Jude 1:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NIV: But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.

NASB: But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,

CSB: But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NLT: But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted.

KJV: But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

NKJV: But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Jude has been writing to describe the danger posed by false teachers and apostates. In the prior passage, Jude laid out both their sins and the danger those errors posed. Not only do such unbelievers put themselves under eternal judgment (Jude 1:13), they also pose a spiritual risk to the Christians they associate with (Jude 1:12).

In this verse Jude reminds his readers that the apostles had predicted the emergence of false teachers. Unlike the false teachers who served only themselves, the apostles were committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was their Master (Lord), Savior (Jesus), and Messiah (Christ).

The word Christ is really a title, derived from a Greek term christos, meaning "anointed one." This, is turn is a translation of the Hebrew term meshiach. This refers to Jesus' position as God's anointed prophet, priest, and king.

The apostles' predictions about the rise of false teachers can be found throughout the New Testament (Acts 20:29–30; 1 Timothy 4:1–3; 2 Timothy 3:1–9, 13; 2 Peter 2:1–3; 3:1–7). Jude's deep concern for his readers contrasts sharply with the false teachers' concern for only themselves.

Jude 1:17–23 lays out Jude's plan of action for recognizing, resisting, and defeating apostates. Prior verses were devoted to explaining how, and why, these false teachers were dangerous. Those who followed their examples were bound for eternal judgment. Here, Jude provides a means to avoid these liars, as well as their fate.

Jude's brief letter describes men at their worst and God at His best. Believers are already on the victorious side! Those who mock God's truth and who follow their own desires all while claiming to be Christians, are the most dangerous kind of unbelievers. These persons pose a danger to themselves and to any Christians they might influence. In response, Christians need to focus on understanding the truth of God's written Word and submitting to His will.

Jude is a single-chapter letter which reflects earlier warnings about apostates and their false teachings. Other passages of Scripture describe evil men who taught that Jesus was not fully human or fully God (1 John 2:22; 4:1–3), that God's grace allowed them to live immorally (2 Peter 2; Romans 6:1, 15), that Jesus blood was not an adequate sacrifice (Galatians 1:6–9; Hebrews 3:12–19; 10:19), and sinners gain a right standing in God's sight by keeping the law of Moses (Galatians 5:4, 7–9). Jude's letter combats false teaching and exhorts readers to remain faithful to the Lord.

The book of Jude is a letter written by a half-brother of Jesus, likely later than AD 66–67, which was after 2 Peter was written. Its placement immediately before the book of Revelation is appropriate. This letter warns about false religion and evil men, whom Revelation describes as maliciously affecting political and religious conditions.