Who Was Jude in the Bible — Meaning Explained

Jude — also called Judas, the brother of James — identifies himself in his letter as 'the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James.' Like James, he was a half-brother of Jesus through Mary. He intended to write about their common salvation but was compelled instead to 'earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints' because false teachers had crept in. His letter is one of the most intense in the New Testament — he draws on Old Testament history, the book of Enoch, and the prophecy of Michael to expose those who turn God's grace into licentiousness. He concludes with one of the most beautiful doxologies in Scripture: 'Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.' Jude is a call to vigilance, a warning against spiritual compromise, and a celebration of God's preserving grace.