Jude 1
King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context
About this chapter
AI-assisted, sourcedJude had given "all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation," and found it "needful" to exhort his readers to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints," because ungodly men had "crept in unawares," turning God's grace into lasciviousness. He reminds them how God judged unbelieving Israel, the angels who left their place, and Sodom and Gomorrha, and calls them to keep themselves in the love of God. Jude 1:3Jude 1:4Jude 1:5Jude 1:6Jude 1:7Jude 1:21
Who, where, when, and the key verses
Who
"Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James," writes to those "sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called." The letter is about "certain men crept in unawares." Jude 1:1Jude 1:4Jude overview
Where
When
Traditionally about AD 65-80. Scholars' dates range from the 50s to the early second century. Jude overview
How it fits
This is a one-chapter letter. Much of it is closely paralleled in 2 Peter 2, which also speaks of false teachers who deny the Lord. Jude overview2 Peter 2:12 Peter 2:4
Key verses
- Verse 3
Believers are to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints": the faith is given, not invented. Jude 1:3
- Verse 4
The intruders turn "the grace of our God into lasciviousness" and deny "the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." Grace is never a license for sin. Jude 1:4
- Verse 21
"Keep yourselves in the love of God," and the letter ends praising "him that is able to keep you from falling." Jude 1:20Jude 1:21Jude 1:24
Takeaway
Hold to the faith once delivered, build yourself up in it and in prayer, have compassion on some and pull others "out of the fire," and trust God, who is able to keep you from falling. Jude 1:3Jude 1:20Jude 1:21Jude 1:22Jude 1:23Jude 1:24
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-29.
Greeting
1Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: 2Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
Contend for the faith
3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4For 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.
Examples of judgment
5I 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. 6And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 7Even 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.
The ungodly described
8Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 10But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11Woe 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. 12These 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; 13Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. 14And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15To 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 him. 16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
Remember, build up, keep yourselves
17But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
To him that is able to keep you
24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.