Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

3. Design of the Epistle (compare Jude 20, 21).
all diligence-- (2Pe 1:5). As the minister is to give all diligence to admonish, so the people should, in accordance with his admonition, give all diligence to have all Christian graces, and to make their calling sure.
the common salvation--wrought by Christ. Compare Note, see on 2Pe 1:1, "obtained LIKE precious faith," This community of faith, and of the object of faith, salvation, forms the ground of mutual exhortation by appeals to common hopes and fears.
it was needful for me--rather, "I felt it necessary to write (now at once; so the Greek aorist means; the present infinitive 'to write,' which precedes, expresses merely the general fact of writing) exhorting you." The reason why he felt it necessary "to write with exhortation," he states, Jude 4, "For there are certain men crept in," &c. Having intended to write generally of "the common salvation," he found it necessary from the existing evils in the Church, to write specially that they should contend for the faith against those evils.
earnestly contend--Compare Php 1:27, "striving together for the faith of the Gospel."
once, &c.--Greek, "once for all delivered." No other faith or revelation is to supersede it. A strong argument for resisting heretical innovators (Jude 4). Believers, like Nehemiah's workmen (Ne 4:17), with one hand "build themselves up in their most holy faith"; with the other they" contend earnestly for the faith" against its foes.
the saints--all Christians, holy (that is, consecrated to God) by their calling, and in God's design.

JFB.

Questions Related to this Verse

Dynamically load content in Bootstrap Modal with AJAX

Select a Chapter

Jude 1

Select a Book of the Bible

Jude Images and Notes

The Book of Jude

Jude 1:3-4 - Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude 1:24 - 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,

Jude in The New Testament - A Brief Overview

The Apostle Jude Painted by van Dyck

Introduction to The Book of Jude

Brief Summary. The apostle Jude denounces apostasy and corruption, and he contends for the faith that is once and for all delivered unto the saints.

Summary of The Book of Jude

Contents. Jude addresses the false teachers that were leading the church, he mentions the last days and he could have been addressing all false teachers throughout all ages. Some of their attributes were: ungodliness, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, they denied Christ, they were fornicators, they despised authority, they defiled the flesh, they corrupt themselves like brute beasts, they were shepherds who only feed themselves, clouds without water, trees without fruit, Stormy waves foaming out their own shame, wandering stars in outer darkness, murmerers, complainers, boasters, lustful mockers, self seeking, division causers. Jude also encourages believers to: Build themselves up, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep themselves in the love of God, look for his mercy, have compassion, save certain ones with fear, and he ends with praise to God who will present the believer spotless to His presence.

Author. The writer identifies himself as "Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James" (1:1). Jude was probably the "Judas" named in John 14:22 as one of his apostles. He is commonly thought to have been the brother of Jesus as well. He was formerly an unbeliever (John 7:5), yet later he appeared in the upper room with his mother and the other disciples after the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:14). 1 Corinthians 9:5 would seem to imply that he was married.

Place of Writing. There is nothing in the epistle to indicate either its place of writing or the area to which it was addressed. The general phrase, "to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called," would seem to refer to all Christians; yet, examining his message to the false teachers he could have been addressing all false teachers rather than a certain group.

Outline of the Book of Jude

Description and Fate of False Teachers - 1:1-16
Encouragement to Believers in Christ - 1:17-25

The Name Jesus In Ancient Hebrew Text
"Yeshua" in First Century Hebrew Text. This is how the name "Jesus" would have been written in ancient Hebrew documents. The four letters or consonants from right to left are Yod, Shin, Vav, Ayin (Y, SH, OO, A). Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua or Y'shua which means "The LORD or Yahweh is Salvation".

2 John Maps and Resources

Map of the Roman Empire (14 A.D.) - This map reveals the Roman Empire during the time shortly after the birth of Jesus, in 14 AD at the time of the death of Augustus. The order which prevailed in this extensive empire, the good military roads, and the use of Koine Greek as the general language of culture throughout the area were among the factors which multiplied the rapid spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Color Map)

Map of Paul's First Missionary Journey (48 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia Minor where Paul visited in his first missionary journey. Around 48 AD, in the springtime, Paul and his companions Barnabas and Mark were sent on a mission from the church in Antioch. This would be the first of Paul's Missionary Journey's. (Color Map)

Map of Paul's Second Missionary Journey (51 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his second missionary journey. Paul re-visits a couple cities in Asia, one of which was Lystra where he was stoned and left for dead a few years earlier. He later has a vision that leads him over to Greece and Paul and his companions travel and minister in various cities in Greece (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and Corinth. Later Paul returns to Ephesus and finally to Caesarea and Antioch. (Color Map)

Map of Paul's Third Missionary Journey (54 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his third missionary journey. On Paul's third missionary journey he returned to the cities he had first visited on his first missionary journey. During this time he decided to remain in Ephesus for about 3 years, and this city was the main focus of his activities and an important Christian community (Acts 19). (Color Map)

Map of the New Testament World - This map reveals the "Nations" within the ancient world during the first century A.D., the time of the New Testament. The map includes the areas of Israel, Asia, Greece, and Italy. (Color Map)

Map of New Testament Greece This map reveals the cities within Greece in the ancient world during the first century A.D.,The map includes the principal cities of Greece like: Athens, Corinth, and Thessalonica, and provinces like Macedonia and Achaia. (Color Map)

Map of New Testament Asia - This map shows the cities within Asia Minor during the first century A.D., the time of the New Testament. The map includes the principal cities of Asia including Tarsus, Ephesus, and Colossae, and provinces like Galatia and Pamphilia. (Color Map)