Epistle of Jude facts for kids

The Epistle of Jude is a very short letter found in the Christian Bible. It's the sixty-fifth book in the Bible and the twenty-sixth in the New Testament. This letter is only 25 verses long, making it one of the shortest books you'll find!

Who Wrote the Letter of Jude?

The person who wrote this letter simply calls himself Jude. He also says he is the brother of James. This James was an important leader in the early church in Jerusalem. Many people believe that both Jude and James were half-brothers of Jesus.

At first, Jude and James did not believe that Jesus was the Christ, or the Messiah. But after Jesus's Resurrection (when he came back to life), they became believers. You can read about this in the Gospel of John (chapter 7, verse 5).

This letter was probably written a long time ago, sometime between 60 and 80 A.D. It was sent to many different churches and people, which is why it's called a "General" epistle.

What Is the Letter of Jude About?

The writer of Jude knew a lot about the Old Testament books. He also knew about other important Jewish writings that are not part of the Bible.

His main message is a warning. He tells people to watch out for those who try to change the true message about God's grace. These people might use God's kindness as an excuse to do bad things. Jude says this is not the true faith that was given to God's people.

He reminds everyone about stories from the Bible where people turned away from God. For example, he mentions the fallen angels who rebelled against God. He also talks about the people saved from slavery in Egypt who later disobeyed God. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are also mentioned because of their wickedness.

Jude also points out individuals who went against God. These include Cain, who killed his brother, Balaam, who tried to curse God's people, and Korah, who rebelled against Moses.

Important Advice from Jude

Jude encourages everyone to stay strong in their faith. He tells them to keep praying and to always show love to others. He also reminds them to look forward to the second coming of Jesus. This is when Jesus is expected to return to Earth.

The letter ends with a beautiful blessing. This blessing is sometimes used at the end of church meetings today. It says: "Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence, to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen." (Verses 24 and 25).

Images for kids

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  Papyrus 78, showing verses 4, 5, 7 and 8 of Jude. It's from the 3rd or 4th century.

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  The end of the Epistle of Jude in the Codex Alexandrinus, an ancient Bible manuscript.

See also

In Spanish: Epístola de Judas para niños