[K:JNWTS 26/3 (2011):3-15]

John Calvin’s 1542 Exposition of Jude

Introduction

We publish here the first English translation of a small 1542 work by John Calvin. Exposition svr l’epitre de sainct Ivdas apostre de nostre Seigneur Iesus Christ appeared as a running exposition on this catholic epistle with this byline: composée par M. Iean Caluin. The title page bears a drawing of a hand holding a sword, from the tip of which proceeds flaming fire. Above and below the drawing are printed Matth. X and Lvc. XII respectively. To the left of the flaming sword is a quotation from Matthew 10:34: “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” To the right of the sword is a citation from Luke 12:49: “I have come to bring fire on the earth.” A photocopy of the original was graciously provided for us by Marianne Tsioli, Librarian of the Sté du Musée historique de la Réformation et Bibliothèque Calvinienne (Universite de Genève). Our translation is based upon this primary text. In the Corpus Reformatorum, the work is entitled Commentaire sur l’epitre de Iude (1542), where it is located in volume 55:505-516.[1] We have compared the 1542 text with this 19th century reprint. The difference between the original and the CR reprint includes: minor variations in spelling and vocabulary (none of which affect the meaning of the text or the translation);[2] an additional two pages containing a paragraph of Jerome’s remarks on the epistle of Jude as well as L’argument Grec (rendered in our translation below).

The work remains shrouded in mystery—not a mystery of exposition (Calvin is very clear on what the epistle warns and teaches), but a mystery of origin. That it was published in 1542 places it in the first year after the return of the exile. Banished from Geneva in 1538, Calvin made his way to Strasbourg where Martin Bucer prevailed upon him to become pastor of a band of French-speaking refugees. Calvin called the days of this pastorate (and his sojourn with Bucer) the happiest of his life—not the least for the wife he gained from the excursion. When he returned to Geneva with fear and trembling in 1541[3], he set out to reform the church in the city. The first order of business was the Les Ordonnances ecclésiastiques. Approved in November,[4] the “church order” was the foundation of Calvin’s settled and permanent residence in the city as well as the inauguration (but not the consummation) at last of that for which he had been expelled three years prior. The exposition of Jude appeared the following year along with four other works.[5] There is no indication of the month in which it was published and, in fact, virtually nothing is known of the circumstances which led to its publication. Jean-François Gilmont suggests “perhaps” the work (along with the Exposition sur l’Epistre . . . aux Romains which appeared in 1543) was a pamphlet for spiritual nurture to the “francophone” population of Geneva (hence, the French vernacular).[6] Gilmont further speculates that the pages on Jude were sermonic material adapted for publication.[7] Thus, we might surmise that the material on which the work is based was delivered from the pulpit of San Pierre on Calvin’s return. While this guess is as good as any, one may also wonder if, in fact, this exposition was part of the weekly congrégations. These Friday morning meetings proceeded with Bible exposition in the famed lectio continua. And, significantly, the language of these early morning conferences was French.[8] Absent any primary document which explains Calvin’s publication of the Exposition, we may speculate that it may have originated in the small circle of Friday morning presentations and was printed for the sake of a broader French-speaking Geneva audience.

Nor does the internal evidence from the work itself betray a solution to our mystery. Calvin is his usual direct, textual and trenchant expository self. The turmoil reflected in the community to which Jude writes may as well be a cameo of Geneva and the other cities of the Reformation struggling against popish superstition and persecution. In between are the “clouds without water”, erstwhile fellow travelers who bedevil any emerging evangelical witness. This is certainly an auspicious reminder for a city which had cast Calvin out for attempting precisely some of the reforms to which Jude alerts his readers. On his return, a gentle reminder, penned in the native lingua franca, from the former outcast may have been deemed salient as well as timely. In any event, this suggestion has as much an air of plausibility as any other (absent a primary document to argue otherwise).

Calvin also composed a Latin commentary on the epistle of Jude which appeared in 1551.[9] While the commentary on the epistle of James originated in the Friday congregations, there is no indication that the commentaries on the following catholic epistles (1 and 2 Peter, 1 John and Jude) originated in like manner.[10] Reading through the commentary on Jude provides no historical or contextual reflection on events in Geneva or Calvin’s life. He is chary about personal anecdotes, socio-political turmoil, etc. and sticks to the Biblical text. This generalism may leave us without any clues to the date or venue of the commentary (perhaps it simply arose out of his personal study!) or the exposition, but it certainly makes the apostle’s words more broadly relevant to the church in all ages, without excluding the church in Geneva in the 1540s or 1550s. In truth, that is why Calvin is still read by the church today—he allows the Word of God to draw believers of every age into its drama.

We return to a catalogue of the events of 1542. Plague struck Geneva in the Fall of that year, but our “exposition” reflects no such calamity.[11] Does this imply that it pre-dates the Fall of 1542? Nor is there any allusion to the 1542 publication of an enlarged catechism for Geneva (now in the form of question and answer).[12] Neither does Calvin mention the 1541 French translation of his 1539 version of the Institutes.[13] Albert Pighius would attack that work in the summer of 1542, but aside from generalities about heretics and disturbers of the church of Jesus Christ, no specific link between statements in the exposition and the pig-headed Albert may be found.[14] A small band of Italian refugees were receiving preaching from their countryman, Bernard Ochino, beginning in October 1542. They were using the Chapel of the Cardinal of Ostia in San Pierre (today, the Chapelle des Macchabées). But there is no hint of the insinuation of heresy in this tiny group, as will occur a dozen years later following the execution of Michael Servetus.[15] 1542 marks the inception of Calvin’s difficulties with Sebastian Castellio.[16] However, again no reflection of this brouhaha appears to be reflected in the exposition. Calvin was, in fact, patient and kind to Castellio, but (as is the case with most agenda-driven hardheads when they do not get their way) the childish (and ?paranoid) Castellio pouted and left Geneva determined to reek vengeance on his supposed nemesis. Nor do Calvin’s letters from this period shed any light on the context of the writing and publication of the exposition.[17]

So after all is said and done, we still are no closer to solving the mystery of the historical context of this small work. But the work itself may now be read and digested by an English speaking audience for the first time. Surely, that is progress in Calviniana.

EXPOSITION OF THE EPISTLE OF SAINT JUDE,
APOSTLE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Argument of the Epistle of Saint Jude.

Jude writes as the necessity of the times requires, admonishing all the churches in general—those which had already received the gospel of our Lord—to keep themselves from any seducers who work to turn the hearts of simple people from the true knowledge of God and of His truth.  And to the extent that it can be determined, they endeavor to engender a restriction in the justice of God and to reverse the beginnings of the gospel which had been beforehand formulated and established by the disciples of Jesus Christ.  Now if such an admonition had been appropriate and suitable for that age, we know that the admonition is more than necessary today, if we consider what the state of the church is and by what attacks she is assailed.

Exposition of the Epistle of Saint Jude, Apostle.

The Only Chapter

(1) Jude, servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the elect[19], who are sanctified by God and kept by Jesus Christ, (2) mercy, peace, and[20] love be increased to you.

Jude terms himself a “servant of Jesus Christ” to claim through his vocation that he is doing his duty in teaching and admonishing them concerning what they have to do; in order that it will not seem that he is aggrandizing more authority and freedom to speak to the churches than belongs to him.  Likewise, in this expression is contained a protest that he does not want to praise either his name or any creature, but only the Lord Jesus.  Jude mentions the name of his brother, James, in order to give them more information by this identification and to better win the hearts of the faithful to listen to his doctrine.  He does not try to take or seek his glory in the flesh, but writes in order that all good creatures may serve the honor of God.

At the beginning, he declares what are the fruits of the eternal election of God in those He eternally preordained to salvation. It is that they “are sanctified” in communion with the holiness of God which is bestowed on them by His Spirit.  And they are preserved by Jesus, for He is our pastor and guide to whom we have been entrusted by the Father, in order that we may be preserved by His protection, so that sin, death, and the devil cannot harm us.

All the benefits which we could desire are included in this entreaty which he provides.  For there is, first of all, the “mercy” of God which is His good will towards us, by which we are reconciled to Him, having Him as our Father and being made participants in His Kingdom as His well-loved[21] children.  From that follows “peace”, which signifies all our prosperity, in order that, of all which we need, we lack nothing. Finally, mentioned in the third place, “love” is required to govern our lives well and with holiness toward our neighbor.  Now it is necessary that all these things be multiplied, showing it is our duty to grow in our Lord all the days of our lives, until we have completed our course.

(3) Beloved[22], because of the desire that I have to write to you about our common salvation, it is necessary for me to write to you, by exhorting you to strive to persevere in the faith, which has been once delivered to the saints.

Because of its difficulty, this passage can receive diverse interpretations.  Nevertheless, nothing is more certain than that it appears to counteract the following wrong-headed reasoning: though the reader faces present temptations, he thinks it expedient to resist them.  The sense, therefore, will be as follows, according to our understanding:  “Because of the great solicitude in my heart to admonish you concerning all that is related to the salvation of you all, it is necessary for me now that I write you, that I exhort you to perseverance, which is to say, that you must apply yourselves to studying and employing all your strength to be confirmed in the faith, the one the Lord delivered to His own once for all, in order that you never deviate from it.”  That is how a servant of God should stir up and encourage the faithful to constant battle, when he sees the devil appear among them to oppress them.

(4) For certain men have pushed themselves forward, who for a long time have been preordained to such a condemnation, ungodly people who have turned the grace of our God into dissolution and renounced God, our only ruler, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

This verse gives the reason why the faithful have a greater need to battle harder than ever, for they have been assailed by the temptations which follow.  For these are serious and dangerous pests in the Church, people of perverse lifestyle and false doctrine; principally those contemptuous of all religion, as the apostle writes of them here.  For he lays the charge against them that they transform the grace of God into dissolution; that is to say, that they have abused the grace of God and the liberty which He has given to our consciences, leading to insolence and free license to do evil.  They are people without piety; in other words, they do not fear God.  Finally, having renounced the rule of the one only God, they no longer recognize as a result whom we should serve and to whom, as the just judge, we will give account for our lives.  And they have also rejected the yoke of Christ who has been established as Lord and Master over us.  He says, in addition, that they have for a long time beforehand been predestinated to such an error, because our Lord has preordained the certain ruin of all those who do not obey His holy gospel; and, in His eternal, determined judgment, that will be the result of their perversity and malice.

(5) Now I want to prompt you to remember what you once knew, that the Lord, having delivered the people from Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe.

In order to encourage them to fear the judgment of God so that they do not abandon, even slightly, the grace which has been given to them, Jude offers the example of the people of Israel. For their deliverance, what great works and miracles our Lord performed! However, he did not fail to punish their rebellion and unbelief.  His retribution was even more grievous because such a benefit profited him nothing, for they were to maintain the honor of God and to glorify Him, as is His due. The punishments which the Lord imposed in the desert are summarized in the tenth chapter of First Corinthians[23].

(6) And the angels who did not keep their original position, but who left their home, he has put under guard in obscurity and with eternal chains until the judgment of the great day.

As Jude had shown earlier, if the Lord did not pardon His people of Israel, whom He had chosen from among all the nations of the earth, He will as well not pardon us if we pursue similar iniquity.  Now he gives another, greater reason, for He has also not spared His own unchaste angels who had degenerated from their good nature in which they had been created.  So He expelled them from His kingdom, casting them into miserable captivity, until the great day will come when they will receive their final sentence.  Where we have translated the word as “position”, the Greek word is of uncertain meaning, so that others read “principality”.  But the first translation is the best for our present purpose because Jude wants to admonish the people not to diverge from the straight path.

(7) As Sodom and Gomorrah and the five neighboring cities to them, having lived   in similar debauchery and having been overrun by those seeking strange flesh,   have been left as an example, having received the judgment of eternal fire; (8) likewise, these who are dreamers also defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of those in power. 

He is saying that Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring cities, because of the horrible confusion which came upon these cities, are examples of an amazing judgment of God.  A similar judgment will indeed come upon those of whom Jude speaks, those whose works are no less damnable than theirs, so much so that their ruin will in no way be lighter than that which we read in Genesis about those cities[24]. By “strange flesh”, he means the confused and strange cupidities which stained these people, for they strayed beyond the limits of nature to obey their brutal sensuality.  When he says that they had received “the judgment of eternal fire”, he shows that the sudden fire which fell from the sky on them was nothing other than an external manifestation of spiritual fire, which will never be extinguished.  One sees in this passage a portion of the faults of these unfortunate individuals who corrupted the church of that time; for he says that they were adrift in dreams, signifying that they were in every way driven and carried about by their carnal affection, as the spirit of the sleeper is stained and troubled by what he dreams, so much so that he has no reason to flee from his agitation.  Secondly, Jude argues that they sullied themselves[25] by abominations which he prefers to simply note rather than explain.  Finally, they defamed the powers and authorities which the Lord has ordained to govern human affairs, wishing to introduce confusion, so that one can no longer discern good from evil.

(9) Now the archangel Michael, when he contended with the devil, disputing over    the body of Moses, did not dare bring a judgment of malediction against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”  (10) But these people speak evil of the things they do not know and they naturally, like brute beasts, approve them.

It is very true that this story has not been extracted from any book of Scripture, from any version which we still have in use today.  Perhaps this story was so often told among the Jewish people from mouth to mouth that it had become a commonplace.  It is true that there is inscripturated in Deuteronomy chapter 34[26], the fact that Moses was buried by the Lord in a valley in the land of Moab, and his sepulcher was known to no human being.  One can judge that what was done (as the matter itself clearly shows) was from fear that the Jews honored Moses so much that they would treat his body as an idol.  Based on that belief comes, therefore, the combat of the Angel of the Lord with the devil, the latter trying[27] to insinuate that Moses’ body could indeed be found, and therefore, Israel could worship it against God’s will. Now Jude says that, in this combat, Michael never wanted to pronounce a judgment of malediction against the devil; that is to say, to pronounce a word of execration against him which would recognize him to be a creature of God.  In this manner, Michael simply imposed silence on the devil in the name of the Lord.  In contrast, Jude says that in those of such temerity that they do not pardon another creature, how clear it is that they know nothing to say in response.  And they have no pleasure in anything else, unless it is in those who, from their natural understanding, without reason and intelligence, comprehend neither more nor less than the brute beasts; who are all mixed up by their carnal affections, more especially, that they have no other sentiment than these.  In what Jude says (that they[28] have corrupted themselves), it is necessary to note that in all that man comprehends in his carnality, there is nothing but corruption.

(11) Woe to them[29]! They have run in the way of Cain, they have abandoned themselves to the error of the house of Balaam, and they perished in the rebellion of Korah.

In order that no one be so foolish as to join with such people, Jude declares what will be the end of them: that is to say, condemnation, which he proves by citing the example of those who have been their imitators.  For as Cain (thus it is written in the second [sic!] chapter of Genesis[30]), being envious of his brother’s acceptance by God, murdered him, so these unfortunates, displeased that the faithful serve as holy and innocent in life before their God, perversely try to murder their souls.

Likewise, as Balaam was content for money to reverse the benedictions of God and to destroy the people of God (as we read in the twelfth [sic!] chapter of Numbers[31]), similarly, for their hunger and lust, they desire in their malice to scatter the church of God and to cause it to fall and be ruined in malediction; so much so that to do it, they are brimming over without limit, as if with a loose bridle no longer keeping them in check.

Likewise, Korah, with Dathan and Abiram (as appears in the sixteenth chapter of Numbers[32]) created a revolt against Moses in order to deprive him of his ministry and office, to which he had been consecrated by God; in doing so, they rebelled against God.  Similarly, those who resist and create rebellion against all the servants of God and ministers of the gospel are really against Jesus Christ, who is the leader and head of all.  Now if none of those were left unpunished, not failing to undergo horrible vengeance from God, as the Scriptures testify, one should not think that those who do the same will escape from the hand of this great Judge.

(12) They are stains on your banquets, eating hungrily, satisfying[33] themselves[34]; clouds without rain, carried here and there by the winds; unfruitful trees of autumn, twice dead and uprooted; (13) rough waves of the sea, foaming their own shame; wandering stars, for whom is reserved the darkness of eternal gloom.

Now by several similitudes, Jude demonstrates how much poverty and wretchedness there is among them.  Firstly, he remonstrates that their “banquets”, where they assembled themselves, were stained and contaminated by people so depraved that his readers had to understand that they must reject their company.  And he gives the reason: they will try to hide their gluttony while eating in a dissolute manner and without any modesty.  At this point, it is noteworthy that the Christians, outside the Holy Supper, enjoyed certain banquets where they assembled for charitable purposes.  Mainly, these meals were for the indigent who could be brought in and cared for.  Otherwise, it would have been a damnable life for such rogues to have no other care than for their own[35] meals, not thinking of the poor for whom one should have the greater concern.

In addition, Jude compares them to “clouds without rain”, which aimlessly disturb the air, keeping people forever in suspense as they wait for rain; in this expression, he demonstrates their futility.  And he even goes further[36] with the picture of the winds “here and there” underlining their changeableness and fickleness.

Secondly, Jude compares them to the “trees of autumn”, after the gathering of the fruit, when they have nothing but leaves and these ready to fall off very quickly[37]. Nevertheless, he provides next a dissimilitude, which is that the trees in the spring recommence to turn green and bear fruit.  However, there is no more hope of fruit in these than in those stripped of everything and also doubly dried out by various frosts and other[38] problems and completely “uprooted”.

Thirdly, these people are like “waves of the sea”, pushed impetuously by the wind.  For as the winds make the water wild[39] and troubled and foaming, in the same way these people, in all their impetuosity by which they wish to break others, ruin themselves[40]; for they all collapse into confusion.

Finally, these people are like “wandering stars”.  For they are not settled in a certain position as the other stars are, but have their own spheres which they circle.  Also, they do not settle anywhere, but are swayed by diverse opinions.  The conclusion is that in the end, a grievous eternal condemnation awaits them.

(14) Also Enoch, the seventh man after Adam, prophesied about them saying:“Behold, the Lord has come, with thousands of His saints, (15) to enter judgment against all of them, to convince the unbelieving among them of their evil actions, which they have sinfully committed and of all the wrong words which they have spoken against Him.”

Although this sentence has not been preserved until today, nonetheless we should take this sentence as good and holy, without tormenting ourselves a lot about the matter.  For it is possible that there was never a specific book written by Enoch, but that, seeing the malice of men who had risen to the top, Enoch was forced to proclaim to them the following vengeance—a denunciation which had been known among the people of Israel as worthy of remembrance.  Now the apostle says that this denunciation can be applied accurately to those who, more than the others, provoke the ire of God by their sins, as much by their actions as by their words.  This judgment of God, which is spoken of here, will be commenced in this world in the form of all the punishments which God brings upon the sinful; however, it will not be perfectly accomplished until the manifestation of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ at the last day.  For then, He will come in power with His angels in order to give to each one what his works deserve.  Thousands of angels are mentioned here, as in Daniel chapter 7[41] and the 68th Psalm[42]. Where we have translated “unbelieving”, the Greek word signifies those who in their hearts have no reverence for the majesty of God.

(16) These are grumblers, disputers, walking according to their lusts, whose mouth speaks haughty things, admiring appearances because of the possibility of gain.

Again, Jude marks them out more obviously and discourses further concerning their vices in order that nobody should be kept in ignorance.  He calls them “grumblers”, from which it follows that the Christian must avoid grumbling and evil reports which can produce discord and incite debates or ill will among men.  Next, he says that they are “disputers”, which proceeds from arrogance and impatience of spirit: when one can endure nothing from his neighbor, the complaints and quarrels have no end. The third description is that they walk “according to their lusts”; that is to say, that they are given over to an affection for their flesh, which the Christian must renounce in order to accommodate himself to the will of God and that of his neighbor.  Then, he notes their haughtiness in the words that these people cannot hide the pride in their hearts, always glorifying themselves and boasting, putting others down.  Finally, flattery—for they applaud those with status among men in order to take from their substance, despising the poor and humble from whom they have no hope of gain.

(17) But you, beloved[43], be remembering the words which have been preached to you by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, (18) that they have told you that, in the last times, there will be mockers walking according to their ungodly lusts.

So that they will not be troubled seeing such pests bearing the name of Jesus Christ and so that they not lose courage as a result, Jude brings to their minds how the apostles of our Lord had warned the faithful about them.  This warning they can take as the substance of their consolation and strengthening, so that they do not fail to persevere in their calling.  He specifies (as is the practice in the Scriptures) that “the last times” commenced when we began to await the resurrection and the final coming of the Lord, which is the whole period of the New Testament.  Because all things have been[44] accomplished, we do not await new prophecies nor revelation until the time when the Lord will show Himself to His own people face-to-face.  He calls “mockers” those who condemn the judgments of God, so that they make them into a game and a farce, as do those who ask, “Where is the day of the Lord?[45]” That about which the apostles admonished these people can be seen in part in the epistles to Timothy[46] and Second Peter[47] and other passages.  Here, Jude speaks much more of the spoken admonitions, but there is no doubt that they are similar to those which they had received in writing.

(19) These are creating divisions, sensual and without the Spirit.

Jude gives them more pressing injunctions in order that they keep themselves from these corruptors.  He says that they also work to create separations which is a characteristic of false prophets.  For their main goal is to break the union that Jesus Christ has desired among His members.  So he calls them “sensual and without the Spirit”, which is consistent with what he has said above; for he means that there is nothing in them of spiritual regeneration, by which we enter into the Kingdom of God, having nothing of the depraved and corrupted human nature.

(20) But you, beloved[48], you are building up yourselves in your very holy faith, offering prayers by the Holy Spirit, (21) keeping yourselves in the love of God, awaiting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ in eternal life.

After having warned them enough of the evils from which they must keep themselves, Jude shows them the remedies that they should use in order to be able to guarantee it.  First, he teaches them to grow always more and more in the faith where they had their foundation (which he calls “very holy”) making them understand that all those who hold fast to it will have a very certain support and assurance of salvation.  But because that is not a virtuous human work, he commands them afterward to look to God, by whom, when we are strengthened in His virtue, we work virtuously. Now he wants their prayers to be offered through the Holy Spirit, for our understanding cannot attain to asking what is according to God, if the Spirit of God Himself does not help our infirmity (about which more is amply written in Romans the eighth chapter[49]). Finally, he shows them what the end of these things is—that in hope and patience, they await the mercy of the Lord; for the natural man only looks at present things, believing that there is no other life nor felicity than what can be seen with the eye.  Nevertheless, he surrounds himself with the delicacies of this world as the pig wallows in the mud.  Therefore, the faithful need to exert themselves to await the last day, when all things will be reduced to their proper estate.  It is good to note that Jude does not propose any foundation nor[50] expectation for eternal life other than through the mercy of the Lord, in order that all the imagined worthiness of our works may be beaten down and all glory given to His mercy.

(22) And receive some with pity, judging them, (23) the others save with fear, rescuing them from the fire, detesting even the garment contaminated by the flesh.

Jude further instructs them that it is not enough to avoid the way of death and perdition themselves, in order to serve God with purity and holiness[51], if they do not also work to win others (those whom they perceive to be estranged) and to enlighten them as to our Lord.  However, he exhorts them to so flee and avoid this perverse nation; that they should be at pains to drive them to a better life and this in diverse ways according to what they will see to be expedient.  Since some want to be led by gentleness and kindness and others by greater severity and rigor, it is necessary that we be prudent in order to accommodate such a diversity of spirits.  He says, then, that towards those whom we will perceive to be the most docile, we will greatly moderate our sharp condemnation so that we will treat them with mercy. But for those who have been hardened, we will use the fear of the judgment of God.  For we must act towards them as if we were pulling them from a fire that was burning them, which cannot be done without violent effort.  However, he wants us to be displeased with the vices which surround them, which he calls a “garment” according to the common usage of the Scripture—equating the “wrapping” in garments with the “enwrapping” by sin.

(24) Now, to the one who can keep them without stumbling and make them blameless before His glory with rejoicing, (25) who is the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for all ages.  Amen.

As he began his epistle with several prayers, recognizing God to be the one from whom every good thing must be asked, now Jude also magnifies God’s grandeur as the one who is uniquely worthy to be magnified.  He again interjects[52] the principle by which we can best be advocates for salvation, which is to recommend them to God, who alone has the power to regenerate unto faith in order to correct them.  The goal is to bring them to appear before His majesty and judicial throne without blemish but with joy and rejoicing, which will then be poured out on all His servants, as it is written.  Now Jude desires that all “glory and majesty” be attributed to God; not that He does not already have them without us and even against the will of His enemies, but because we must all desire that everyone recognize Him as He is, to render to Him the praise that He rightly deserves.

End of the exposition of Saint Jude.

So that these pages remain useful, it seemed to us strongly advisable to add what saint Jerome said about saint Jude in the book which he entitled, The Catalogue of the Ecclesiastical Doctors, with the Greek Argument.  So saint Jerome speaks as follows.

Jude, brother of James, has left us a very brief epistle, which is numbered among the seven Catholic Epistles. Now concerning the testimony of the Book of Enoch here, which is apocryphal, none having accepted it—nevertheless, it has become authoritative in the Church from the earliest times and has always been in use.  As such, it is considered to be a part of Holy Scripture.[53]

The Greek Argument.

Jude writes this epistle to those who said they had believed.  Now the argument is as follows.  Since none by subtlety had gained an advantage, and faith was considered to be of no efficacy by some who in this way had renounced the Lord, necessity had forced Jude to write in order to reassure the brothers.  First then, he exhorts them to battle for and persevere in the faith that was given to them.  Then, after he condemns the way of life of certain people (such as liars) forbidding the faithful to have any communication with them, he remonstrates with them that it is not sufficient that we have been called, if we do not walk in a worthy manner, as our vocation requires.  He gives examples, firstly, of the people of Israel, whom God destroyed after having delivered them from Egypt—as many as had not persisted in the faith.  Secondly, he gives the parallel example of the angels whom He had not pardoned because they did not remain in the state in which they had been placed.  Thereby, he concludes that it is necessary to separate from such people, teaching that such ruin as that which fell upon Sodom will come upon them.  Then he exhorts the faithful to good morals.  In conclusion, Jude prays that God would be willing to give them firmness of faith and closes his epistle[54].

The End