“These Men” In Your Church -- By: Gordon H. Lovik

Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 08:3 (Fall 1965)
Article: “These Men” In Your Church
Author: Gordon H. Lovik


“These Men” In Your Church

(An Exegesis of the Book of Jude)

Gordon H. Lovik

Instructor, Central C. B. Seminary

Thought Development Of Jude

Following the introduction (1–2), verses 3 and 4 set forth the basis of the outline of the book. Jude wrote to encourage the believers, “you” (vs. 3, 5, 17, and 20), to strive earnestly for the faith which was given once for all. These four exhortations to the believer s provide the natural divisions of this epistle.

The reason for writing is found in verse four. There are certain ones who have secretly crept into the church and have propagated two errors. Their perversion of the grace of God is opposed by exhortation (v. 5) and by example (5, 6, 7), and these are applied to “these men” in verse 8. Their second error was that they denied the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. Three different illustrations point out this error (vs. 9, 11, 14, 15); Jude then applies the illustrations in 10, 12, 13, and 16.

Jude’s third exhortation begins in verse 17 regarding the last times. Again he follows the preceding pattern and applies this truth to the men who have crept in. His fourth exhortation is a strong plea that the believer stand true to the faith of Jesus Christ but also reach out to save those who are in error. The believer is to have mercy on the sinner but despise his sin. The conclusion sets forth God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ as the sole object of glory and authority in whom every true believer rests.

The four exhortations each have clear division, thus.

Introduction

1–2

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