The Letter of Jude

The Letter of Jude is a short book in the New Testament. It is only one chapter long, but it has a strong message. Jude writes to warn Christians about people who are leading others away from the truth. He tells them to stay faithful to what they have been taught. He encourages them to hold on to their faith and stay close to God.

Jude says he is the brother of James. This means he may also be a relative of Jesus. He begins the letter kindly, calling his readers beloved. But soon he warns them about trouble. Some people are twisting the faith. They are living in a sinful way and pretending that God’s grace means they can do whatever they want.

Jude uses many examples from the Old Testament. He talks about Israel in the desert, the fallen angels, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. He also refers to Enoch and Michael the Archangel. These stories help show how God deals with people who rebel. Jude wants the readers to remember that God sees all things and will judge fairly.

Even though the letter warns about danger, it ends with hope. Jude tells Christians to build up their faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep close to God’s love. He reminds them that Jesus can keep them safe. Jude’s message is strong and simple: stay faithful, avoid false teachers, and trust in the Lord.

The Letter of Jude was likely written in the first century, maybe around the year 65 AD. This was a time when the early Church was growing fast. But it was also facing many problems. Some people were spreading false teachings. Others were living in ways that did not match the Gospel. Jude writes to warn believers and help them stay strong in their faith.

The author calls himself “a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James.” Most people believe this Jude is also a relative of Jesus. He is probably the same Jude mentioned in the Gospels, one of Jesus’ family members. He does not focus on his family link to Jesus. Instead, he calls himself a servant. This shows his humility and focus on Christ.

Jude seems to care deeply about the faith. At first, he wanted to write a joyful letter about salvation. But instead, he felt he had to warn the Church. He saw that some people were twisting the message of Jesus. They were using grace as an excuse to sin. Jude could not stay silent.

This letter gives us a snapshot of early Christian life. The Church was still new. People were learning how to live out their faith. Jude’s warning reminds us that truth matters. His words help us see that even from the start, the Church needed to guard what it had been given.

The Letter of Jude has a strong and direct style. Jude does not hold back. He uses clear words and sharp images. His goal is to wake people up. He wants them to see the danger of false teachers. He speaks with urgency, like someone warning others of a storm.

Jude uses many examples from the Old Testament. He also mentions stories that were well known in Jewish tradition, like Enoch and Michael the Archangel. These help his readers understand the serious warnings. Jude connects the past to what is happening in the Church now. He shows that God has always judged those who turned away from the truth.

The letter also includes poetic lines. The final blessing, or doxology, is full of praise. It reminds us that God is strong and able to protect us. This part brings peace after the strong warnings. It shows that hope is always possible.

Jude’s writing is short but full of meaning. He packs a lot into just a few verses. He speaks with care, but also with force. His words are meant to protect the Church and call people back to the truth.

The Letter of Jude is short, but it shares clear lessons about faith, truth, and how to live as a follower of Christ. Many of these ideas are important in Catholic teaching. Jude helps us see what it means to stay faithful in hard times.

• Fighting for the faith
  Jude says we must “contend for the faith.” This means we should defend the truth that was passed down from the Apostles. In the Catholic Church, this includes Scripture, Tradition, and the teachings of the Magisterium.
• Warning about false teachers
  Jude warns that some people twist the message of grace to excuse sin. The Church teaches that grace calls us to holiness, not selfishness. Jude reminds us that not every message is true, even if it sounds good.
• Judgment and mercy
  Jude talks about God’s judgment, but he also speaks of mercy. Catholic teaching holds both of these together. God sees all things and is just, but he is also rich in mercy for those who repent.
• Staying strong in faith
  Jude tells us to build ourselves up, pray in the Holy Spirit, and stay in God’s love. These are basic Catholic practices—daily prayer, trust in the sacraments, and remaining close to the Lord.
• Helping others
  Jude urges us to show mercy to those who are doubting or caught in sin. In the Church, we are called to care for each other and help bring others back to the truth with love.

The Letter of Jude teaches us to stay alert, trust in God, and help others grow in faith. It reminds Catholics that we are part of a Church that guards the truth and leads others to Christ.

The Letter of Jude is very short. It has only one chapter with 25 verses. Because it is so short, it does not have clear chapters like other books. But it can still be divided into parts. Each part has a focus and helps carry Jude’s message.

• Greeting (verses 1–2)
  Jude greets the readers and offers them peace and love.
• The reason for writing (verse 3)
  He explains that he wanted to write about salvation, but instead had to warn them to defend the faith.
• Warnings about false teachers (verses 4–16)
  This is the longest part. Jude gives examples from Scripture and other stories to show how God deals with those who rebel. He warns that some people are leading others into sin.
• Call to remain faithful (verses 17–23)
  Jude encourages the believers to stay strong, pray, and show mercy to others.
• Closing blessing (verses 24–25)
  He ends with praise to God, who can keep us safe and bring us to glory.

Even though Jude is short, it has a clear message. Each part builds on the one before. The letter warns, teaches, and ends with hope.

Even though the Letter of Jude is very old, its message still fits today. We still face many of the same problems. Some people twist the truth. Others try to lead believers away from the faith. Jude reminds us to be careful and to stay close to what the Church teaches.

Many people today are confused about what is right and wrong. Jude helps us see that truth matters. It is not just about having good feelings. It is about following Jesus, staying faithful, and living a holy life. The Church still calls us to defend the faith with love and care.

Jude also teaches us to help others. Some people doubt. Some are caught in sin. Jude says we should not ignore them. We should pray, speak kindly, and try to bring them back. This is part of living our faith in a real way.

Jude’s letter is short, but it is clear. Stay faithful. Watch out for false messages. Help others grow in the faith. That message is just as needed today as it was in the early Church.

The Letter of Jude is only read once in the Roman Catholic lectionary. It appears on a weekday, not on a Sunday or feast day. Because the letter is so short, it does not get much attention in the liturgy.

The reading is from Jude 17–25. In this passage, Jude encourages believers to stay faithful. He tells them to pray, show mercy, and trust in God. It ends with words of praise, reminding us that God can guard us and lead us to eternal life.

Even though it is only read once, this reading shares an important message. It calls us to stay strong in times of trouble and to care for others who may be struggling.

The Church includes this short letter to remind us that every part of Scripture matters. Even a small passage, read just once a year, can help guide our faith.

• Saturday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time – Jude 17, 20b-25: Strengthen Your Faith

The Bible

The Letter of Jude is just one small part of the Bible, but it has a strong message for us today. It reminds us to hold on to our faith and to help others stay close to God. Even the shortest books in the Bible can teach us something important.

If you want to learn more about how the Bible is put together and how to read it, visit our page about Understanding the Bible. It explains the different parts of the Bible in a simple way. This can help you grow in faith and understand Scripture better.

Who wrote the Letter of Jude?

The author says he is Jude, the brother of James. Most people believe this means he was also a relative of Jesus. He was likely a leader in the early Church.

Why was this letter written?

Jude wrote the letter to warn Christians about false teachers. Some people were using God’s grace as an excuse to sin. Jude wanted to protect the faith and help believers stay strong.

Why is the letter so short?

The Letter of Jude is only one chapter long. But it still gives a clear message. It is short because it focuses on one main topic—staying faithful and avoiding false teachings.

Is Jude read at Mass?

Yes, but only once. A short passage from Jude is read during a weekday Mass. It reminds us to pray, show mercy, and trust God.

What can Catholics learn from Jude?

We learn to hold on to the truth, pray daily, help others, and trust that Jesus can keep us safe.

The Letter of Jude is one of the shortest books in the Bible. It has only one chapter, but its message is strong. Jude wrote it to warn Christians about people who were twisting the faith. These false teachers were using God’s grace as an excuse to sin. Jude could not stay silent. He wanted believers to stay faithful and true to the Gospel.

Jude reminds his readers of stories from the Old Testament. He speaks of people who turned away from God and what happened to them. He uses these examples to show that God sees all things and brings justice. His goal is to help Christians avoid the same mistakes.

Even with strong warnings, Jude ends with hope. He encourages prayer, mercy, and trust in God. He reminds the Church that Jesus can keep them safe. Jude’s message is clear: stay strong, avoid lies, and care for each other in faith.

Take a few minutes to read the Letter of Jude. It’s short, but the message is clear. Jude reminds us to stay strong in our faith and be careful of false teachings. His words still matter today.

After reading, share your thoughts in the comment section. What stood out to you? Did anything in the letter feel familiar to what we see in the world today? Let’s talk about it together.