Jude 1:3
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Beloved, 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. | Beloved, although I made every effort to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all to the saints. | Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedJude says he had been eager to write about the salvation all believers share. But false teachers had slipped into the church, so he felt he must write instead to urge the readers to fight for the faith handed down to them once for all. The next verse gives the reason: ungodly men were turning God's grace into an excuse for sin and denying the Lord. Jude 1:3Jude 1:4Jude overview
Commonly taken out of context
How it’s often usedQuoted to justify harsh, combative arguing with anyone who disagrees on any religious point.
In contextJude's target is men who turned grace into immorality and denied the Lord (1:4). In the same letter he notes that Michael did not bring a railing accusation against the devil (1:9). He also tells readers to show compassion and rescue others (1:22-23), so contending means guarding the core faith, not quarrelsome harshness. Jude 1:4Jude 1:9Jude 1:22Jude 1:23
SpeakingJude, who calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. Tradition identifies him as the Judas named among Jesus' brothers. Jude 1:1Jude overview
ToBelievers he calls beloved: those sanctified by God the Father, preserved in Jesus Christ, and called. The letter does not say where they lived. Jude 1:1Jude 1:3Jude overview
Also involvedThe false teachers who had crept in unnoticed. They turned grace into lasciviousness, meaning shameless immorality, and denied the Lord. Jude 1:4Jude overview
Jude changes his writing plan from a general letter on shared salvation to an urgent appeal. He urges believers to contend earnestly for the faith delivered once for all to God's people. Jude 1:3Strong's G1864Strong's G0530
Neither the place of writing nor the readers' location is stated. The letter's many references to Israel's history and Jewish tradition suggest readers who knew them well. Jude overview
The eventsThe verse describes a time when false teachers had already entered the church. The text gives no date for this. Jude 1:4Jude overview
WrittenTraditional view: about AD 65-80, by Jude the brother of James and of Jesus. Scholarly view: dates range from the 50s to the early second century, and some think a later follower wrote in Jude's name while others defend Jude's authorship. Jude overview
HereJude wants believers to guard the faith they received against men who were twisting grace into license and denying Christ. Jude 1:3Jude 1:4Jude overview
In the whole of ScriptureThis verse states the theme of the whole letter. Jude then gives examples of God's judgment (1:5-16) and ends by calling readers to build themselves up in their most holy faith and keep themselves in God's love (1:20-21). Jude overviewJude 1:20Jude 1:21
For readersOther Scripture also calls believers to stand for the faith. Paul urges 'striving together for the faith of the gospel' (Philippians 1:27) and says, 'I have kept the faith' (2 Timothy 4:7). Philippians 1:272 Timothy 4:71 Timothy 6:12
- earnestly contendἐπαγωνίζομαι
The lexicon defines it as to contend with, or to contend for, and lists Jude 3 for the sense 'contend for' a thing. Here the thing fought for is the faith. Strong's G1864Jude 1:3
- onceἅπαξ
In this verse the lexicon gives the sense 'once for all,' as in Hebrews 9:28 and 1 Peter 3:18. The faith was delivered fully, not in ongoing new installments. Strong's G0530
- deliveredπαραδίδωμι
It means to give or hand over to another. Romans 6:17 uses it of being delivered up to a course of teaching, which pictures the faith as something passed on. Strong's G3860
- commonκοινός
Here it means common in the sense of shared or general, not ordinary or unclean. The lexicon groups it with Titus 1:4, 'the common faith.' Strong's G2839HTitus 1:4
Takeaway
Jude calls believers to guard the shared faith they received once for all, especially against teaching that excuses sin. In the same letter he pairs that firmness with prayer, God's love and compassion. Jude 1:3Jude 1:4Jude 1:20Jude 1:21Jude 1:22
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-23.
The world around the text
About AD 65-80. Roman emperors: Nero, then Vespasian and Titus (AD 54-68, 69-79, 79-81).
Who ruled
- Roman emperorsNero, then Vespasian and TitusAD 54-68, 69-79, 79-81
Nero's death in AD 68 was followed by civil war. Vespasian, the general fighting in Judea, won the throne in AD 69, and his son Titus finished the war and later succeeded him. Suetonius, Vespasian 4-6Tacitus, Histories 1.2Josephus, Jewish War 4.588-604
- Jewish client kingHerod Agrippa IIc. AD 50-90s
Ruled territories north and east of Galilee under Rome. He tried to talk Jerusalem out of revolt in AD 66 and stayed on Rome's side. Acts 25:13Josephus, Jewish War 2.345-407
- Rulers of the provinceRoman governors of JudeaAD 44-66, then from AD 70
Judea was ruled by Roman governors until the revolt. After AD 70 it became a separate province with a Roman legion stationed in ruined Jerusalem. Josephus, Jewish War 2.271-308Josephus, Jewish War 7.1-5
What was happening, AD 62 to AD 81
- AD 62The churchJames, Jude's brother, is killed
The high priest Ananus had "James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ" stoned in Jerusalem. Jude names himself "brother of James." Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203Jude 1:1Galatians 1:19
- AD 64The churchNero blames the Christians for Rome's fire
After the Great Fire of Rome, Nero put a "vast multitude" of Christians to death. Tacitus, Annals 15.38-44
- AD 66WarThe Jewish revolt begins
Jerusalem rose against Rome after the governor Florus seized money from the temple treasury. Josephus, Jewish War 2.293-308, 2.409-410
- AD 68-69RulersThe Year of the Four Emperors
After Nero's suicide, Galba, Otho and Vitellius each seized power and fell within months, until Vespasian won. Tacitus, Histories 1.1-2Suetonius, Galba, Otho, Vitellius
- AD 70WarJerusalem and its temple destroyed
Titus took Jerusalem after a five-month siege and the temple was burned, as Jesus had foretold. Josephus, Jewish War 6.249-287Luke 19:41-44Luke 21:20-24
- AD 73 or 74WarThe fall of Masada
The last rebels held out on the desert fortress of Masada above the Dead Sea until a Roman siege ramp reached its walls. Josephus, Jewish War 7.252-406
- August AD 79DisasterVesuvius buries Pompeii
The eruption of Vesuvius buried Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy. Pliny the Younger, Letters 6.16, 6.20
- AD 80BuildingThe Colosseum opens
Titus opened the great amphitheater in Rome, built partly with spoils from the Jewish war. Suetonius, Titus 7.3Cassius Dio, Roman History 66.25
- c. AD 81-96The churchJude's grandsons before Domitian
An early church historian records that Domitian summoned two grandsons of Jude, "the brother of the Lord," as descendants of David. Finding them poor farmers with hard hands, he let them go. Eusebius, Church History 3.19-20 (citing Hegesippus)
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient writers on these years (Josephus, Tacitus, Suetonius, Eusebius) and on the Jewish writings Jude draws on. Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beloved, | Ἀγαπητοί, | Agapētoi | G0027 | belovedἀγαπητός (agapētos) ἀγαπητός, -ή, -όν (ἀγαπάω), [in LXX chiefly for יָתִיד, יָדִיד ;] beloved (see M, Pr., 221); (a) by God: of Christ, Mat.3:17; of men, Rom.1:7; (b) by Christians, of one another: 1Co.4:14; frequently as form of address, ib. 10:14; opposite to ἐχθρός, Rom.11:28 (see AR, Eph., 229; Cremer, 17; MM, VGT, see word). (AS) |
| all | πᾶσαν | pasan | G3956 | allπᾶς (pas) πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, genitive, παντός, πάσης, παντός, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] all, every. I. As adj., 1. with subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mat.3:10 4:23, Mrk.9:49, Luk.4:37, Jhn.2:1o, Act.27:20, Rom.7:8, Rev.18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Act.22:15, Rom.5:12, Heb.1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mat.28:18, Act.17:11, Phi 2:29, al.; also the whole (though in this sense more frequently with art.), Mat.2:3, Act.2:36, Rom.11:26. … |
| diligence | σπουδὴν | spoudēn | G4710 | diligenceσπουδή (spoudē) σπουδή, -ῆς, ἡ (σπεύδω), [in LXX chiefly for בָּהַל, its parts and derivatives ;] 1. haste, speed: μετὰ σ. (Wis.19:2), Mrk.6:25, Luk.1:39. 2. zeal, diligence, earnestness: Rom.12:11, 2Co.7:11-12 8:7-8; ἐν σ., Rom.12:8 (see M, Pr, 104); before ὑπέρ, 2Co.8:16; σπουδὴν ἐνδείκνυσθαι, Heb.6:11; σ. παρεισφέρειν, 2Pe.1:5; πᾶσαν σ. ποιεῖσθαι, Ju 3 (see MM, xxiii; M, Pr., 214; Deiss., BS, 361, 364).† (AS) |
| using | ποιούμενος | poioumenos | G4160G | to do/make: doποιέω (poieō) ποιέω, -ῶ, [in LXX for a great variety of words, but chiefly for עשׂה ;] 1. to make, produce, create, cause: with accusative of thing(s), Mat.17:4, Mrk.9:5, Jhn.9:11, Act.9:39, Rom.9:20, al.; of God as Creator (with accusative of person(s) also), Mat.19:4, Mrk.10:6, Luk.11:40, Act.4:24, Heb.1:2, al.; like Heb. עשׂה, absol. = ἐργάζομαι, to work, Mat.20:12 (cf. Rut.2:19; so AV, but see infr.), Rev.13:5, R, mg. (but see infr.); σκάνδαλα, Rom.16:17; εἰρεήνην, Eph.2:15, Jas.3:18; ἐπίστασιν, Act.24:12; συστροφήν, Act.23:12; with accusative of thing(s) and dative of person(s), Luk.1:68, Act.15:3; w … |
| to write | γράφειν | graphein | G1125 | to writeγράφω (graphō) γράφω, [in LXX chiefly for כּתב ]; 1. to scrape, graze (Hom.), and later (Hdt.) to sketch, draw. 2. to write; (a) of forming or tracing letters on writing material: Jhn.8:[6], Gal.6:11, 2Th.3:17; (b) to express in writing, commit to writing, record: Luk.1:63, Jhn.19:21, 22 Rev.1:11, 19 al.; of scripture as a standing authority (Deiss., BS, 112ff.), γέγραπται, it stands written (Luther), Mat.4:4, Mrk.7:6, Luk.4:8, Rom.1:17, 1Co.1:31, al.; id. before ἐν, Mrk.1:2, Act.1:20, al.; with accusative, to write of: Jhn.1:46, Rom.10:5; before περί, Mat.26:24, Mrk.14:21, Jhn.5:46; al.; with dative (WM … |
| to you | ὑμῖν | humin | G4771 | youσέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| concerning | περὶ | peri | G4012 | aboutπερί (peri) περί, prep. with genitive, accusative (in cl. also with dative; cf. M, Pr., 105f.), with radical sense round about (as distinct from ἀμφί, on both sides). I. C. genitive, 1. of place, about (poët.). … |
| shared | κοινῆς | koinēs | G2839H | common: unsanctifiedκοινός (koinos) κοινός, -ή, -όν [in LXX: Pro.1:14 (אֶחָד) Pro.21:9 25:24 (חֶבֶר), Wis.7:3, al. ;] 1. common (general; = Lat. communis): Act.2:44 4:32; κ. πίστις, Tit.1:4; σωτηρία, Ju 3 2. common (ordinary; = vulgaris); hence in LXX (1Ma.1:47, al.) and NT, unhallowed, unclean (cl., βέβηλος, which see): Mrk.7:2, 5, Act.10:14, 28 11:8, Rom.14:14, Heb.10:29, Rev.21:27.† (AS) |
| salvation, | σωτηρίας, | sōtērias | G4991 | salvationσωτηρία (sōtēria) σωτηρία, -ας, ἡ (σωτήρ), [in LXX for יֶשַׁע, יְשׁוּעָה, תְּשׁוּעָה, פְּלֵיטָה, etc. ;] deliverance, preservation, salvation, safety (Lat. salus): Act.7:25 27:34, Heb.11:7; ἐξ ἐχθρῶν, Luk.1:71. In NT esp. of Messianic and spiritual salvation (see: σώζω): Luk.19:9, Jhn.4:22, Act.4:12 13:47, Rom.11:11, 2Th.2:13, 2Ti.3:15, Heb.2:3 6:9, 2Pe.3:15, Ju 3; opposite to ἀπηώλεια, Php.1:28; αἰώνιος-., Heb.5:9; ὁ λόγος (τὸ εὐαγγέλιον) τῆς σ., Act.13:26, Eph.1:13; ὁδὸς σωτηρίας, Act.16:17; κέρας σωτηρίας, Luk.1:69; ἡμέρα σωτηρίας, 2Co.6:2 (LXX); κατεργάζεσθαι τὴν ἑαυτοῦ σ., Php.2:12; κληρονομεῖν σ., Heb.1: … |
| necessity | ἀνάγκην | anagkēn | G0318 | necessityἀνάγκη (anagkē) ἀνάγκη, -ης, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for מָצוֹק, צַר ;] 1. necessity: ἔχειν ἀ-, with inf., to be compelled, Luk.14:18 23:17 (Rec., R, mg.), 1Co.7:37, Ju 3, Heb.7:27; ἐξ ἀ., κατ᾽ ἀ., of necessity, 2Co.9:7, Heb.7:12, Phm 14; ἀ. μοι ἐπίκειται, n. is laid on me, 1Co.9:16; with inf. (= ἀναγκαῖον ἐστι), Mat.18:7, Rom.13:5, Heb.9:16, 23 2. force, violence, hence pain, distress (Diod., al.; LXX; see M, Th., 41; MM, VGT, see word; cf. θλίψις): Luk.21:23, 1Co.7:26, 1Th.3:7; pl. (see B1., § 32, 6; Swete, Mk., 153), ἐν ἀ., 2Co.6:4 12:10.† (AS) |
| I had | ἔσχον | eschon | G2192 | to have/beἔχω (echō) ἔχω, [in LXX for אָצֵל (ἐχόμενος), יֵשׁ,בַּעַל, etc., 59 words in all ;] (on the Aktionsart of the various tenses, see M, Pr., 110, 145, 150, 183), to have, as in cl., in various senses and constructions. I. Trans.; 1. 1. to have, hold, hold fast, etc.; (a) to hold, as, in the hand: Rev.5:8 14:6, al.; ἐν τ. χειρί, Rev.1:16 10:2, al.; (b) of arms and clothing, = φέρω, φορέω, to bear, wear: Mat.3:4 22:12, al.; so frequently present ptcp. (LS, see word, A, I, 6; Bl., 74, 2), Mrk.11:13, Jhn.18:10, Rev.9:17, al.; (with) of a woman, ἐν γαστρὶ ἔ, to be with child: Mrk.13:17, Rom.9:10; … |
| to write | γράψαι | grapsai | G1125 | to writeγράφω (graphō) γράφω, [in LXX chiefly for כּתב ]; 1. to scrape, graze (Hom.), and later (Hdt.) to sketch, draw. 2. to write; (a) of forming or tracing letters on writing material: Jhn.8:[6], Gal.6:11, 2Th.3:17; (b) to express in writing, commit to writing, record: Luk.1:63, Jhn.19:21, 22 Rev.1:11, 19 al.; of scripture as a standing authority (Deiss., BS, 112ff.), γέγραπται, it stands written (Luther), Mat.4:4, Mrk.7:6, Luk.4:8, Rom.1:17, 1Co.1:31, al.; id. before ἐν, Mrk.1:2, Act.1:20, al.; with accusative, to write of: Jhn.1:46, Rom.10:5; before περί, Mat.26:24, Mrk.14:21, Jhn.5:46; al.; with dative (WM … |
| to you | ὑμῖν | humin | G4771 | youσέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| exhorting [you] | παρακαλῶν | parakalōn | G3870 | to plead/comfortπαρακαλέω (parakaleō) παρακαλέω, -ῶ, [in LXX chiefly for נחם ni., pi. ;] 1. to call to one, call for, summon: Act.28:20 (R, mg.; R, txt., entreat); hence (of the gods: Dem., Xen., al.), to invoke, call on, beseech, entreat: τ. πατέρα μου, Mat.26:53; τ. κύριον, 2Co.12:8; in late writers (Polyb., Diod., al.; rarely in LXX; in π., see Deiss., LAE, 176.14), also of men: absol., Phm 9; with accusative, Mat.8:5, Mrk.1:40, Act.16:9, al.; with inf., Mrk.5:17, Luk.8:41, Act.8:31, al.; before ἵνα (see M, Pr., 205, 208), Mt 14"36, Mrk.5:18, Luk.8:31, al. … |
| to contend earnestly | ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι | epagōnizesthai | G1864 | to contendἐπαγωνίζομαι (epagōnizomai) ἐπ-αγωνίζομαι depon.; 1. to contend with (Plut.). 2. to contend for (C.I., 2335, 19): with dative of thing(s), Ju 3.† (AS) |
| once for all | ἅπαξ | hapax | G0530 | onceἅπαξ (hapax) ἅπαξ adv., [in LXX for אֶחָד, פַּעַם ;] (a) once: 2Co.11:25, Heb_9:26-27; ἔτι ἅ., Heb.12:26-27; ἅ. τ. ἐνιαυτοῦ, Heb.9:7; καί ἅ. κ. δίς, twice: Php.4:16, 1Th.2:18; (b) once for all: Heb.6:4 9:28 10:2, 1Pe.3:18, Ju 3 5 (MM, VGT, see word).† (AS) |
| having been delivered | παραδοθείσῃ | paradotheisē | G3860 | to deliverπαραδίδωμι (paradidōmi) παρα-δίδωμι, [in LXX chiefly for נתן ;] correl. to παρδέχομαι, 1. to give or hand over to another: with accusative and dative, Mat.11:27 25:14, Luk.4:6, al.; of being delivered up to a course of teaching, pass. before εἰς, Rom.6:17. 2. to commit, commend: Act.14:26 15:40, 1Pe.2:23. … |
| saints | ἁγίοις | hagiois | G0040H | holyἅγιος (hagios) ἅγιος, -α, ον (τό ἅγός, religious awe; ἅζω, to venerate), [in LXX chiefly for קֹ֫דֶשׁ ;] primarily, dedicated to the gods, sacred (Hdt.; rare in Att., never in Hom., Hes. and Trag., who use ἁγνός), hence, holy, characteristic of God, separated to God, worthy of veneration. 1. Its highest application is to God himself, in his purity, majesty, and glory: Luk.1:49, Jhn.17:11, Rev.4:8. Hence (a) of things and places which have a claim to reverence as sacred to God, e.g. the Temple: Mat.24:15, Heb.9:1; (b) of persons employed by him, as angels: 1Th.3:13; prophets, Luk.1:70; apostles, Eph.3:5. … |
| faith. | πίστει. | pistei | G4102G | faithπίστις (pistis) πίστις, -εως, ἡ (πείθω), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמוּנָה ;] 1. in active sense, faith, belief, trust, confidence, in NT always of religious faith in God or Christ or spiritual things: Mat.8:10, Luk.5:20, Act.14:9, Rom.1:8, 1Co.2:5, 2Co.1:24, 1Ti.1:5, al.; with genitive obj., Mrk.11:22, Act.3:16, Rom.3:22, Gal.2:16, Eph.3:12, Jas.2:1, al.; with prep., ἐν, Rom.3:25, Gal.3:26, Eph.1:15, Col.1:24, 1Ti.1:14 3:13, 2Ti.1:13 3:15, 2Pe.1:1; εἰς, Act.20:21 24:24 26:18, Col.2:5, 1Pe.1:21; πρός, 1Th.1:8, Phm 5; ἐπί, with accusative Heb.6:1; ἐν τῇ π. στήκειν (εἶναι, μένειν), 1Co.16:13, 1Co.13:5, 1Ti.2:15; ὑ … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.