Written by Paul J Bucknell on August, 29, 2019

Bible Study Questions for the Book of Jude

Contend Earnestly For The Faith (Jude 1-25)

A. The Introduction and Purpose (Jude 1-4)

1 Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (NASB used)

Questions on Jude 1-4

How does Jude describe himself (1)?
How does he describe God’s people (1)?
What is distinctive about what he wishes for them (2)?
What would our world wish?
What is the purpose of this Book of Jude (3)?
How does Jude generally accomplish this purpose throughout this book? [see outline]
Why is it so important to ‘contend’ for the ‘delivered’ faith (3)?
How do you determine the value of fighting? Is it worth going to war?
Can someone give an example of what “turn the grace of God into licentiousness” might mean (4)?

B. ISOLATING THE UNFAITHFUL (Jude 5-16)

Detecting dealings with “These men”

1. Remember the General Pattern (5-7) [God’s dealings with the ungodly]

5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

Questions on Jude 5-7

What incidents does Jude remind them of in verses 5-7?

•Verse 5
•Verse 6
•Verse 7

What does he say about each above incident?
What did verse 7 exemplify?

2. Articulate the Sin (8-9,10-11) [Reject and revile authority]

8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties. 9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

Questions on Jude 8-11

Do you think ‘dreaming’ refers to real dreams or are ‘asleep to God’s judgment’? Why?
What problems do verses 8 and 9 point out?
How does Jude show this attitude and action is wrong?
Explain the judgment of Cain, Balaam, and Korah’s rebellion.

**3. Describe the Danger (12-13,14-15,16, *19) [To the church & the ungodly]**

12 These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

14 It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” 16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.

Questions on Jude 12-16

What danger do verses 12 and 16 describe?
Think through the symbolic descriptions and picture what each looks like (6 of them) (12-13).
Who was Enoch (cf. Gen 5:18-21)?
What did he prophesy?
What word is repeated in verse 15?
What is wrong with the behaviors described in verse 16? Describe them one by one.

C. ENCOURAGING THE FAITHFUL (Jude 17-23)

But you, beloved, remember

1. Establish the Authority (17-19) [Don’t be surprised!]

17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.

Questions on Jude 17-19

What distinguishes the ‘beloved’ from the ungodly men just discussed (17)?
What are they to remember (17-19 )?
Why is this important?
What important principle in verse 17 should we use when arguing with someone over the teachings of Scripture?

2. Obeying the Authority (20-23) [Obey and be merciful]

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.

Questions on Jude 20-23

What are the ‘beloved’ commanded to do besides remembering the expected divisions (20-23)?
Enumerate each one and explain what it means (six of them).
How are we to treat and think of the ungodly in the church?
Is there a difference in treatment if it is a leader? Explain.

D. The Closing Blessing (Jude 24-25)

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Questions on Jude 24-25

Why is this blessing that serves a closing of the book of Jude especially significant for that church?
What is the difference between a statement of judgment and a statement of blessing?
Are the advantages of ‘contending’ worth the possible disturbance? What might one lose? Win?
To best understand and apply the scriptures to the ungodly, study: