Jude 1:17 kjv

But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Jude 1:17 nkjv

But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Jude 1:17 niv

But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.

Jude 1:17 esv

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude 1:17 nlt

But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted.

Jude 1 verses

Jude 1 17 Meaning

Jude 1:17 calls believers to actively recall and adhere to the original teachings delivered by the apostles, whose authority and message derive directly from the Lord Jesus Christ. This instruction serves as a foundational directive, urging believers to be anchored in established, divinely-inspired truth amidst the rise of false doctrines and deceptive teachers. It implies that true Christian living is rooted in faithfully remembering and applying these essential words to combat error and maintain spiritual purity.

Jude 1 17 Context

Jude’s epistle is a concise and urgent appeal written to combat early Gnostic and libertine heresies threatening the purity of the Christian faith. The previous verses (Jude 1:4-16) describe the ungodly character and condemnation of these false teachers, employing vivid Old Testament and extrabiblical examples (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah, Cain, Balaam, Korah) to illustrate their wickedness and sure destruction. There's a strong polemical tone, unmasking the depravity of those who have "crept in unnoticed" (Jude 1:4).

Verse 17 marks a pivotal shift from condemnation of the intruders to exhortation for the true believers. After outlining the judgment awaiting the false teachers, Jude turns his attention to "you, beloved," contrasting them with the "these men" previously condemned. The verse then provides the believers with a defense mechanism: recourse to the authoritative, pre-established apostolic teaching. This instruction grounds them in truth and equips them to stand firm against the insidious errors propagated by the ungodly, preparing them for the specific instructions on spiritual preservation that follow (Jude 1:20-23). The historical context is a church grappling with moral and doctrinal compromise stemming from within, necessitating a robust recall of its spiritual foundations.

Word Analysis

• But you: (Greek: Hymeis de - Ὑμεῖς δέ). This phrase creates a stark contrast ("But you, on the other hand") between the condemned false teachers and the addressed faithful believers. It shifts the focus from external threat and divine judgment to the internal responsibility and conduct of the true disciples.
• beloved, (Greek: agapētoi - ἀγαπητοί). A term of endearment used by New Testament writers (frequently by Peter, John, Paul) for fellow believers. It signifies a profound bond of affection, mutual love, and spiritual kinship in Christ. Jude addresses his audience not just as Christians, but as recipients of God's love and objects of his own pastoral concern, underscoring the sincerity of his warning and exhortation.
• remember (Greek: mnēsthēte - μνήσθητε). This is an aorist imperative verb, commanding an action that is decisive and complete. It's not merely passive recollection but an active, conscious recalling and application of knowledge. It implies a deliberate mental and spiritual effort to call to mind something known, often for the purpose of adherence or obedience (cf. Lk 24:6-8; 2 Pet 3:1-2).
• the words (Greek: tōn rhēmatōn - τῶν ῥημάτων). Refers to specific, articulated utterances or teachings. While logos often denotes the underlying concept or reasoning, rhēma typically points to the spoken word or specific utterance itself. Here, it denotes the concrete doctrinal instructions and precepts delivered by the apostles.
• which were spoken before (Greek: proeirēmenōn - προειρημένων). A perfect passive participle, indicating actions that took place in the past with continuing relevance. This emphasizes that these teachings are not new or novel, but pre-existing, foundational, and settled truths that anticipate and address the current dangers. They are a "prior word," a foundational deposit of truth.
• by the apostles (Greek: hypo tōn apostolōn - ὑπὸ τῶν ἀποστόλων). The apostles were divinely appointed and authorized messengers of Jesus Christ, uniquely entrusted with proclaiming and establishing Christian doctrine. Their words carried the authority of Christ Himself (cf. John 13:20; 1 Cor 14:37). This emphasizes the direct, authoritative source of the message believers must remember.
• of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Greek: tou Kyriou hēmōn Iēsou Christou - τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ). This phrase links the apostles' authority directly to the divine person and authority of Jesus Christ, establishing the supreme divine origin and validation of their message. It implies that to reject the apostles' teaching is to reject Christ Himself. "Lord" (Kyrios) signifies His sovereignty and divine status; "Jesus" (Iēsou) His humanity and saving work; "Christ" (Christou) His Messiahship and anointing.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• But you, beloved, remember: This opening serves as a direct, compassionate, yet urgent call to the true believers, distinguishing them from the reprobate. It’s an imperative to spiritual self-preservation through active memory of truth, setting a firm line between faithful obedience and wandering apostasy.
• the words which were spoken before: This phrase highlights the nature of Christian doctrine as a static, delivered, and prior revelation, not subject to innovation or adaptation based on current trends or new "spiritual" insights. It underscores the foundational integrity and immutability of apostolic teaching as given.
• by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: This full designation asserts the highest possible authority for the words in question. It roots the apostles' message not in human wisdom or tradition, but in their direct commission from and representation of the reigning Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This means their teaching is fundamentally God's teaching, bearing ultimate divine weight and demanding unquestioning adherence.

Jude 1 17 Bonus section

The phrase "the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ" subtly reinforces the unified message of these foundational figures. It suggests a singular, coherent body of truth delivered by those commissioned by Christ, precluding the idea that different apostles taught contradictory doctrines. This concept of a unified "apostolic deposit" is crucial for Christian orthodoxy, providing a fixed point of reference against theological drift. The exhortation here also highlights the enduring relevance of apostolic teaching (now preserved in the New Testament Scriptures) for believers across all generations. The threats Jude addressed (immorality, contempt for authority, sensual indulgence disguised as spirituality) are perennial, and thus, the defense mechanism—remembering and adhering to Christ-sanctioned apostolic doctrine—remains equally vital for the church today.

Jude 1 17 Commentary

Jude 1:17 provides the essential antidote to the poison of false doctrine: a firm recollection of established truth. After painting a bleak picture of the corrupt "dreamers" who lead others astray, Jude does not leave his readers without hope or direction. Instead, he directs them to the stable, unchanging bedrock of faith: the original, divinely-sanctioned teachings delivered by the apostles. This is not a call to innovative theological speculation or seeking new revelations, but to an unwavering commitment to the already "spoken before" word.

The command to "remember" (mnēsthēte) implies more than mere intellectual recall; it necessitates a deep-seated apprehension and application of the truth to life. It's an active mental engagement and a resolute clinging to foundational doctrine. This provides the criteria for discernment: any teaching that deviates from what the apostles taught under the authority of Jesus Christ is suspect and must be rejected. In an era where theological novelties could quickly arise, Jude urges his audience to look back to the origins of their faith, specifically to those chosen by Christ Himself to lay the doctrinal foundation of the church. This reliance on the authoritative "apostolic deposit" forms the basis for maintaining doctrinal purity and resisting the insidious influence of spiritual imposters. It is a powerful reminder that spiritual maturity involves not just receiving truth but continually returning to and living by it.