Jude Chapter 1 Vs. 18

 

A Call to Persevere

“How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.” Jude 1:18

How that they... The 2nd and last New Testament prophecy in Jude (Jude 1:18, being fulfilled; cp. 2Pet. 3:3).

walk after their... They murmur, complain and live in their own lusts and passions. They pretend devotion to rich men in order to gain money, influence, and power (Jude. 1:16, 1:18).

in the last... While throughout this present dispensation, between the first advent and the second coming of Christ, there have been those who ridicule true believers, the scoffers doubtless multiply toward the close of the age. Immoral and amoral, they seek their own unholy sensual desires, following “after their own ungodly lusts.”

Literally meaning “at the chronological end of the current epoch or season” (2 Tim. 3:1). This term refers to the time of Messiah from His first coming until His second. These characteristics will prevail until Christ returns.

perilous times shall come: The 2nd New Testament prophecy in 2Tim. (2Tim. 3:1-5, being fulfilled). Greek: chalepos, hard; difficult; grievous. Translated "fierce" in Mat. 8:28.

Thirty characteristics of wicked Men:

1. Lovers of themselves (2Tim. 3:2). Greek: Philautos, fond of oneself; selfish. Only here

2. Covetous (2Tim. 3:2). Greek: philarguros, fond of money. Only here and Luke 16:14

3. Boasters (2Tim. 3:2). Greek: alazon, braggarts; self-exalted. Here and Rom. 1:30

4. Proud (2Tim. 3:2). Greek: huperephanos, self-important. See, Rom. 1:30

5. Blasphemers (2Tim. 3:2). See, Mat. 12:31

6. Disobedient to parents (2Tim. 3:2). Head-strong children (2Tim. 3:2; Rom. 1:30)

7. Unthankful (2Tim. 3:2). Greek: acharistos, ungrateful. Here and in Luke 6:35

8. Unholy (2Tim. 3:2). Greek: anosios, without piety; no reverence.

9. Without natural affection (2Tim. 3:3). Living in unnatural affection sins; perverts; homosexuals; sodomites. See, Rom. 1:31

10. Trucebreakers (2Tim. 3:3). See, Rom. 1:31

11. False accusers (2Tim. 3:3). Greek: diabolos, slanderer; adversary. See, John 6:70; 8:44

12. Incontinent (2Tim. 3:3). Greek: akrates, no control of appetites and passions. Only here

13. Fierce (2Tim. 3:3). Greek: anemeros, wild; savage; uncivilized. Only here

14. Despisers of good men (2Tim. 3:3). Greek: aphilagathos, unfriendly to good men. Only here

15. Traitors (2Tim. 3:4). Greek: prodotes, betrayers. Only here; Luke 6:16; Acts 7:52

16. Heady (2Tim. 3:4). Greek: propetes, rash; hasty; reckless; headstrong. Translated "rashly" in Acts 19:36

17. Highminded (2Tim. 3:4). Greek: tuphoo, senseless; conceited; silly. See, 1Tim. 3:6

18. Lovers of pleasure (2Tim. 3:4). Sensual gratification is their god (2Tim. 3:4)

19. Having a form of godliness (2Tim. 3:5). Greek: morphosis, a semblance; sketch; form. Only here and Rom. 2:20. Their religion is only in their creed and formal confession of faith, not in their hearts

20. Denying the power of godliness (2Tim. 3:5). Destitute of godliness, having no faith that one can be godly in this life. From such turn away

21. Use their show of piety to gain entrance into homes to deceive (2Tim. 3:6)

22. Capture for their own pleasure silly (foolish) women whom they deceive (2Tim. 3:6)

23. Ever learning fallacies but never the knowledge of the truth (2Tim. 3:7)

24. Resist truth (2Tim. 3:8)

25. Have corrupt minds (2Tim. 3:8)

26. Reprobate concerning faith (2Tim. 3:8)

27. They are evil (2Tim. 3:13).

28. They seduce women—entice them to surrender chastity (2Tim. 3:6, 3:13).

29. They increase in evil (2Tim. 3:13).

30. They deceive and are themselves deceived (2Tim. 3:13).

mockers in the... These are the scoffers at God’s future plans who pretend to know the truth but deny that judgment will ever come.

Again, examples of such apostolic warnings are found (in Acts 20:29, 30; 2 Tim. 3:1-9; 2 Peter 3:3).

These apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ had warned that in the end times there would be scoffers who walk after the ways of the world and, also, try to lead others in this wicked way.

Jude told his readers to remember what the apostles had foretold about scoffers. At Ephesus, Paul warned of the “savage wolves” that would come in to destroy the flock and distort the truth (Acts 20:29-30). He sounded similar warnings of apostasy to Timothy (1Tim. 4:1; 2Tim. 3:1-5; 4:3-4). Peter had addressed the same issue (2Pet. 2:1-3; 3:3-4). The quotation in Jude 1:18 is a loose rendering of Peter’s words in 2Pet. 3:3, and at the same time it summarized Paul’s warnings.