Jude, a Servant of Jesus Christ – Jude 1:1,2

Jude is a bit of a mystery to us as a person.  He is writing a warning, as he says in verses 3 and 4.  Was he an “apostle” in the lower-case sense, an elder/pastor, or just a teacher in the church?  We don’t know.  Who was he writing to?  We don’t know.  But his letter was received by the church as Scripture, which Paul tells us is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for reproof and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 2:16).

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:  May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. (Jude1:1–2, ESV)

As the brother of James, Jude was also the half-brother of Jesus, though here he dubs himself a “servant of Jesus Christ.”  Like James he grew up with his older brother Jesus, who was the son of Mary but not the biological son of Joseph.  After Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary had children together, Jesus’ brothers and sisters (Matthew 13:55,56).  We’re told the names of his brothers (James, Joseph, Simon and Judas, Matthew 13:55) but not the names of his sisters (Matthew 13:56).  Roman Catholics deny that Mary and Joseph had children because they hold that Mary was perpetually a virgin, but see here.

Jesus’ family was initially doubtful about his claims to be Messiah (Mark 3:20,21).  But the resurrected Jesus appeared to James, his half-brother, suggesting that either he had become a disciple prior to this, or, that Jesus’ appearance to him brought James to faith.  The fact that Jude wrote this letter tells us that he had also come to faith in Jesus.

Jude writes to believers, those “called” and “beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.”  There is some question about how to translate the Greek here, specifically the words “in” (the Greek word en) and “for” (the Greek Dative case).  The ESV translates “in God the Father” and “for” Jesus Christ.  This would mean either I am beloved in God the Father, which suggests that I am beloved by God because I have a relationship with the Father (makes less sense), or (this makes more sense) I am beloved by the Father.  Kept for Jesus Christ would suggest that I am kept for some purpose He wants me for, which seems an odd concept here.  Or maybe I am kept because of my relationship with Jesus. That means the Father is keeping me because of Jesus, which also seems strained.  “Kept by Jesus” makes more sense all around.

Jude prays that peace, love and mercy will be multiplied to his readers by God.  He cannot bring them that, only God can.  But as a servant of Christ God is using Jude to communicate to His people a message that, if received, will bring mercy, love and peace to them.