They Serve as an Example of Punishment – Jude 1:6-7

Genesis 6 describes earth in the days of Noah as being almost entirely godless, except for Noah and his family.  And during this time it speaks of the “sons of God” who desired the “daughters of men” and took whomever they chose.  Three views have predominated as to what Moses is speaking about: (1) angels, disobedient ones, who intermarried with humans and produced giants, (2) godly men who married ungodly women and produced rebellious men of renown, and (3) powerful rulers who developed large harems and produced rebellious men of renown.  “Sons of God” is a phrase that can be used of angels (Job 1), but it is difficult to believe that such spirit beings could mate with humans and produce offspring (they are two entirely different species).  The second view can make sense, that godly men were corrupted, but would that really be the fault of godless women only?  The third view makes the most sense to me.  It became typical of men with power to take multiple wives and to seek to build dynasties of rulership.  

But there was a popular view among the Jews, helped by a book, 1 Enoch, that was written around 300 BC, that the sons of God in Genesis 6 were angels.  Jude cites 1 Enoch in verse 14.  Other popular works (Sirach, the Damascus Document, the Testament of Naphtali) speak of the angels who departed their natural sphere in conjunction with the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah (as does Jude), so it seems likely that Jude is referring to Genesis 6 when he speaks of “angels who did not stay within their own position of authority” and that he alluding to them as having sexual relations with humans.  It doesn’t mean he endorsed this view, but that he certainly understood it spoke to the popular thinking of his readers [I’ll say more about this later].

And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 1:6–7, ESV)

Jude uses three examples of judgment, the Israelites in the wilderness (verse 5), the angels who violated their roles (verse 6), and Sodom and Gomorrah (verse 7), all of whom likewise perished under God’s judgment.  And Jude is comparing these situations to the judgment to come on the false teachers plaguing his readers.  It seems he is likely also comparing the sins committed by Israel, the angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah to the sins of these false teachers.

So, like Israel, these false teachers have rejected God’s authority, claiming to be believers but disobedient to God’s commands and thus proving themselves unbelievers who are worthy of punishment.  And like the angels who did not stay in their proper dwelling, they have strayed out of their “lane” and will be judged as those angels were.  Though Jude doesn’t directly mention the sexual sin of the angels, it is likely what he is referring to, and this fits with his segue or transition to Sodom and Gomorrah, who “likewise indulged in sexual immorality.”  Whether the false teachers were committing homosexual sin or not isn’t clear.

Sodom and Gomorrah are lumped in with the surrounding cities as engaging in sexual immorality and pursuing unnatural desire (“going after other flesh”).   Because the false teachers had rejected God’s authority (like Israel), and had strayed out of their proper dwelling (like the angels), they also gave way to their baser sexual instincts.

Thus their judgment is certain, just as was the judgments against Israel, the angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah.  The readers will not want to be associated with these false teachers given the judgment coming their way.  The lesson is the same for us.  We cannot endorse false teaching without expectation of the judgment that will come to false teaching.