The so-called letter of Judas

The English Text has been taken from the KJ Version.

Original in Greek

Comment: We are not able to identify who is Judas and when he wrote the below text and for whose use. We do not ascribe any text as fake or genuine. It is an NT text and we treat it as it is the basis for understanding communication. It appears the theme is crude and formatted even before the So-called Pauline epistles. The author till nurtures his Jewish background to compare his circumstances with the circumstances of Moses. He told us that Jesus delivered us in the same way as the Moses.

1 Judas (Ἰούδας), the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of Jekob (Ἰακώβου), to them that are beloved in God the Father (θεῷ πατρὶ), and guarded (τετηρημένοις) by Jesus Christ, and called (κλητοῖς):

The author never identified him as the messenger of Jesus or his companion, or companion of the companions. He identified him as the ἀδελφὸς brother of Jecob, another unidentified person. He could be a biological brother or brother in faith.

2 Mercy (ἔλεος), and peace, and love, be multiplied unto you.

Comment: It is a private letter and private communication. Leaders were trying to communicate privately to gather people to form a Christian Community.

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation (σωτηρίας), it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ (κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν).

5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt (ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου σώσας), afterward destroyed them that believed not.

6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

9 Yet Michael the archangel (Μιχαὴλ ὁ ἀρχάγγελος), when contending with the devil (διαβόλῳ διακρινόμενος) he disputed about the body of Moses (Μωϋσέως σώματος), durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

10 But these speak evil (βλασφημοῦσιν) of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

14 And Enoch (Ἑνὼχ) also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands holy men (κύριος ἐν ἁγίαις μυριάσιν).

15 For executing judgment (ποιῆσαι κρίσιν) upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly (ἀσεβεῖς) sinners have spoken against him.

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ (ἀποστόλων τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ);

18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual (ψυχικοί) having not the Spirit (πνεῦμα).

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit (πνεύματι ἁγίῳ)

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life (ζωὴν αἰώνιον).

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

24 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,

25 To the only wise God (μόνῳ θεῷ) my Saviour (ἡμῶν σωτῆρι), be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, `be’ glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and for evermore. Amen. (from American Standard version-1901)

Comment: ‘Through Jesus Christ our Lord’ is an interpolation.