Jude’s antagonists as Jewish rebels rather than the more traditional identification of false teachers (pp. 84–87). This idiosyncratic thesis would need to discuss the striking similarities between Jude and 2 Peter, another letter often held to address false teachers. Unfortunately, Bateman does not do this.

At bottom, Interpreting the General Letters is a solid resource for anyone interested in interpretation generally, and in the General Letters specifically. A reader will need some working knowledge of Greek to get the most benefit from this book but those lacking such facility could still benefit from much of the content. Bateman has done his homework and summarized and packaged much helpful information for students of the Bible.

You can access an excerpt here.

Thanks to Kregel for providing the free book used in this unbiased review.

Free Charts on Jude

Herb Bateman has made four charts on Jude available here. The PDF is available for free until for free until December 15. The charts survey various commentaries on the issues of authorship, date, recipients, and opponents. This resource is one of the resources made available at Bateman's Cyber-Center for Biblical Studies.

Jude as Sermon

  
Thomas White has a six-part series on the Theological Matters blog concerning how the book of Jude demonstrates the qualities of a good sermon.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
 

Keeping as a Theme in Jude

  

In his discussion on theological themes in Jude, Daniel Keating notes two. The first theme is the call to contend for the faith. Concerning the second theme, Keating states, 

"A second motif is marked by the wordplay around the term 'keep.' The angels did not 'keep' the position appointed them, and so the Lord has 'kept' them in chains of punishment (1:6). Likewise, the gloom of darkness has been 'kept'  (NAB: 'reserved') for the false teachers forever (1:13). Jude assures the faithful that they are 'kept' safe by Jesus Christ (1:1), and yet paradoxically he calls them to 'keep' themselves in the love of God  (1:21). In the end however, , it is God who is able top 'keep' them from stumbling (1:24). The theme of 'keeping' reveals the mystery of divine-human interaction. It is God who fundamentally 'keeps' us, now and in eternity, but we too are called to 'keep' ourselves in the faith and the love of God, so that we do not lose our inheritance" (Daniel Keating, First and Second Peter, Catholic Commentary on Scared Scripture [Grand Rapids: Baker, 2011], 194).

Keating later argues the genitive "love of God" refers to God's love for us and not our love for God (p. 215). Some would debate that. In any case, this is a good reminder in a time in which false teaching is so prevalent.
 

The Opponents in Jude

  
Phillip Long here has a good discussion of the false teachers/opponents in the Book of Jude.
 

Twenty-Five Charges in Jude

 

William Brosend has identified twenty-five charges leveled by Jude against false teachers in the Book of Jude. If this is correct, it is remarkable in that there are only twenty-five verses in Jude. In any case, here is Brosend's list.

1. intruders who have "stolen in among you"

2. long ago designated for "this condemnation"

3. ungodly

4. pervert the grace of God

5. licentious

6. deny "our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ"

7. dreamers

8. defile the flesh

9. reject authority

10. slander "the glorious ones"

11. slander "whatever they do not understand"

12. like animals

13. destroyed by "those things . . . they know by instinct"

14. blemishes on love-feasts

15. without fear

16. feed themselves (only)

17. waterless clouds, fruitless trees, wild waves, wandering stars

18. grumblers

19. malcontents

20. indulge their own lusts

21. bombastic in speech

22. flatters to their own advantage

23. worldly people

24. devoid of the Spirit

25. causers of division

William F. Brosend II, James and Jude, New Cambridge Bible Commentary (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004),186.

  

The Book of Jude

  

“The book of Jude is a tragedy of sorts. It reminds us that there will be times when those who are the closest to us will seek our demise. It reminds us that often in our own households, even in the church of Jesus Christ, we should ‘beware the ides of March’ because the day is not yet over. It reminds us that to encourage one another, as we see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:25). It reminds us that the faith is to be defended and commended even to and among the Lord’s people.”

K. Scott Oliphint, The Battle Belongs to the Lord: The Power of Scripture for Defending Our Faith, vol. P & R (Phillipsburg, NJ, 2011), 44.

  

Varner on the Triads in Jude

    
Students of the Book of Jude have long recognized that one of the distinguishing features of the book is its the authors use of triads.William Varner has a nice list here. One might quibble here and there, but this list gives you a pretty good idea of the number and the discussions discusses the possible meaning of the triads. Read the post here.
  

Varner on Genesis 6:1-3

  
See William Varner's post on Genesis 6:1-3.