Apostasy In the Church
Jude 1-25
Part 3: Beware of their nature and know their actions. Do not give them a greeting, and as result, share in their wicket ways. 2 John 10&11
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Published July 14th, 2020
Phrase
Phrase
NT
Jude 8-13
nasb
Yet ... these men,
Concessive
in the same way
Manner
also by dreaming,
Means
defile the flesh,
Explanation
and reject authority,
and revile angelic majesties.
when he disputed
Temporal
with the devil
Accompaniment
and argued
about the body
Content
of Moses,
Possessive
But Michael ... ... did not dare pronounce
the archangel,
against him
Disadvantage
a railing judgment,
but said,
“The Lord rebuke you!”
But these men revile
the things
Explanation #1
which they do not understand;
and the things
Explanation #2
which they know
by instinct,
like unreasoning animals,
Compassion
by these things
they are destroyed.
Woe to them!
Result
For they have gone
Explanation #1
the way
of Cain,
and ... they have rushed headlong
Explanation #2
for pay
Purpose
into the error
of Balaam,
and perished
Explanation #3
in the rebellion
Context
of Korah.
These are the men
who are hidden reefs
in your love feasts
Locative
when they feast
with you
without fear,
caring for themselves;
clouds
Comparison #1
without water,
carried along
by winds;
autumn trees
Comparison #2
without fruit,
doubly dead,
uprooted;
wild waves
Comparison #3
of the sea,
casting up
their own shame
like foam;
Comparison
wandering stars,
Comparison #4
whom the black darkness
for ... has been reserved forever.
Verse 8 After providing examples from history, Jude continues by identifying the nature of the apostates. 1) "also by dreaming" Most commentators agree that the word "dreaming" points to the way in which apostates would claim their truth. This they would explain was done by revelations given to them through dreams and visions. 2) "defile the flesh, reject authority, revile angelic majesties" a) Engagement in sexual immortality that could include sodomy and homosexuality. b) No regard for God's authority. Luther and Calvin thought this rejection could have been just toward governing authority; however the word used for "authority" in Greek is the word kyrios, meaning Lord. This leads most commentaries to reject this idea of restriction to governing authority only. c) More than likely referring to the blaspheme of angels. Disregarding the role that God has given them and of those blaspheming.
Verse 9 "Michael, the archangel" This contrast within this section is thought to be an example of the proper way of responding to angelic "majesties" (i.e. the devil, Satan) Michael also shows his readers that true justice belongs to the Lord. God is the authority not "angelic majesties" or man.
Verses 11 Jude expanses on the nature of the apostates by describing through historical record rebellion against God and the rejection of his ways. 1) "gone...rushed...perished" a) A change in direction from belief and trust in God begins often in a progression starting with the taking of a different road that might just differ slightly. Once you have allowed compromise to enter your belief system, the more prone you become to receiving error. This leads to the tearing down of your foundation of truth of who God is and His work of redemption. In response you become willing and eager to accept any form of "truth". In the end compromise leads to ultimate destruction. 2) "gone the way of Cain" a) The example of Cain describes the disregard for worshiping and responding to God on His terms. Some commentators also think this could be an example of an apostate desiring to destroy the soften heart of one who has become open to the truth of God's Word. b) blasphemer, rejecters of authority, 3) "for pay...rushed..into the error of Balaam" a) Apostates follow after greed, gain, and reward parallel to Balaam who was a prophet for hire seeking his own personal welfare. 4) "perish in the rebellion of Korah" a) Apostates reject not only God's desire for worship but they lead many others to do the same. This lead them to their ultimate destruction first by the ground swallowing them up and then to eternal hell fire.
Verses 12&13 Jude closes out this section by turning to examples of nature to explain in more depth the way in which these apostates infiltrate the church. 1) "hidden reefs" a) Most commentaries agree these "reefs" are considered as objects creating holes within the bottom of a boat or within the foundation of someone's faith. This could be in regards to doctrine and practice. 2) "clouds without water" a) Promising numerous benefits without delivering. Dark rain clouds that never release the nourishing rain on a parched land. 3) "trees without fruit" a) Similar to the "water-less clouds", these apostates never yield the true fruit of righteousness but instead are external focused with no real root. This would have been a similar description to what Jesus gave the Pharisees whom he called "white washed tombs..." Matthew 23:27-28 4) "waves of the sea" a) Apostates do not provide or demonstrate lasting peace, instead their guilt is easily seen as wild waves foaming in a storm. 5) "wandering stars" a) Considered to be those without real direction. They have no godly guiding principles.
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Disclaimer: The opinions and conclusions expressed on this page are those of the author and may or may not accord with the positions of Biblearc or Bethlehem College & Seminary.