St. Jude
"For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."
The Story In A Minute
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Saint Jude The Brother of The Lord Jesus Christ
St. Judas or Jude is one of the Lord’s twelve disciples. Not much is known about him and his life. However, the Gospels share some important details that highlight his closeness to our Lord Jesus Christ and His ministry.
Jude or Judas is also known as Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:3). He is the Lord’s cousin, often referred to as the Lord’s brother. He is the son of Mary, the wife of Cloba.
St. John in his Gospel distinguishes Judas (St. Jude) from Judas Iscariot, “Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, 'Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not unto the world?' " (John 14:22).
St. Jude is the writer of the Epistle of Jude, which is filled with great wisdom and grace. St. Jude is also the brother of James, who had a prominent position in the early church of Jerusalem.
James presided over the first council, mentioned in the book of Acts chapter 15. James is the writer of the Epistle according to St. James, and who was one of the Lord’s seventy disciples.
Traits of His Christian Character As reflected in His Epistle
The content of St. Jude’s Epistle reveals certain traits of his Christian character. St. Jude was zealous for the gospel and the teachings of Christ. He was concerned for the church and for preserving the true Christian faith and life (cf. Jude 1:3, 4, 17, 19-21, 24-25).
He was clearly concerned about the false teachers who crept into the church, turning the grace of God, who forgives sins, into a license for committing immoral acts (cf. Jude 1:4). He exposed the false teachers as godless men (cf. Jude 1:5). He referred to them as blemishes (cf. Jude 1:12) and ungodly individuals guilty of ungodly acts, devoid of the Spirit of God (cf. Jude 1:15, 19).
In his epistle, St. Jude’s love and pastoral concern for his fellow Christian’s faith and salvation is powerfully illuminated. He was concerned that they be preserved from falling prey to the licentious teachings in their midst, and that those who had fallen for it be delivered from it (cf. Jude 1:20-23). He called on his fellow Christians to contend for the faith entrusted to them (cf. Jude 1:3). He built them up for the battle they were to wage against the false teachers by holding before them the love of God who would keep them in Jesus Christ for their eternal salvation (cf. Jude 1:1, 24).
The Date, Occasion, and Purpose of The Epistle of Jude
The date that has been suggested for the writing of the Epistle of Jude is around 70 A.D. and possibly as late as 80 A.D.
Occasion Of The Epistle Of Jude:
Jude wrote the epistle in response to certain false teachers who had infiltrated the church with their heresy by teaching that God's grace gave Christians the freedom to commit immoral acts and to sin more.
Purpose Of The Epistle Of Jude:
Jude's purpose was to expose the false teachers and their licentiousness, to urge the members of the church to contend for the faith that had been entrusted to them, and to encourage the members to extricate those in their midst who had fallen prey to these depraved teachings.
Concluding Verses and a Message to Maintain a Christ Centered Life
"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen."
Saint Jude and Preaching the Gospel
This Apostle preached in many cities, and in the islands, where he built a church. He went to Edessa (modern Urfa - located today in south-east Turkey), healed its king Abgar and baptized him. After this, he went to the city of Araz, where he preached and baptized many of its people.
