Jude 1:19-21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jude 1:19

Verse 19 19.These be they who separate themselves. Some Greek copies have the participle by itself, other copies add ἑαυτοὺς, “themselves;” but the meaning is nearly the same. He means that they separated from the Church, because they would not bear the yoke of discipline, as they who indulge the flesh dislike spiritual life. (201) The word sensual, or animal, stands opposed to spiritual, or to the renovation of grace; and hence it means the vicious or corrupt, such as men are when not... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jude 1:20

Verse 20 20.But ye, beloved. He shews the manner in which they could overcome all the devices of Satan, that is, by having love connected with faith, and by standing on their guard as it were in their watch-tower, until the coming of Christ. But as he uses often and thickly his metaphors, so he has here a way of speaking peculiar to himself, which must be briefly noticed. He bids them first to build themselves on faith; by which he means, that the foundation of faith ought to be retained, but... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jude 1:21

Verse 21 21.Keep yourselves in the love of God. He has made love as it were the guardian and the ruler of our life; not that he might set it in opposition to the grace of God, but that it is the right course of our calling, when we make progress in love. But as many things entice us to apostasy, so that it is difficult to keep us faithful to God to the end, he calls the attention of the faithful to the last day. For the hope of that alone ought to sustain us, so that we may at no time despond;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jude 1:1-25

The Letter. I. INTRODUCTION . 1 . Address. 2 . Salutation. "Mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied." The first word of salutation points to their being regarded under troublous conditions. The second word of salutation points to their enjoyment of the Divine protection. The third word of salutation points to their being (generally) delighted in by God. This Divine blessing is already realized: let it be realized a hundredfold. II. THE LETTER . 1 . Purpose.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jude 1:14-19

Future judgment an anticipation of nature and a truth of revelation. "To execute judgment upon all," etc. Its declared era is the Lord's advent; its declared functions are those of correction and retribution. "Great swelling words "—the natural language of the errorist and the deceiver. "Very many such words are recorded in Church history, and that, too, as spoken in justification of unbridled lust. Some of the more openly abominable belong to the Gnostic and other antinomian heretics of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jude 1:17-21

Believers urged to remember the prophecies of the apostles, and to note their fulfillment. Jude acknowledges the truth that the apostles spake under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as really as Isaiah and Jeremiah; and their predictions of the working of Satan and his servants were delivered partly by word of mouth, and partly by writings addressed to the Churches, and to evangelists like Timothy. Paul affirms that there would be many whose characters resembled those described in this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jude 1:19

There follows yet another description of the same men, taking up that in Jude 1:16 , and generalizing it in harmony with what is suggested by the apostolic prediction. In three bold strokes it gives a representation of them which is at once the sharpest and the broadest of all. This final description, too, at last lays bare the root of their hopeless corruption. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. The pronoun "themselves" cannot be retained in face of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jude 1:19

Application of the prophecy to the seducers of Jude's day. Mark the threefold division of the verse. I. THEY WERE SEPARATISTS . "These are they who make separations." Perhaps as "spiritual" persons, who regard things of sense as so indifferent that they may be enjoyed without risk to the soul. 1 . Church divisions are usually grounded on separations from the Church's doctrine. Those who bring in "damnable heresies" "draw away disciples after them" ( Acts 20:30 ). 2 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jude 1:20-21

The law of Christian safety—to keep ourselves in the love of God. "Keep yourselves in the love of God," etc. The soul's one asylum and retreat is the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ. The act of grace which calls us to the Christian life introduces us to the knowledge of that love, and brings us within its pavilion. The sum of all subsequent Christian duty is to be true to it; the sum of all Christian wisdom is to suffer nothing to turn us away from it. But our continuance within it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jude 1:20-21

Exhortation to the saints to build up their own spiritual life as the grand security against apostasy. I. WORKING UPON THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH IS THE ONLY MEANS OF OUR SPIRITUAL SELF - PRESERVATION . "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God." 1 . The foundation. "Your most holy faith." This is faith objective, not subjective; the doctrine of faith rather than the... read more

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