Jude 1

1 Jude, a [faithful] servant [slave, bondservant] of Jesus Christ [the Messiah, God’s anointed] and a brother [fellow believer, sibling] of James, To those who are [divinely] called [invited, chosen], loved [cherished, dearly valued] by God [Creator] the Father, and kept [protected, preserved] in [through, by means of] Jesus Christ [the Lord, Savior]: word study 2 Mercy [unconditional kindness, pity], peace [harmony, prosperity], and love [unconditional affection, agape] be multiplied [increased, abundant] to you. word study 3 Beloved [dearly loved, cherished], although I made every effort [with all diligence, eagerly] to write to you about the salvation [rescue, spiritual deliverance] we share [our common, mutual experience], I felt it necessary [under a necessity, compelled] to write and urge [exhort, plead with] you to contend [struggle, fight] earnestly [with intense effort, vigorously] for the faith [trust, confidence in God] entrusted [delivered, surrendered] once [one time, for all time] for all to the saints [holy ones, set apart]. word study 4 For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed [having crept in unawares, secretly entered]—ungodly [irreverent or wicked] ones who were designated [written beforehand] long ago for condemnation [judgment]. They turn the grace [divine influence] of our God into a license [toward debauchery] for immorality [licentiousness], and they deny [reject or refuse] our only [alone] Master [one in control] and Lord [sovereign Ruler], Jesus Christ [God’s anointed]. word study 5 Although you are fully aware [having complete knowledge, once for all] of this, I want to remind [to quietly suggest, bring to mind] you that after Jesus [the Lord, God’s Son] had delivered [saved, rescued] His people [a specific nation, God’s chosen ones] out of the land [region, country] of Egypt [a place of bondage, spiritual darkness], He destroyed [completely lost, spiritually ruined] those who did not believe [have faith, trust in Him]. word study 6 And the angels [messengers of God, heavenly beings] who did not stay within their own domain [first estate, God-given positions] but abandoned their proper dwelling [private habitation, place of residence]—these He has kept in eternal [lasting forever, endless] chains [bonds, shackles] under darkness [blackness, spiritual gloom], bound for judgment [divine verdict, decision] on that great [intense, significant] day [24-hour period, period of time]. word study 7 In like manner [similarly, in the same way], Sodom [a city of ancient sin] and Gomorrah [a city of destruction] and the cities around them [nearby towns], who indulged in [practiced, gave themselves over to] sexual immorality [fornication, unchaste behavior] and pursued [went after, followed] strange [other, different] flesh [physical desires, carnal lusts], are on display [set forth, presented] as an example [a specimen, a warning] of those who sustain [undergo, endure] the punishment [condemnation, judgment] of eternal [lasting forever, age-during] fire [divine judgment, refining flames]. word study 8 Yet [in the same manner, likewise] in the same way these [filthy, ungodly] dreamers [having visions, in their dreamings] defile [stain, make unclean] their bodies [flesh, physical selves], reject [despise, set at nought] authority [lordship, dominion], and slander [speak evil of, blaspheme] glorious [dignified, heavenly] beings [celestial beings, angels]. word study 9 But even the archangel [chief messenger, high-ranking angel] Michael, when he disputed [argued, contended] with the devil [Satan, the adversary] over the body [physical person, corpse] of Moses, did not presume [dare, have the courage] to bring a slanderous [railing, blasphemous] charge [accusation, judgment] against him, but said, “The Lord [God, the Supreme Authority] rebuke [warn, reprove] you [as a direct address, in a personal manner]!” word study 10 These men, however [speak evil of, blaspheme], slander what they do not [truly, spiritually] understand, and like [unthinking] irrational animals, they will be destroyed [corrupted, ruined] by the things they do [naturally] [without reason, like beasts] instinctively. word study 11 Woe [alas, a lament] to them! They have traveled [gone in the way, followed] the path [road, journey] of Cain [the first murderer]; they have rushed headlong [run riotously, abandoned themselves] into the error [deceit, false teaching] of Balaam [a prophet who loved reward]; they have perished [been destroyed, lost] in Korah’s [a rebellious leader] rebellion [gainsaying, dispute]. word study 12 These men [hidden dangers, spiritual threats] are hidden reefs [unseen rocks, obstacles] in your love feasts [gatherings of charity, fellowship meals], shamelessly feasting with you [without fear, boldly] but shepherding [caring for, guiding] only themselves [their own interests]. They are clouds [waterless, barren] without water [spiritual nourishment], carried along by the wind [driven by circumstance]; fruitless trees [unproductive, barren] in autumn [a time of harvest], twice dead [completely lifeless, spiritually and physically] after being uprooted [removed from their foundation]. word study 13 They are wild [raging, violent] waves of the sea [a large body of water], foaming up [streaming with, foaming out] their own shame [disgrace, confusion]; wandering [false, astray] stars, for whom [to whom is reserved] blackest [the blackness of, utter] darkness [spiritual gloom, the absence of light] has been reserved [kept, stored up] forever [for an age, eternally]. word study 14 Enoch [a prophet of old], the seventh from Adam, also prophesied [spoke under divine inspiration] about them: “Behold [look, see, and understand], the Lord [God, the supreme ruler] is coming [will arrive, is on His way] with myriads [tens of thousands, a countless number] of His holy [set apart, sanctified] ones word study 15 to execute [carry out, administer] judgment [divine verdict, decision] on everyone, and to convict [reprove, correct] all the ungodly [wicked, irreverent] of every ungodly [impious, sinful] act of wickedness [evil, wrongdoing] and every harsh [cruel, severe] word spoken against Him [in opposition to, against His will] by ungodly [impious, sinful] sinners [those who miss the mark, offend God].” word study 16 These men [murmurers, complainers] are discontented grumblers [malcontent, always desiring change], following after their own [evil, selfish] lusts [desires, longings]; their mouths [the source of speech and communication] spew [speak proudly, utter boastfully] arrogance [boastful, proud things]; they flatter [show respect of persons, admire] others for their own [personal, selfish] advantage [benefit, profit]. word study 17 But you [dearly loved ones], beloved [cherished by God], remember [keep in memory, recall to mind] what was foretold [spoken before, predicted] by the apostles [messengers, delegates] of our Lord [Master, Savior] Jesus Christ [the Anointed One, God’s salvation] word study 18 when they said to you, “In the last [final] times [periods of history, epochs] there will be [mockers, scoffers] scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly [wicked] desires [lusts, longings].” word study 19 These [specific, particular] are the ones who cause [create, make] divisions [separations, schisms], who are [described as, characterized by being] worldly [natural, sensual, having not the Spirit] and devoid [lacking, without] of the Spirit [the divine breath, the vital principle]. word study 20 But you [dearly loved ones], beloved, by building [edifying, constructing] yourselves up [upon, on the foundation of] in your most [extremely, supremely] holy [set apart, sacred] faith [trust, confidence] and praying [making requests, worshiping] in the Holy [set apart, sanctified] Spirit [breath, divine presence], word study 21 keep yourselves [in a state of devotion, safe] in the love [unconditional affection, divine charity] of God [the supreme deity, Creator] as you await [wait for, expect with confidence] the mercy [pity, compassion, kindness] of our Lord [Master, Savior] Jesus Christ [the anointed Messiah] to bring you [bestow upon you, grant] eternal [endless, everlasting] life [spiritual existence, everlasting fellowship]. word study 22 And indeed [certainly, truly], have mercy [show compassion, feel sorry for] on those who doubt [are in doubt, uncertain, judging thoroughly]; word study 23 save others [rescue, deliver] by snatching [seizing, pulling] them from the fire [judgment, purification]; and to still others show mercy [pity, compassion] tempered with fear [reverence, awe], hating [detesting, abhorring] even the clothing [tunic, garment] stained [soiled, contaminated] by the flesh [human nature, sinful tendencies]. word study 24 Now to Him [the Almighty, all-powerful] who is able [has the power and strength] to keep [guard, protect] you from stumbling [falling, sinning] and to present [set, stand] you unblemished [blameless, faultless] in His glorious [resplendent, honorable] presence [before His face], with great [exceeding, abundant] joy [exultation, gladness]— word study 25 to the only [alone, unique] God [the supreme deity, our heavenly Father] our Savior [deliverer, rescuer] be glory [honor, praise, admiration], majesty [greatness, splendor], dominion [sovereign power, authority], and authority [the power to act, freedom to command] through Jesus Christ [our Lord and mediator] our Lord before all time [from eternity past], and now [in the present], and for all eternity [forever, into the infinite future]. Amen [so be it, may it be confirmed]. word study