Jude

Not much to say in advance of this one-chapter letter from some guy named Jude. It's just that - one more time - we see another early church leader trying to plug the holes in the early church!

Jd 1:4 - For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Been there, done that. While these people were so busy condemning anyone who tried to say things they objected to, they completely failed to realize that they were contradicting the accepted leaders, and that the accepted leaders were contradicting each other.

Jd 1:6 - And the angels who did not keep their own position, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgment of the great day.
Here's a little taste of the study of angelology found in the Bible. The "bad" angels are being kept on ice by God until the day he decides to judge them. Apparently, while this religion claims to be "monotheistic," it has no problem with saying that here's no end to invisible, supernatural entities floating all around (demons, angels), or lying in invisible prisons (also referred to as Hades - sound familiar?) or wherever!

Jd 1:9 - But when the archangel Michael contended with the devil and disputed about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring a condemnation of slander against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
I'd like to know where this little story is in the Bible! Are we SURE we're dealing with an actual, monotheistic story and not a very Greek-like construct of mythical stories?

Jd 1:12,13 - These are blemishes on your love-feasts, while they feast with you without fear, feeding themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever.
Well, we can see that Jude, if nothing else, was quite poetic in his condemnation of believers who were less than active. I think we can guess with fair accuracy that he was, like James, fond of the idea that salvation comes from a combination of faith and works.

Jd 1:17-19 - But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; for they said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts." It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions.
Jude here decides to quote another leader's demonizing statements, rather than making up any of his own. He apparently thinks it's perfectly acceptable to carry out this attack, accusing enemies of horrible acts of "ungodly lust" rather than reacting to and answering the criticisms addressed to them. That fine tradition continues to this day. Talk about a noble people!