Third Millennium Study Bible
Notes on Jude 1:16-19

Grumblers and faultfinders - Jude 1:16

Explaining why their judgment is deserved, Jude has portrayed the false teachers graphically with a series of four metaphors taken from nature (Jude 1:12-13) and now he expounds upon a series of their sinful practices and reprehensible characteristics. Their judgment is deserved as these have followed "their own evil desires."

Like Israel in the wilderness (Jude 1:5; cf. 1 Cor. 10:10), the false teachers resist God's will, perhaps by complaining about the laws restrictions on their behavior. Calvin says, "They who indulge their depraved lusts, are hard to please, and morose, so that they are never satisfied." They "boast about themselves" - literally, "their mouths speak arrogant words." This may have involved claims to visionary experiences (Jude 1:8), freedom from the law (Jude 1:4, 8), and possession of the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:18-19). In addition they "flatter others for their own advantage." They showed partiality to some in the Church (probably the rich; cf. Jas. 2:1-9) and may have adapted their teaching to please the influential in their audience. See WLC 145. Calvin concludes:

He condemns their proud language, because they haughtily made a boast of themselves; but at the same time he shews that they were mean in their disposition, for they were servilely submissive for the sake of gain. And, commonly, this sort of inconsistency is seen in unprincipled men of this kind. When there is no one to check their insolence, or when there is nothing that stands in their way, their pride is intolerable, so that they imperiously arrogate everything to themselves; but they meanly flatter those whom they fear, and from whom they expect some advantage.

Judgment: Apostolic Prophecies - Jude 1:17-19

Jude appealed to apostolic teaching. Schreiner says, "The apostles predicted that scoffers would arrive and that they would be consumed with their own selfish desires. The church therefore should not be surprised at their intrusion into the congregation but should be prepared to fend off the insidious presence of the interlopers."

Apostolic Prophecy - Jude 1:17-18

The apostles predicted that some would reject their teaching regarding Jesus' return.

Remember what the apostles . . . foretold - Jude 1:17

Compare this passage to Jude 1:3-5:

Compare 2 Peter 3:2. Jude has used many illustrations from past history and now he proceeds to history present. He is still speaking of the same issue, but just in different terms.

While Jude was not an Apostle, he commands that his audience should take heed to what they have and are teaching. Which Apostles? We are not sure. However, because the New Testament is silent about the works of many of the Apostles, Jude maybe referring solely to Paul and Peter. See "The Apostles: Can There Be Apostles Today?" below.

Last times - Jude 1:18

The "last times" refers to the entire age between the first and second comings of Jesus (Acts 2:17; Heb. 1:2). See "The Plan of the Ages: Are We in the Last Days?" below.

Unbelievers are often "scoffers" (cf. 2 Chron. 36:16; Jer. 20:8; Matt. 10:25 f; Acts 2:13; 2 Pet. 3:3-4). As Mayor says:

If they turned the grace of God into licentiousness, they would naturally mock at the narrowness and want of enlightenment of those who took a strict and literal view of the divine commandments: if they made light of authority and treated spiritual things with irreverence, if they foamed out their own shame and uttered proud and impious words, if they denied God and Christ, they would naturally laugh at the idea of a judgment to come.

Related Resources

• The Final Judgment: Will I Be Judged?
• Hell: What Is Hell Like?
• Legalism and Antinomianism: Why do I have to obey God's law?
• The Distinguishing Marks
 of False Teachers
• False Teachers
• Covenant Warning Against Hollow and Deceptive Philosophies - Colossians 2:8
• Hollow and deceptive philosophy - Colossians 2:8
• Can you be saved and still follow a false teacher?
• Overview of the Book of Jude
• The Apostles: Can There Be Apostles Today?
• The Plan of the Ages: Are We in the Last Days?
• The Distinguishing Marks 
of False Teachers