Arrogantly (5246) (huperogkos from hupo = above + ogkos = swelling; only here and 2Pe 2:18-note) literally refers to that which has great swelling (excessive bulk) or is oversized, and conveys the idea of something larger than it has any right to be (cf "Supersized" portions at Fast Food restaurants). In classical Greek huperogkos was generally used of things of great or excessive size, and then came to be used of swollen and extravagant speech, haughty and bombastic. Rogers - The word is generally used of great or even excessive size, and in later writers it is also used of big words and arrogant speech and demeanor (New Linguistic & Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament) Peter uses huperogkos in a parallel description of false teachers in the church... 2Pe 2:18-note For speaking out arrogant (huperogkos) words of vanity (mataiotes) they entice (deleazo = same verb used in James 1:14-note describing our own inherent lust-it has power to draw us into the web so that we commit sin) by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, Huperogkos - 7 uses in Septuagint - Ex 18:22, 26; Dt 30:11 (translates "difficult"); 2Sa 13:2 (translates "hard"); Lam 1:9 (LXE = "has lowered her boasting tone"); Da 5:12; Da 11:36; The speech of the men described by Peter and Jude is full of high-sounding verbosity without substance. The pontification of these deceivers is with big, overswollen, ponderous words, this ostentatious verbosity being their "weapon" to ensnare the unwary with licentiousness as the bait on their hook. In short, what Jude is doing here is giving us characteristics which should help us identify these snakes in our midst -- they are boastful, pompous, haughty, tumid, grand, inflated, bombastic in their speech with the goal of such pretentious palaver (misleading, beguiling speech) being to impress and entice. Mark it down - High sounding words make a great cover for false teaching. "They impress people with their vocabularies and oratory, but what they say is just so much “hot air.”" (Wiersbe) It is fascinating that the same expression is used in the Septuagint translation of Daniel 11:36 to describe the Antichrist's blasphemous utterances against God. Here is Brenton's English translation of the Greek translation for comparison... And he shall do according to his will, and the king shall exalt and magnify himself against every god, and shall speak great swelling words (uses the same two words as Jude - laleo + huperogkos), and shall prosper until the indignation shall be accomplished: for it is coming to an end. (Da 11:36-note) MacDonald (Believer's Bible Commentary) - This is an accurate description of the words of many liberal preachers and false cultists. They are accomplished orators, holding audiences spellbound by their grandiose rhetoric. Their erudite vocabulary attracts undiscerning people. What their sermons lack in content, they make up for in a dogmatic, forceful presentation. But when they have finished they have said nothing. As an example of this sort of sterile sermon, here is a quotation from a well-known theologian of our (MacDonald's) day: "It is not a relationship of either parity or disparity, but of similarity. This is what we think and this is what we express as the true knowledge of God, although in faith we still know and remember that everything that we know as “similarity” is not identical with the similarity meant here. Yet we also know and remember, and again in faith, that the similarity meant here is pleased to reflect itself in what we know as similarity and call by this name, so that in our thinking and speaking similarity becomes similar to the similarity posited in the true revelation of God (to which it is, in itself, not similar) and we do not think and speak falsely but rightly when we describe the relationship as one of similarity." Guzik - These certain men knew how to use smooth, flattering words to get an advantage over other people. They would say anything - good or bad - to get an advantage. (Jude - David Guzik's Commentary) Flattering (thaumazo = be filled with wonder) people (prosopon = the face) (KJV = "having...in admiration") in the Greek is literally “admiring faces,” which is a Hebraism idiom (translated into Greek) meaning to "admire the face" and so to flatter or praise insincerely. The idea is to show partiality to others in order to glean material benefits from them. See the Septuagint uses of this Hebrew idiom - Lev 19:15 ("you shall not be partial to the poor" = literally in Lxx = "absolutely not receive the face" and "nor defer to the great" = literally "not admire [thaumazo] face [prosopon]" ); Job 13:10 ("show partiality"); Isa 9:15 ("honorable man") (cf prohibition of partiality in Dt 16:19, James 2:1-9). The idea is showing flattering admiration of individuals whom they seek to impress “for the sake of advantage,” not necessarily financial." (Hiebert) The "curry favor." (Curry = seek to gain favor by flattery or attention) Kistemaker - With their arrogance (Ed: "brag loudly" NLT) they flout (Ed: treat with contemptuous disregard) God's honor and with their flattery they deceive their fellow men." NET Note on flattering people - Enchanting folks (Greek “awing faces”) refers to the fact that the speeches of these false teachers are powerful and seductive. Cleon Rogers - The expression is used to translate the Hebrew idiom, “to take, or raise, a man’s countenance,” i.e., to do honor or show favor to him. The formula had its origin in the oriental custom of making one to rise from the ground as a token of welcome. This imagery soon disappeared and the expression meant “to show favoritism toward” or “to curry favor w.” (Kelly). (New Linguistic & Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament) For the sake of gaining an advantage - Amplified = "they claim to admire men’s persons and pay people flattering compliments to gain advantage." ESV = "showing favoritism to gain advantage." NAB = "they fawn over people to gain advantage." Vincent explains "for the sake of advantage; their glory being in having a multitude of followers." NET = "enchanting folks for their own gain." Wiersbe = "They also use flattery to manipulate their listeners." Hiebert - They show warm interest in others, not to help them but to exploit them. Inconsistently, they stoutly refuse submission to God, where it is due, but servilely render submission to follow human beings, where it is not due. “As the fear of God drives out the fear of man, so defiance of God tends to put man in His place, as the chief source of good or evil to his fellows.” Whenever men refuse God His rightful place in their lives, they inevitably place Him with inferior gods of their own making. (Second Peter-Jude: An Expositional Commentary) Peter uses a different verb but conveys the same idea... and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. (2Pe 2:3-note) E C Pentecost sums up these apostates - Vocally discontented, sinfully self-centered, extravagantly egotistical, and deceptively flattering—such are apostates, then and today. Thus in unflinching terms Jude clearly identified the apostates, while at the same time exposing their character in order to warn believers of their true nature and their final destiny. He was laying the groundwork to call his readers to action against these ungodly men and their practices. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) ><>><>><> SMOOTH TALKER - A man who was trying to explain the meaning of the word oratory commented with tongue in cheek, “If you say black is white, that’s foolishness. But if while you say black is white you roar like a bull, pound on the table with both fists, and race from one end of the platform to another, that’s oratory!” We can quickly be swept off our feet by the way people express themselves, even though we have some questions about their message. Jude warned us about those whose mouths speak “great swelling words” (Jude 1:16). The masses are often moved more by style than by content. According to Paul, the time will come when people will turn away from the truth of sound doctrine and tolerate only those who entertain and make people feel good (2Ti 4:3-4). So we must carefully analyze and evaluate in the light of the Scriptures everything we hear—even what is taught and proclaimed by the most eloquent of speakers. We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by mere oratory—especially in the church! We need to be sure that the Bible teachers we listen to are “speaking the truth in Christ and not lying” (1Ti 2:7). Don’t let “idle talkers and deceivers” (Titus 1:10) confuse you. Eloquence is never a substitute for truth. We must beware of speakers who Distort and twist God's Word; They'll entertain and motivate, And call the truth absurd. —Sper To recognize Satan's lies, focus on God's truth. Jude 1:17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,: humeis de agapetoi mnesthete (2PAPM) ton rhematon ton proeiremenon (RPPNPN) hupo ton apostolon tou kuriou hemon Iesou Christou remember = Mal 4:4; Acts 20:35; Ep 2:20; 4:11; 2Pe 3:2; 1Jn 4:6 Amplified - But you must remember, beloved, the predictions which were made by the apostles (the special messengers) of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Barclay But you, beloved, you must remember the words which were once spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; you must remember that they said to us NET But you, dear friends— recall the predictions foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wuest - But, as for you, divinely-loved ones, remember the words which were spoken previously by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, EXHORTATIONS TO BELIEVERS TO COMBAT APOSTASY Jude 1:17-23 But you beloved - Jude uses this term of contrast, as he "changes direction" shifting the focus from the denunciation of the apostates to loving exhortations (imperatives) to God's beloved saints. J B Phillips entitles Jude 1:17-19 - "Forewarned is Forearmed." E C Pentecost - Having identified the apostates in expressive language, Jude gave the believers guidelines on how to avoid the apostates’ errors. It is not enough to recognize false teachers; it is also necessary to avoid falling into their errors. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) Hiebert - With these verses (Jude 1:17-23) Jude turns from burning denunciation of the apostates to provide loving guidance and encouragement to the faithful amid apostasy. Although this section is closely related to the preceding denunciation, its tenor is entirely different. In the preceding section the aim was to expose and condemn the evil men intruding into the churches; here the aim is to provide faithful believers with a strategy to combat the apostates effectively. Jude now presents directives toward that end. (Second Peter-Jude: An Expositional Commentary) NET NOTE - This verse parallels 2Pet 3:2 both conceptually and in much of the verbiage. There is one important difference, however: In 2 Pet 3:2 the prophets and apostles speak; here, just the apostles speak. This makes good sense if Jude is using 2Peter as his main source and is urging his readers to go back to the authoritative writings, both OT and now especially NT. (Ed comment: Notice that Jude 1:18 has a quote that is very similar to 2Peter 3:3, suggesting this apostolic letter may have been the source. This is not an unreasonable assertion in view of the fact that Jude was penned about 70-80BC and Second Peter about 66BC, which meant Jude theoretically had access to the Apostle's words spoken beforehand.)