Jude 1:22 kjv
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jude 1:22 nkjv
And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
Jude 1:22 niv
Be merciful to those who doubt;
Jude 1:22 esv
And have mercy on those who doubt;
Jude 1:22 nlt
And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.
Jude 1 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 9:13 | "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." | Prioritizing mercy over ritual observance. |
| Matt 5:7 | "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." | The blessedness of showing compassion. |
| Luke 6:36 | "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." | Reflecting God's character of mercy. |
| Rom 12:8 | "If it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." | Practicing mercy with a joyful spirit. |
| Col 3:12 | "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." | Adorning oneself with merciful virtues. |
| Prov 11:17 | "The merciful man does himself good." | The benefits of extending mercy. |
| Exo 34:6 | "The LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." | God's fundamental nature of mercy. |
| 1 Cor 2:15 | "The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one." | Spiritual discernment. |
| 1 Cor 12:10 | "to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discernment of spirits" | The spiritual gift of discernment. |
| Phil 1:9-10 | "that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless" | Discerning God's will for living. |
| Rom 14:1 | "As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over disputable matters." | Welcoming the weak in faith. |
| Gal 6:1 | "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness." | Restoring the erring with gentleness. |
| James 1:6 | "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea" | The instability caused by doubt. |
| Rom 14:23 | "For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." | Actions not stemming from faith are sin. |
| Mark 9:24 | "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”" | A plea for help with unbelief. |
| Matt 14:31 | "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'" | Jesus' compassion for Peter's doubt. |
| Heb 11:6 | "And without faith it is impossible to please him" | The necessity of faith. |
| 2 Tim 2:24-25 | "The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness." | Gentleness in correction. |
| 1 Pet 4:8 | "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." | The forgiving nature of love. |
| John 13:34-35 | "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." | The core commandment to love. |
| Rom 15:1 | "We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves." | Bearing with the weak in faith. |
| Acts 20:31 | "be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears." | Vigilance and compassionate admonition. |
| Titus 3:2 | "to slander no one, to be peaceable and gentle, showing perfect courtesy toward all people." | Practicing gentle behavior towards all. |
| Heb 5:2 | "He can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray" | High priest's ability to show mercy. |
Jude 1 verses
Jude 1 22 Meaning
Jude 1:22 instructs believers to exercise compassionate discernment towards individuals influenced by the prevalent false teachings or those wavering in their faith. It highlights the necessity of treating some with mercy and understanding, recognizing their struggle with doubt, and approaching them with wisdom to lead them back to truth, distinguishing them from those who are defiantly rebellious or corrupt.
Jude 1 22 Context
The Book of Jude is a short, urgent epistle warning believers against false teachers and their immoral influence within the nascent Christian community. Jude's primary purpose is to exhort his readers to "contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). Immediately preceding verse 22, Jude has described the characteristics and ultimate judgment of these impious, ungodly individuals who corrupt the church from within. Verse 22, along with verse 23, transitions from a focus on the condemnation of false teachers to the believers' responsibility to minister to those affected by their destructive influence. It outlines a differentiated approach, emphasizing mercy for the wavering, urgency for those nearing destruction, and cautious fear concerning the deeply defiled. This verse, therefore, highlights how to exercise spiritual responsibility amidst pervasive spiritual danger.
Jude 1 22 Word analysis
And of some: The phrase "some" indicates a specific subset, not all individuals encountered. It highlights the need for discernment, recognizing that not everyone should be approached in the same manner. This implies a deliberate act of categorization or identification on the part of the believer.
have compassion: From the Greek word eleeō (ἐλεέω). This means to show pity, have mercy, or exercise compassion. It denotes an active response to seeing someone in distress, often including providing practical help or showing kindness to those who are suffering, in this context, suffering from spiritual deception or weakness. This is a core Christian virtue reflecting God's own character.
making a difference: This phrase, particularly in the King James Version, translates the Greek diakrinō (διακρίνω). This verb has multiple facets:
- To discern, judge, make a distinction: This interpretation suggests that the believers are to carefully evaluate or distinguish between different kinds of people and apply varying levels of mercy based on that discernment. They "make a difference" in how they minister to different groups.
- To doubt, waver, be unstable: In the passive voice (as it often appears), diakrinō can mean "to be doubtful," "to hesitate," or "to waver in judgment." Many modern translations (e.g., ESV, NIV, NASB) favor this rendering, translating it as "on those who doubt" or "on those who are wavering." This emphasizes the condition of the recipients of mercy.
- The ambiguity of diakrinō in this context means Jude could be instructing believers to (1) "have mercy on some, discerning [between them]," or (2) "have mercy on some who are doubting/wavering." Both senses underscore the need for discernment and targeted compassion in ministry.
Words-group Analysis:
- "And of some have compassion": This grouping points to the selective and empathetic approach required. It is not indiscriminate mercy for all, but a discerning compassion for a specific group of individuals who are vulnerable to error. It foregrounds mercy as the foundational attitude.
- "have compassion, making a difference" / "have mercy on those who doubt": This phrase represents the critical tension and key instruction of the verse. It encapsulates the core message of differentiated ministry. Whether it is compassion with discernment, or compassion for those in a state of doubt, the instruction is to not apply a uniform approach to all, but to thoughtfully respond to varied spiritual conditions within the community. It sets up the further distinctions in Jude 1:23 regarding rescue and caution.
Jude 1 22 Bonus section
The injunction in Jude 1:22 stands in direct opposition to the Gnostic tendencies or legalistic judgmentalism that might pervade communities. It emphasizes active, pastoral engagement over passive condemnation. This verse highlights a fundamental principle of Christian ministry: dealing with individuals according to their spiritual state. It moves the believer from simply knowing error to actively working for the spiritual welfare of others, prioritizing their rescue and restoration while maintaining truth. The careful distinctions made in Jude 1:22-23 imply a high degree of spiritual maturity is required to navigate these situations correctly, demonstrating both mercy and an abhorrence of evil.
Jude 1 22 Commentary
Jude 1:22 provides vital practical instruction for contending for the faith in the face of spiritual compromise. It is a call to wisdom in ministry, particularly towards those who are weak or struggling, distinguishing them from the reprobate. The essence is that genuine spiritual battle is not waged with harsh condemnation towards all, but with Spirit-led discernment and overflowing compassion. Believers are not to react to error with blind severity but to lovingly engage with those who, perhaps out of ignorance, confusion, or weakness, have begun to drift or question foundational truths due to false teachings. This compassionate stance provides a stark contrast to the judgmental and self-serving spirit of the false teachers themselves. It shows that maintaining theological integrity is intertwined with relational grace, especially towards those caught in doubt or wavering.
Examples for practical usage:
- A church member is asking skeptical questions about certain doctrines due to external influences: Engage them gently, listening to their doubts, and patiently offering clear biblical teaching, rather than dismissing them or shunning them.
- Someone struggles with a particular sin not out of malice, but weakness and despair: Extend grace and offer accountability in love, helping them find restoration.