The Chosen Key Word in this Chapter is “Contend” it comes from the Greek Word “epagonizomai” which means “to contend earnestly.”
Jude urges believers to defend the faith against ungodly men who have crept in unnoticed. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is Jude 1.
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, writes to those who are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called, mercy, peace, and love being multiplied to them, explaining that when he gave all diligence to write to them of the common salvation, he found it necessary to write to them, urging them to earnestly “contend,” “epagonizomai” in Greek, for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. Jude explains that certain men have crept in unnoticed, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and their Lord Jesus Christ, reminding them that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe, describing angels who kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, being reserved in everlasting chains under darkness to the judgment of the great day, comparing these ungodly men to Sodom and Gomorrah, giving themselves over to fornication.
Jude describes these dreamers who defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities, comparing them to Cain, running greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perishing in the gainsaying of Korah, describing them as spots in their feasts of charity, feeding themselves without fear, clouds without water, carried about by winds, trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots, raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame, wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever, quoting Enoch’s prophecy that the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, urging the beloved to build up themselves on their most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping themselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life, having compassion on some, making a difference, and others saving with fear, pulling them out of the fire, closing with one of Scripture’s most beloved benedictions, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
Jude’s urgent call to contend earnestly for the faith reveals genuine spiritual vigilance was necessary even in the earliest church, as false teaching could infiltrate communities subtly rather than through obvious, easily recognized deception. This brief letter’s magnificent closing benediction, praising the God able to keep believers from falling and present them faultless with exceeding joy, offers a fitting, glorious close, reminding readers that ultimate security rests entirely in God’s own keeping power rather than merely human vigilance alone.
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