Jude 1:20 kjv

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Jude 1:20 nkjv

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

Jude 1:20 niv

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

Jude 1:20 esv

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

Jude 1:20 nlt

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,

Jude 1 verses

Jude 1 20 Meaning

Jude 1:20 instructs believers on how to persevere in faith amidst apostasy and false teaching. It calls for an active, self-driven spiritual construction (building yourselves up) upon the foundation of shared, revealed Christian truth ("your most holy faith"). This spiritual growth and establishment are enabled and empowered by prayer guided and energized by the Holy Spirit ("praying in the Holy Spirit"). The verse presents a contrast to the ungodly individuals Jude describes, who lack the Spirit and cause divisions. It emphasizes the collective responsibility of believers to mature in doctrine and godliness through spiritual discipline.

Jude 1 20 Context

The Epistle of Jude is a short, urgent warning against false teachers who have infiltrated the early Christian communities. The letter primarily serves as a powerful polemic, condemning these ungodly individuals (Jude 1:4), detailing their depraved character and deeds (Jude 1:8-16), and pronouncing their inevitable judgment (Jude 1:5-7, 14-15). Having spent most of the epistle on this stark warning, Jude then pivots in verses 20-23 to an exhortation for true believers. This particular verse (Jude 1:20) forms the core of Jude's positive command for spiritual preservation and growth amidst such threats. It directly contrasts the actions and spiritual state of the believers ("But you, beloved") with the sensual, divisive, and Spirit-less false teachers described in verse 19, offering a path for resilience and faithfulness. Historically, Jude was likely written to address nascent forms of antinomianism or libertinism within the church, where the grace of God was perverted into a license for immoral behavior, often accompanied by denials of Christ's authority or a rejection of spiritual disciplines.

Jude 1 20 Word analysis

• But you (ὑμεῖς δέ - hymeis de): The emphatic "But you" serves as a sharp contrast, turning the focus from the negative description of false teachers to the positive duty of true believers. It underscores the active role believers must take in their spiritual preservation.
• beloved (ἀγαπητοί - agapētoi): This affectionate term highlights the intimate relationship believers share with God and with one another through divine love. It underscores Jude's pastoral concern and assures the recipients of their identity and value, even when challenged.
• building yourselves up (ἐποικοδομοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς - epoikodomountes heautous):
  • building (ἐποικοδομοῦντες - epoikodomountes): A present participle, indicating a continuous and ongoing process of construction. The prefix "epi-" (upon/over) suggests building upon a foundation or upon something established.
  • yourselves up (ἑαυτοὺς - heautous): Emphasizes personal responsibility and active participation in one's own spiritual growth. It's not merely external teaching but internal appropriation and development. This self-edification contributes to the health of the broader body of believers.
  • Significance: Implies deliberate effort, spiritual labor, and adherence to sound architectural principles (the faith). It suggests progressive development, much like constructing a sturdy building block by block.
• on your most holy faith (τῇ ὑμῶν ἁγιωτάτῃ πίστει - tē hymōn hagiōtatē pistei):
  • on (τῇ - tē): The preposition here (implied by the dative case) signifies the foundation or basis upon which the building is constructed.
  • your (ὑμῶν - hymōn): Points to a shared, collective faith of the community of believers, distinct from a purely individual belief system.
  • most holy (ἁγιωτάτῃ - hagiōtatē): This is the superlative form of "holy" (hagios), indicating supreme sanctity, purity, and divine origin. It means utterly set apart by God. This "faith" is sacred, unadulterated truth.
  • faith (πίστει - pistei): In this context, "faith" primarily refers not just to subjective trust but to the objective body of Christian doctrine—the system of truth "once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). It is the unchanging, divine revelation that serves as the blueprint and foundation for all spiritual growth.
  • Significance: It underlines that true spiritual growth must be grounded in and consistently measured by pure, orthodox doctrine, opposing the false teachings that distorted or rejected this truth.
• praying in the Holy Spirit (ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ - en Pneumati Hagiō):
  • praying (προσευχόμενοι - proseuchomenoi): Present participle, indicating a continuous action, emphasizing prayer as an ongoing spiritual discipline.
  • in (ἐν - en): Signifies the sphere, agency, or power within which the praying occurs. It's not merely praying with the Spirit's help, but immersed in the Spirit, aligning one's prayers with His mind and will.
  • the Holy Spirit (Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ - Pneumati Hagiō): The third Person of the Trinity, the divine agent who empowers, inspires, guides, and enables believers' prayers.
  • Significance: This highlights that true, effective prayer is a supernatural act, not merely human words. It implies praying according to God's will (Rom 8:26-27), with fervor and spiritual understanding. It contrasts with the "devoid of the Spirit" individuals described previously (Jude 1:19), showcasing the vital presence and activity of the Spirit in genuine believers. It also distinguishes Christian prayer from pagan or formalistic prayer.

• "Building yourselves up on your most holy faith": This phrase emphasizes the foundational importance of doctrine (the content of faith) for spiritual growth. Just as a physical building needs a stable, pure foundation, so spiritual life needs robust, untainted truth. This is a deliberate, proactive, and continuous process for each believer.
• "Building yourselves up... praying in the Holy Spirit": These two participles signify simultaneous, complementary actions. Active engagement in spiritual growth (building) is intrinsically linked to and facilitated by prayer that is empowered by the Holy Spirit. One cannot truly grow without Spirit-led prayer, and effective prayer aims towards godly development. This also stands in stark contrast to the divisive nature and sensuality of false teachers.

Jude 1 20 Bonus section

The structure of Jude 1:20-21 forms a trinitarian charge: believers are to build themselves up in the faith (pointing to the work grounded in God's revelation of truth, perhaps implying the Son as the foundation), pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep themselves in the love of God the Father, awaiting Christ's mercy unto eternal life. This verse, therefore, is not isolated but part of a holistic pathway to spiritual preservation against apostasy, involving doctrinal rootedness, Spirit-empowered communication with God, and conscious living within divine love, all anticipating future glory. The phrase "most holy faith" further suggests its divine authorship and supernatural character, distinguishing it sharply from human philosophies or traditions. The Greek grammatical construction uses present participles for "building yourselves up" and "praying," indicating continuous action, not a one-time event, emphasizing persistent spiritual effort and devotion.

Jude 1 20 Commentary

Jude 1:20 is a foundational exhortation for Christian perseverance and spiritual vitality in an environment of spiritual deception. It calls believers to proactive spiritual discipline, acting as a direct counter-measure to the threats posed by false teachers. The command to "build yourselves up" underscores that spiritual maturity is not passive but requires diligent, continuous effort. This edification is securely grounded "on your most holy faith," meaning the pure, objective body of divine truth that was uniquely delivered to the saints. This fixed theological bedrock protects against the doctrinal shifting and heresies of the ungodly. Furthermore, the means to such robust growth is "praying in the Holy Spirit," highlighting prayer as a Spirit-energized activity that transcends mere human effort, aligning believers with divine will and empowering their spiritual journey. This Spirit-led prayer enables believers to maintain their connection to God and discern truth from error, guarding them against the destructive influence of those who are "devoid of the Spirit" (Jude 1:19). It encourages a deep, internal renewal rooted in the established truth, sustained by divine enablement through prayer.

• Example for Practical Usage: Faced with conflicting spiritual claims, a believer diligently studies the Scriptures (building on "most holy faith") and seeks clarity through fervent, heartfelt prayer (praying "in the Holy Spirit"), allowing the Spirit to guide their understanding and conviction rather than being swayed by popular, but unbiblical, ideas.