All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
- 2 Tim. 3:16
As we begin our study of the book of Jude this Sunday we are embarking upon a somewhat unique journey. First, this book, along with 2-3 John, is one of the books of the NT that is one of the most unfamiliar to most Christians. In that sense, studying this book is an opportunity for us to expand our knowledge of God’s Word. Second, in spite of its small size, the history and content of the book present some large challenges. While we will familiarize ourselves with the content of Jude through our exposition of the text over the next several weeks, we want to introduce the book this Sunday by considering some of its challenges.
The main challenge that the book presents to us is the reality that it was not universally accepted as scripture in the first few centuries of the church. Many modern critical scholars consider the work to have been written by someone other than Jude during the 2nd century and Origen of Alexandria (185-254) mentioned in his writings that some disputed Jude as Scripture, although he himself did not. By the 4th century Jude was fully accepted as a part of Scripture, however, the debate concerning the book allows us to ask an important question: How do we know that the 27 books of the NT are the books that God inspired to be given to the church? This question is the question of canon. What we will see as we consider this question is that the books which belong in the canon of Scripture are self-attesting, meaning that they reveal themselves. They do this not merely in what they claim about themselves, but in what they are and what they do.
When God’s people were receiving new Scripture in the form of the New Testament writings, they recognized within them divine qualities which were exhibited in the Scriptures which they already possessed, the Old Testament. These divine qualities were those of beauty (they show us Christ), power (they affect us), and unity (they comport with the rest of Scripture). Given that Scripture is God’s Word, it is most logical to see that His attributes are reflected in the writings which He inspired. We can be assured that Jude belongs within the canon of Scripture because it displays these very characteristics. The book exhorts us to recognize Christ as our Lord (1,4-5,17,25), challenges us to consider the things that we believe and the ways in which we live (3,21-22), as well as demonstrating an amazing unity with the OT (6-16).
As we begin our study, may God delight us with the beauty of His Word, challenge us with the power of His Word, and instruct us through the unity of His Word.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Thomas