The epistle of Jude is one of the shortest writings in the New Testament, but it is significant for a number of reasons. It was written by a brother of Jesus, which testifies to the monumental change in opinion his brothers had about him after his resurrection. It documents the infiltration of certain Christian communities by false teachers, who were prophesied long ago (according to Jude). The rhetoric of the Greek text is rather powerful, with triplets throughout and a consistent distancing of the "opponents" who are only referred to in the third person plural ("they/them"). The short epistle also contains one of the most eloquent and powerful blessings in the New Testament.

Exegetical Tools provides our Jude Greek Reading Videos, which walk you through the epistle in Greek one verse at a time. Additionally, below are a variety of resources to help you get further acquainted with Jude and its importance for Christian theology. If you would like to contribute to the resources on this page, contact us (see footer).

Clickable Table of Contents

• • 1. Jude Greek Reading Videos
  • 2. Author and Occasion
  • 3. The Message of Jude
  • 4. Preaching and Teaching Jude
  • 5. Online Resources
  • 6. Commentaries

10 videos teaching through the Greek text of Jude a few verses at a time. Focusing on refreshing and solidifying morphology, syntax, and vocabulary, the viewer will regain and improve their Greek as they work through this important first century Christian epistle.

The following resources are available online in the public domain.

Commentaries

• Charles Bigg, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude, International Critical Commentary (T&T Clark, 1902).
• Alfred Plummer, The General Epistle of Jude and the Revelation of John, The Expositor's New Testament (Hodder and Stroughton Ltd., 1860).
• Joseph B. Mayor, The Epistle of St. Jude and the Second Epistle of St. Peter (Macmillan and Co., 1907).
• John Calvin, Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles (Calvin Translation Society, 1855).
• M. R. James, The Second Epistle General of Peter and the General Epistle of Jude (Cambridge University Press, 1912).

Articles

• J. Daryl Charles, "The Use of Tradition-Material in the Epistle of Jude," Bulletin for Biblical Research 4 (1994): 1-14.
• J. Daryl Charles, "The Angels under Reserve in 2 Peter and Jude," Bulletin for Biblical Research 15.1 (Spring 2005): 39-48.
• Walter M. Dunnett, "The Hermeneutics of Jude and 2 Peter: The Use of Ancient Jewish Traditions," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 31.3 (1988): 287-292.
• Michael Haykin, "Exegesis 13: Prayer in the Spirit, Jude 20," Foundations 28 (Spring 1991): 16-19.
• Robert L. Webb, "The Eschatology of the Epistle of Jude and Its Rhetorical and Social Functions," Bulletin for Biblical Research 6 (1996): 139-151.

Introductory Textbooks

• Theodor Zahn, Introduction to the New Testament (T&T Clark, 1909) [vol. 1] -- [vol. 2] -- [vol. 3]

Heavy in historical and critical analysis, Bauckham's volume is one of the most reliable for research, although not the most friendly for sermon preparation.

Probably the longest commentary on Jude, but also one with a unique proposal for the historical occasion of the letter, Bateman's analysis will keep you in the text and challenge your traditional readings.

Peter Davids has spent a long time in the 'General Epistles' and the Pillar commentary series is very friendly for sermon preparation. Expect an easy-to-read exposition, not a thorough Greek textual analysis.

The BECNT series strikes a good balance between thorough Greek textual analysis and clear exposition of the passages, often focusing on the broader message of paragraphs rather than atomizing the discourse.