The Book of Jude
The text for this year's Bishop's Bible Week is the single chaptered, 25 verse long letter of Jude. It sits between 3 John and the final book of the New Testament, Revelation.
The author, Jude, was most likely Judas, the brother of the Lord, rather than Judas the apostle. It is widely accepted that he wrote it prior to to 2 Peter, probably A.D. 65, otherwise a date as late as c.80 would be possible.
The letter of Jude was tested and questioned before, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the church accepted that God's authority stood behind it and accepted it into the Canon.
To whom was Jude writing? A location isn't indicated and the description in verse 1 is vague, so it could have been Jewish Christians, Gentile Christians or both. What is not in doubt is that this early Christian community was in peril from certain immoral men among them who were perverting the grace of God (v.4).
Eugene Peterson describes Jude's letter as diagnosing a dangerous, even deadly virus, not yet detected by the community in which it was circulating. Apparently false teachers were trying to convince believers that being saved by grace gave them licence to sin since their sins would be no longer held against them. Jude is compelled to write in verse 3:
"I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints."
We look forward to hearing Archbishop Ben Kwashi expound on Jude's call to the early church.