Jude

Jude is a short, punchy letter traditionally attributed to the brother of James and half-brother of Jesus. Likely written between 65 and 80 AD, it addresses early Christian communities facing an internal crisis: influential people within the group were using God's grace as a license for immorality and rejecting all authority.

Instead of a calm theological treatise, Jude writes an urgent warning. He pulls heavily from the Hebrew Bible and even quotes popular ancient Jewish literature, like the Book of Enoch, to paint a vivid picture of the destruction that follows arrogant, self-serving leadership.

For modern readers, Jude is a blunt reminder that communities are often most vulnerable to threats from the inside. It asks tough questions about how we discern genuine faith from self-serving manipulation, and how we protect ourselves and others without losing our compassion.