The General Epistle of
Jude
Contend for the faith—Some angels keep not their first estate—Michael disputed about the body of Moses—Enoch prophesied of Second Coming—Mockers shall come in the latter days
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Jude, the servant of God, called of Jesus Christ, and brother of James; to them who are sanctified of the Father; and preserved in Jesus Christ; and called by the holy calling.
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Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied through his grace.
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Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you to the common salvation, it was needful for me to write to you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
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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.
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I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
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And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation on high, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
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Even as Sodom and Gomorrha and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
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Likewise, also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh after the manner of the man of sin who leadeth them, despise dominion and speak evil of dignities.
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Yet, Michael, the archangel who cast forth from heaven Lucifer and his third of hosts who did follow him, disputed with about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, the Lord rebuke thee.
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But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
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Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
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These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
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Raging waves of the sea, foam-ing out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
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And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints and shall smite the man of sin from the face of the earth and shall destroy all evil.
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To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against them.
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These are the murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
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But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
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How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
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These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
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But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, in the glory of Christ, praying always in the Holy Ghost that ye may know the truth of all things, and if ye shall pray with faith, then he shall reveal the truth of all things unto thee.
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Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
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And of some have compassion for one another, then you shall be able to make a difference.
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And others will save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the faith.
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Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you at the Father’s throne as spotless and without fault, before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy in the life that you are now given,
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To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.