2 Peter & Jude

by Eileen Poh

Day 22

Read Jude 1:1-2

Jude was the brother of Jesus (see Mark 6:3; Jude is sometimes translated as Judah or Judas). Yet he did not presume upon this relationship to lend weight to his letter. Instead, he identifies himself as ″a slave of Jesus Christ″ (Jude 1:1, NLT). I prefer this translation to the NIV rendering of ″servant″, which brings to mind a modern-day servant or domestic helper. That was not what a doulos was in the first century AD. A slave could be bought or sold by his master, had no rights, and owed total allegiance to his master. This was how Jude regarded himself in his relationship with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as did Paul, Peter, and Jesus' brother James (Romans 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; James 1:1 NLT). This was the basis of Jude's authority to write this letter.

God the Father protects His children and keeps them safe for Jesus.

Jude does not tell us the geographical location of his readers. Instead, he uses three phrases to describe them:

Firstly, they are called (Jude 1:1). God has called them to Himself, to be His holy people (see Romans 1:7). The call was God's initiative, and they responded.

Secondly, Jude's readers are loved in God the Father (Jude 1:1). This speaks of the intimate love that Christians experience in their relationship with God. In New Testament scholar Richard Bauckham's words: ″Those whom God loves are taken into the intimate fellowship of God's love, embraced and enfolded by his love. To be in God's love is to be 'in God'.″17 God is the Father and we are His dearly loved children (Ephesians 5:1).

Thirdly, Christians are ″kept for Jesus Christ″ (Jude 1:1). God the Father protects His children and keeps them safe for Jesus. Paul says something similar in 1 Thessalonians 5:23: ″May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.″ This is in keeping with Jude's purpose for writing this letter–to warn his readers about the false teachers who have secretly slipped into their midst and are teaching heresies. Jude is confident that God is able to keep them from stumbling (Jude 1:24). However, while they are being kept for Jesus, they too must do their part to keep themselves in God's love as they wait for the coming of Jesus (v. 21).

Before launching into his attack on the false teachers, Jude reassures his readers through his opening greetings that God has called them, loves them, and preserves them for Christ.

17 Bauckham, Jude-2 Peter, p.26.

Think through:

Jude sees himself as a slave of Jesus Christ. What does this tell us about his relationship with Christ? How would you describe your own relationship with Jesus?

Reflect on Romans 6:22. What implications does being ″slaves of God″ have for the way you live your life?

Take some time to meditate on the fact that we are called, loved in God the Father, and kept for Christ. What encouragement can you find from this amazing truth for your Christian life?

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About Author

Eileen Poh was a lawyer for some years before doing full-time theological studies. Her doctoral thesis (at King’s College London) examines the social relationships between Christians and non-Christians in Asia Minor in the second half of the first century AD. Eileen lectures in Biblical Studies at Discipleship Training Centre, Singapore. She is married to Philip Satterthwaite.

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Our Daily Bread Journey Through® Series is a publication of Our Daily Bread Ministries.

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