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About Jude, Canon and book of Enoch
Jude 1:1 “From Jude, a servant of Yeshua Christ and brother of James”
The author is identified as Jude, the “brother of James”. This Jude is traditionally identified as Yeshua’s half-brother, who initially did not believe in Yeshua during his ministry but became a believer after the resurrection.
Did you know, that Martin Luther (the key figure in the Protestant Reformation in 1500’s) had a complex relationship with the Book of Jude, as he considered it a “disputed book”. However reading the book, the main and very strong message from this book is again (like Peter and John) about the False prophets, keeping the Laws, but Jude also highlights sexual sins a lot. Martin Luther decided to place this book at the end of the Bible Canons – and Jude very last in order of what he thought was important.
Another point that Martin Luther and other Protestant reformers rejected was the Book of Enoch, along with other similar texts which they declared as “non-canonical”. We see Jude mentioning Enoch in Judes 1:14-15 “Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, YHWH comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”” This is why (by reasoning of the Protestant movement) it is highly believed today that Enoch is not biblical and should be avoided at all costs. However, we must remember, that Jude, Yeshua’s half brother referred to this book, and they must have read it in their time.
For more on the Canon and books listed to be non-canonical – click here.
Sexual Sins, Grace
Jude 1:4 “.. they use Adonai’s grace as an excuse for sexual freedom..”
Verse 7 says, “as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh“.
Jude is saying, that YHWH’s Grace is used as an excuse. YHWH’s Grace is used as an excuse for many things today, saying that His Grace covers everything. And although His Grace is truly bigger than what we can understand, His Grace is given so that we shouldn’t judge each other – only YHWH will judge. But He will still judge. And what is a Judge : someone who interprets and applies laws to ensure fair justice. Judging doesn’t come without Laws. Laws gives guidance to all how to live. But instead, when there are no laws – lawlessness – then people will assume they can behave any manner they want, because there are now laws and no judgement.
The greek word used for sexual immorality is G1608 – ekporneuō, ek-porn-euo, where the word “porn” comes from. The root word G4203 – porneuō can also be translated to prostitute, fornication, idolatry, lust, harlot. The other greek word used here is G766 – aselgeia, meaning shamelessness, unbridled lust, filthy.
What Jude is also saying here is doing “strange” things in these acts, things that are not normal. The greek word G2087 – heteros, meaning going after something that is not normal, or altered. Click here to see a post from Judges 19 about Sexual immoralities even within Israel, acting worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. YHWH’s laws include a lot of guidelines on what is good and pure, and what is not acceptable in His eyes. Do we really think that we can use Grace as an excuse to ignore His guidelines on what is good and bad, only because the body’s lust are more important?
Click here to see previous posts on the meaning of Harlotry, what true Grace is, and why harlotry also means idolatry. The theme of harlotry gets to a highlighted point in the last book of Scriptures, Revelation.
