Enoch is said to have been seventh from Adam, that is, the seventh generation from Adam. This distinguishes him from another Enoch who was the son of Cain. Enoch was born into the line of Seth, the generations were, as recorded by Moses in Genesis; Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared and Enoch. There is no written-down prophecy of Enoch from this time. Jude may have gotten this prophecy from oral tradition, he mentions Enoch ‘saying’. A later writing bearing Enoch’s name is not authentic.  Foretelling the future It is clear Enoch was a prophet. He lived before the time of Noah and the flood. He called his son Methuselah which signifies ‘when he dies is the emission’, or the sending out of the waters.…

Jude’s criticism of the ‘ungodly men’ who entered the church and laboured to deceive the Lord’s people continues unabated. He first denounced them by linking them to examples of God’s judgment in Egypt, Sodom and upon the fallen angels. Then he likened them to some of the most disreputable characters in the Old Testament scriptures. Now he describes their barren state and self-serving actions. All who look to such men for spiritual help will be poorly served. Jude’s need to write Jude has the spiritual wellbeing of believers at heart. These verses are warnings to the Lord’s people to resist false teachers, to reject false teaching and to call-out inappropriate conduct that contradicts the true, life-changing gospel of God’s grace. The church is the society…

Jude is continuing his attack on false teachers who have infiltrated the church and who risk polluting the purity of the gospel with their doctrines and practices. Jude is certainly not vague or evasive about his concerns. His language is personal and pointed as he calls down woe on these deceivers. In our verses today the apostle employs another three notorious examples from the history of the Old Testament people and labels his targets ‘brute beasts’.  Brute beasts By using this phrase ‘brute beasts’ Jude conveys the idea of both ignorance and sensuality. He has previously called these people ‘ungodly men’, now they are brutish and beastly. They are beast-like in their teaching because they are bereft of spiritual understanding. There is a brutish physicality…

In the New Testament there really is not another epistle quite like Jude’s. Jude draws on Old Testament history, prophecy and imagery to support a strong, impassioned argument against false teachers who have infiltrated and troubled the church from apostolic days. He attaches to these ‘ungodly men’ vivid, illustrative epithets and grimly likens them to notorious characters such as Cain, Balaam and the sons of Korah. He enlists ancient writers such as Enoch and Moses to support his message. Jude’s burden is for the damage being done to the true gospel. Michael the archangel In all this, perhaps today’s reference to ‘Michael the archangel’ is the most enigmatic of all Jude’s observations and comments. Michael is not an unusual Bible name – around seven or…

Jude supplies three examples of God’s judgment against sin. The illustrations are drawn from the Old Testament and support Jude’s warning of condemnation on the ungodly men spoken of in verse 4. He assumes his readers will be familiar with these passages but wisely reminds them again of their message. Jude uses past precedent to anticipate God’s future dealings with sinners.  Destroyed for not believing Jude’s chosen examples are both pertinent and powerful. He reminds his readers how the people of Israel were at first saved out of Egypt only to die in the wilderness over a period of forty years because of their unbelief. Only Joshua and Caleb from the original exodus were permitted to enter Canaan. These people did not simply die. Jude’s…

In verse four Jude explains why believers must earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. It is because ungodly men, as tares among the wheat, have slipped undetected into the body of the professing church. Having ingratiated themselves with church members they openly oppose the truth of the gospel. These unnamed deceivers were already at work amongst the Lord’s people in Jude’s day. We may assume they still continue to this today.  Prominent imposters Despite these men being characterised by Jude as ungodly we shall learn from later verses they had become influential voices in otherwise faithful congregations. They were active participants in the fellowship meals of the church. Jude’s counsel is for the Lord’s people to examine themselves to ensure that…