JUDE CHAPTER 1
Judges 1:1-3 After a general address, Jude exhorteth Christians to
constancy in the received faith.
Judges 1:4-19 He foretelleth the punishment of certain false teachers
crept into the church, and describeth their evil doctrine
and manners.
Judges 1:20,21 He exhorteth true Christians to persevere in the
right faith, and in the love of God,
Judges 1:22-23 and to seek the reformation of others.
Judges 1:24,25 He concludeth with ascribing glory to God.
Jude; called also Lebbaeus, and Thaddaeus, Matthew 10:3.
The servant of Jesus Christ; not only in the general notion, as a believer, but in a more special, as an apostle. Priests and prophets in the Old Testament are peculiarly called God's servants, Psalms 134:1-3 Amos 3:7; and so are ministers in the New, 2 Timothy 2:24.
And brother of James; that James who was the son of Alphaeus, Matthew 10:3. He mentions his brother to distinguish himself from Judas Iscariot; and his brother rather than his father, because James was most famous in the church, Acts 15:1-41 Galatians 2:9 1 Corinthians 9:5; as likewise to show his consent with his brother in his doctrine, and to make his Epistle the more acceptable.
To them that are sanctified by God the Father, viz. as the prime efficient cause of sanctification, which he works in believers by the Son, through the Spirit.
And preserved in Jesus Christ: their salvation, and perseverance, and deliverance from dangers, not being in their own power; he intimates, that Christ was appointed to be their King, and Head, and Keeper, the Author and Finisher of their faith, Hebrews 12:2, and furnished with power for their protection and security, and that by him they were kept unto the salvation purchased for them, viz. by his powerful operation and gracious influence maintaining their faith and union with himself.
And called, with an effectual calling, the beginning of their sanctification, before mentioned. The copulative, and, is not in the Greek; and the words may be read, sanctified by God the Father, preserved in Jesus Christ, as being called; and so called may be understood as going before the other two; and then the sense is, to the called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ; or, to them who, being called, are sanctified, &c.