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King James Version (KJV)
“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody
Scripture focus
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 1:4 — KJV
Certain men. Compare 2 Peter 2:1, where Peter speaks of a similar group of men whose coming was still in the future. Jude declares that at the time he wrote, such deceivers were already disturbing the church. See on Jude 18.
Crept in unawares. Gr. pareisduō, “to enter secretly,” “to slip in stealthily.” The false teachers were not honest. Because their doctrines were subversive they took pains to disguise themselves and to enter the church without disclosing their true character.
Before … ordained. Gr. prographō, literally, “to write beforehand.” Jude’s meaning is that the condemnation of the deceptive teachers had already been pronounced, not in the sense of predestination, but as a considered judgment based on a knowledge of their harmful activities. The phrase “of old” may refer to the words of Enoch as quoted in vs. 14, 15; or, if “of old” (palai) be interpreted in a more immediate sense, as in Mark 15:44, the reference could be to 2 Peter 2:3. However, see pp. 701, 702.
Condemnation. Gr. krima, “sentence,” “doom” (see on Rom. 2:2). Jude does not identify the doom. If his letter was written after 2 Peter (see pp. 701, 702), he may have had Peter’s words in mind, leaving their explanation to him (see on 2 Peter 2:3, 9).
Ungodly men. Gr. asebeis, the plural form of asebēs (see on Rom. 4:5). Peter applies the term to the antediluvians (2 Peter 2:5).
Turning. Gr. metatithēmi, “to transfer,” “to change” (cf. on Gal. 1:6).
Grace. Gr. charis (see on Rom. 3:24).
Lasciviousness. Gr. aselgeia (see on 2 Peter 2:2). Jude’s description of the character acter and work of the false teachers parallels that given by Peter. They perverted the words of Scripture for their own immoral ends (cf. on 2 Peter 2:2).
Denying the only Lord God. Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the omission of the word “God.” The complete phrase may then be rendered: “denying the only Lord [despotēs], that is, our Lord [kurios] Jesus Christ.” Of other NT writers only Peter directly applies despotēs, “master,” to Christ. For comment on despotēs see on 2 Peter 2:1.
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