The Epistle of St. Jude
CHAPTER 1 [There is but one chapter]
He exhorts them to stand to the faith first delivered to them and to beware of heretics.
[1] Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James: to them that are beloved in God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called. [2] Mercy unto you, and peace, and charity be fulfilled. [3] Dearly beloved, taking all care to write unto you concerning your common salvation, I was under a necessity to write unto you: to beseech you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. [4] For certain men are secretly entered in, (who were written of long ago unto this judgment,) ungodly men, turning the grace of our Lord God into riotousness, and denying the only sovereign Ruler, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [5] I will therefore admonish you, though ye once knew all things, that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, did afterwards destroy them that believed not:
[6] And the angels who kept not their principality, but forsook their own habitation, he hath reserved under darkness in everlasting chains, unto the judgment of the great day. [7] As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighbouring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. [8] In like manner these men also defile the flesh, and despise dominion, and blaspheme majesty. [9] When Michael the archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses, he durst not bring against him the judgment of railing speech, but said: The Lord command thee. [10] But these men blaspheme whatever things they know not: and what things soever they naturally know, like dumb beasts, in these they are corrupted.
[11] Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way
of Cain: and after the error of Balaam they have for reward poured out
themselves, and have perished in the contradiction of Core. [12] These
are spots in their banquets, feasting together without fear, feeding
themselves, clouds without water, which are carried about by winds,
trees of the autumn, unfruitful, twice dead, plucked up by the roots,
[13] Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own confusion;
wandering stars, to whom the storm of darkness is reserved for ever.
[14] Now of these Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied,
saying: Behold, the Lord cometh with thousands of his saints, [15] To
execute judgment upon all, and to reprove all the ungodly for all the
works of their ungodliness, whereby they have done ungodly, and of all
the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against God.
[16] These are murmurers, full of complaints, walking
according to their own desires, and their mouth speaketh proud things,
admiring persons for gain's sake. [17] But you, my dearly beloved,
be mindful of the words which have been spoken before by the
apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, [18] Who told you, that in the last
time there should come mockers, walking according to their own desires
in ungodlinesses. [19] These are they, who separate themselves, sensual
men, having not the Spirit. [20] But you, my beloved, building
yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
[21] Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto life everlasting. [22] And some indeed reprove, being judged: [23] But others save, pulling them out of the fire. And on others have mercy, in fear, hating also the spotted garment which is carnal. [24] Now to him who is able to preserve you without sin, and to present you spotless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, [25] To the only God our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and magnificence, empire and power, before all ages, and now, and for all ages of ages. Amen.
[6] "Principality"... That is, the state in
which they were first created, their original dignity.
[8] "Blaspheme majesty"... Speak evil of them that are in dignity; and
even utter blasphemies against the divine majesty.
[9] "Contended about the body"... This contention, which is no where
else mentioned in holy writ, was originally known by revelation, and
transmitted by tradition. It is thought the occasion of it was, that
the devil would have had the body buried in such a place and manner, as
to be worshipped by the Jews with divine honours.
[9] "Command thee"... or rebuke thee.
[11] "Gone in the way"... Heretics follow the way of Cain, by murdering
the souls of their brethren; the way of Balaam, by putting a scandal
before the people of God, for their own private ends; and the way of
Core or Korah, by their opposition to the church governors of Divine
appointment.
[14] "Prophesied"... This prophecy was either known by tradition, or
from some book that is since lost.
[17] "But you, my dearly beloved, be mindful"... He now exhorts the
faithful to remain steadfast in the belief and practice of what they
had heard from the apostles, who had also foretold that in aftertimes
(lit. in the last time) there should be false teachers, scoffing and
ridiculing all revealed truths, abandoning themselves to their passions
and lusts; who separate themselves from the Catholic communion by
heresies and schisms. Sensual men, carried away and enslaved by the
pleasures of the senses.
[20] "Building yourselves upon your most holy faith"... Raising by your
actions, a spiritual building, founded, 1 st, upon faith; 2 d, on the
love of God; 3 d, upon hope, whilst you are waiting for the mercies of
God, and the reward of eternal life; 4 th, joined with the great duty
of prayer.
[22] "Reprove, being judged"... He gives them
another instruction to practice charity in endeavouring to convert
their neighbour, where they will meet with three sorts of persons: 1
st, With persons obstinate in their errors and sins; these may be said
to be already judged and condemned; they are to be sharply reprehended,
reproved, and if possible convinced of their error. 2 d, As to others
you must endeavour to save them, by pulling them, as it were, out of
the fire, from the ruin they stand in great danger of. 3 d, You must
have mercy on others in fear, when you see them through ignorance of
frailty, in danger of being drawn into the snares of these heretics;
with these you must deal more gently and mildly, with a charitable
compassion, hating always, and teaching others to hate the carnal
garment which is spotted, their sensual and corrupt manners, that
defile both the soul and body.
[24] "Now to him"... St. Jude concludes his epistle with this doxology
of praising God, and praying to the only God our Saviour, which may
either signify God the Father, or God as equally agreeing to all the
three persons, who are equally the cause of Christ's incarnation, and
man's salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who, being God from
eternity, took upon him our human nature, that he might become our
Redeemer.
www.catholictradition.org/Saints/saint-jude8.htm