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Who is the author of the book? There are 5 Judes mentioned in the New Testament: Judas of Damascas (Acts 9:11), Judas Barsabas (Acts 15:13-22, 27, 32), Judas Iscariot (Matthew 10:4, John 13:26), the apostle Judas, not Iscariot (John 14:22), and Jude, the half-brother of Christ (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). Two of these would have had relations by the name of James, the half-brother of Christ and the apostle Jude (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). However, the most famous James of the early church was James the half-brother of Christ, the leader of the Jerusalem church. Further, the author appears to separate himself from the apostles (vs. 17-18). I conclude that the best view is that Jude, the younger half-brother of our Lord, was the author. That Jesus' brothers were involved in the ministry is shown in 1 Corinthians 9:5.

The identity of the recipients is not known, except that they were believers. The occasion of the book is a call to defend the faith against false teachers. It is a polemic against ungodly men and a charge to live godly lives, with a great benediction. There is a close parallelism with 2 Peter 2.

There are some 13 references to Christ in 25 verses.

Date:  65-80 (?)  It was, perhaps, written after the date of most of the apostles. (vs. 17)

I. Introduction  vs. 1-2

II. Contend Earnestly for the Faith (it is the faith that was "once" delivered to the saints, it is not a continuing revelation. "Faith" is used in the sense of the set doctrine of beliefs.)  vs. 3-23

1. I exhort you to contend ("contend" is the intensive of a word meaning "to fight, struggle, or strive")  3
2. Evil men are in the church  4
1. They sneak in  4
2. They are ungodly  4
3. They turn grace into freedom to sin  4
4. They deny the only Master and Lord  4 (See Titus 1:16)
5. They are dreamers  8
6. They defile the flesh  8
7. They reject authority  8
8. They speak evil of prominent people  8-10
9. They corrupt themselves in what they know naturally  10
10. They seek to establish their own religion (Cain)  11
11. They have used religion for personal profit (Balaam)  11
12. They have asserted equality with God's leaders (Korah)  11
13. They have no fear  12
14. They serve only themselves  12
15. They have no substance  12
16. They are drifters  12
17. They are unfruitful  12
18. They are violent  13
19. They are murmurers  16
20. They are complainers  16
21. They walk according to their own lusts  16
22. They speak great words  16
23. They flatter people to gain advantage  16
24. They are mockers  18
25. They are worldly  19
26. They cause divisions  19
27. They do not have the Spirit  19
3. Past Lessons  5-7
1. Israelites out of Egypt  5
2. Angels  6
3. Sodom and Gommorah  7
4. They reject authority  8-11
1. Their characteristics  8
2. Example of Michael  9
3. They corrupt what they know and don't know  10
4. Woe to them  11
5. They defile the church  12-16
1. Blemishes and emptiness  12,13
2. Long ago condemned  13b-15
3. Evil speech  16
6. Remember the Apostles' warning  17-19

III. Build yourselves up  20-23

1. Pray in the Holy Spirit  20
2. Love God  21
3. Looking for mercy  21
4. Have compassion  22

IV. Benediction  24-25

Key Idea:  There will be false Christians

Key Passage:  21

Key Lesson:  Contend for the faith