Epistle of Jude in Smiths Bible Dictionary
Its author was probably Jude, one of the brethren of
Jesus, the subject of the preceding article. There are no
data from which to determine its date or place of writing,
but it is placed about A.D. 65. The object of the epistle is
plainly enough announced ver. 3; the reason for this
exhortation is given ver.
4. The remainder of the epistle is almost entirely
occupied by a minute depiction of the adversaries of the
faith. The epistle closes by briefly reminding the readers
of the oft-repeated prediction of the apostles --among whom
the writer seems not to rank himself --that the faith would
be assailed by such enemies as he has depicted, vs. Jude
1:17-19 exhorting them to maintain their own steadfastness
in the faith, vs. Jude 1:20,21 while they earnestly sought
to rescue others from the corrupt example of those
licentious livers, vs. Jude 1:22,23 and commending them to
the power of God in language which forcibly recalls the
closing benediction of the epistle to the Romans. vs. Jude
1:24,25 cf. Roma 16:25-27
This epistle presents one peculiarity, which, as we
learn from St. Jerome, caused its authority to be impugned
in very early times --the supposed citation of apocryphal
writings. vs. Jude 1:9,14,15 The larger portion of this
epistle, vs. Jude 1:3-16 is almost identical in language and
subject with a part of the Second Epistle of Peter. 2Pe 2:1-
19
Read More about Epistle of Jude in Smiths Bible Dictionary