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Peter and Jude

  1. Lesson One
    Overview of 1 Peter
    21 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  2. Lesson Two
    Something Old, Something New (1 Peter Review)
    18 Activities
  3. Lesson Three
    2 Peter
    16 Activities
  4. Lesson Four
    Jude
    14 Activities
  5. Lesson Five
    Case Study: Peter (1 and 2 Peter Review)
    18 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Peter and Jude Jude In | Scoffers and Jude’s Dear Friends
Lesson 4, Activity 8

In | Scoffers and Jude’s Dear Friends

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After criticizing false teachers and “ungodly people” in vv 5-16, Jude offers a contrasting description of believers. 

But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. 
Jude 17-23 (NIV)

Dr. Jerome Neyrey outlines Jude’s contrast between the two groups of people described by Jude in the table below.

Scoffers“Dear friends”
“Scoffers” who reject the tradition“Rememberers” who are faithful to what they were told
They “create” division, tearing down the group.They “build themselves up” in unity of faith.
They go “the way of godless desires.”Their way is “the most sacred faithfulness.”
They are “physical.”They “hate even the garment stained by the flesh.”
They “have no Spirit.”They “pray in the Holy Spirit.”
They are “proscribed for judgment.”They “await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Table adapted from: Jerome H. Neyrey, 2 Peter, Jude, 1993, pp. 84-85.