Jude was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ and the traditional author of the Epistle of Jude in the New Testament. He is often referred to as Jude Thaddeus to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot, another disciple who betrayed Jesus.
The name Jude means “praise” in Hebrew. He was also called Thaddeus, meaning “courageous heart.” Not much is known about Jude’s background except that he was the son of another disciple – James, the brother of Jesus. Jude and James were biological brothers, while the other disciples were brothers in a spiritual sense as followers of Christ.
Jude is mentioned by name a few times in the Gospels:
- In Matthew 10:3, Jude is listed among the twelve disciples Jesus called to be his apostles.
- In Mark 3:18 and Luke 6:16, he is again named among the twelve.
- In John 14:22, Jude is said to have asked Jesus why he planned to reveal himself to the disciples but not to the world.
Beyond those brief mentions, Jude did not play a prominent role in the Gospel narratives. Based on the biblical account, a few key facts emerge about his time with Jesus:
- He left everything behind when called by Jesus to be a disciple (Matthew 19:27).
- He was present at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:20).
- He witnessed Jesus’ resurrection appearances after his crucifixion (Acts 1:13).
After Christ’s ascension into heaven, Jude continued Jesus’ mission alongside the other apostles. He was likely an eyewitness to many of the events described in the book of Acts. Church tradition holds that Jude preached the gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Libya. Several places claim to have been evangelized by him.
Not much is known for certain about Jude’s later life. According to tradition, he died as a martyr, although accounts vary on where and how he was killed. The most common account states that he was clubbed to death and then beheaded around 65 AD in Beirut along with the apostle Simon the Zealot.
Jude’s Relation to Jesus
As mentioned, Jude was the brother of James and the half-brother of Jesus Christ. His father was Joseph, the husband of Mary. Joseph and Mary had children together after the birth of Jesus. Jesus and Jude would have grown up together in the same household.
Like his brothers, Jude initially did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah (John 7:5). But after witnessing the resurrected Christ, Jude became a zealous follower. His relationship to Jesus gave him authority and credibility as a leader in the early church.
Jude’s Authorship of the Epistle
The canonical Epistle or Letter of Jude is attributed to the disciple Jude. The letter is addressed to an unknown group of Christians and warns against ungodly teachers promoting licentiousness and rejecting Christ (Jude 1:4). Jude urges the recipients to contend for the faith delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). He draws examples from Old Testament history of God punishing the wicked to drive home the point.
There are good reasons to accept Jude’s authorship of this letter:
- The letter identifies the author as “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James” (Jude 1:1). This strongly implies the Jude who was Jesus’ half-brother.
- The letter reflects Jewish thought and language, consistent with a Jewish author steeped in the Old Testament scriptures.
- The author shows authority and knowledge of the apostles’ teachings.
- The early church unanimously accepted it as written by Jude.
However, some modern scholars have questioned whether Jude the half-brother of Jesus wrote the letter or Jude the apostle. Arguments against apostolic authorship include:
- The author does not explicitly claim to be one of the twelve apostles.
- The Greek language is very good, implying Jude may have used a Greek secretary to compose the letter.
- The letter was disputed by some in the early church, implying apostolic authorship was not widely accepted initially.
While absolute certainty is impossible, responsible scholarship affirms that the most likely explanation is the traditional one – that the apostle Jude wrote the letter that bears his name.
Key Themes of Jude’s Letter
This short but powerful epistle contains warnings against apostasy and calls believers to persevere in the faith. Some key themes of Jude include:
- Contend for the faith – Believers must stand firm for orthodox doctrine passed down from the apostles (Jude 1:3).
- False teachers will arise – Ungodly persons sneak into the church and lead others astray (Jude 1:4).
- God judges the wicked – Examples like fallen angels, Sodom and Gomorrah show that God punishes unrighteousness (Jude 1:5-7).
- Resist spiritual corruption – Do not be like Cain, Balaam, and Korah who rebelled and were destroyed (Jude 1:8-13).
- Persevere in Christ – Keep yourself in God’s love as you wait for Jesus’ return (Jude 1:20-21).
Jude uses vivid imagery and references shared biblical history to motivate his readers to protect true doctrine and not be led astray.
Jude’s Relevance for Today
While short, the book of Jude remains very applicable today. In a time when biblical truth is often watered down or compromised, Jude’s call to contend for the faith resonates. His warnings against false teaching are prescient for current theological confusion in the church regarding sexuality, the atonement, the resurrection, and more. Christians must heed Jude’s admonition to keep ourselves in the love of God and Christ’s truth (Jude 1:21).
Jude also reminds believers of God’s justice. Scoffers may doubt divine judgment, but Jude upholds God’s righteousness. He emphasizes that the wicked cannot rebel forever but will ultimately pay for their sin. This brings comfort that morality and truth will triumph in the end.
Finally, Jude offers hope. Despite surrounding immorality, Christians can persevere by rooting themselves in faith, prayer, and God’s love. Jude’s exhortations to contend, resist, and keep ourselves in Christ provide a roadmap for remaining steadfast even amid confusion and apostasy. His words spur believers to passionately pursue holiness while anticipating eternal life.
In summary, Jude played a supporting role among Christ’s apostles, but his eponymous letter preserves teachings vital for Christians in every generation. Jude’s warnings against falsehood and encouragement to persevere equip believers to stand firm in the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).
Other Men Named Jude in the New Testament
There are several other New Testament characters named Jude or Judas besides the apostle:
- Judas the Galilean – He led a tax revolt against Rome around 6 AD mentioned in Acts 5:37.
- Judas Barsabbas – A prophet and teacher in the Jerusalem church sent with Silas to Antioch (Acts 15:22, 32).
- Judas Iscariot – The disciple who betrayed Jesus, often referred to as “Judas” (Matthew 26:14-16).
- Judas son of James – Listed as one of Jesus’ brothers along with Jude (Luke 6:16).
- Judas of Damascus – A Christian prophet at Damascus when Paul converted (Acts 9:11).
The name was common in the first century. But the Jude discussed in this article refers specifically to Jude the brother of James and apostle of Jesus Christ.
Jude in Christian Art and Symbolism
In Christian art, Jude is traditionally depicted with a club and a ship. The club represents how he was martyred, while the boat symbolizes his evangelistic travels:
- A club – Jude was beaten to death with a club before being beheaded, according to tradition.
- A boat – Jude used boats to spread the gospel throughout the Mediterranean region.
- Carpenter’s rule – He was from a family of carpenters and construction workers.
- Coins or bag of money – Emphasize his betrayal for money like Judas Iscariot.
- Carpentry square or tools – Represent his profession before following Christ.
- Stones – The means by which he was martyred according to some accounts.
- Flames around head – Indicate how he accepted martyrdom by fire for his faith.
Jude is often depicted in a group with other apostles or with his brother James. As one of the less prominent apostles, Jude frequently stands in the background.
Feast Day
Jude’s feast day in the Catholic church is October 28. This commemorates his martyrdom and joins his celebration with Simon the Zealot’s feast day. The Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates Jude on June 19. Some denominations have removed Jude from their liturgical calendars due to the obscurity of his identity and connection to the New Testament letter.
Significance and Legacy
While Jude does not have the name recognition of Peter, James, John and other apostles, he still contributed to the foundation of Christianity. As one of the twelve apostles, he helped spread the gospel after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. His letter is a short but significant book of the New Testament that still instructs believers today. Along with the other apostles, Jude is memorialized in Revelation 21:14 as one of the twelve foundations of the wall of the New Jerusalem.
Jude’s legacy survives through his namesakes who carried on his mission in the early church. Traditions hold that two of Christ’s grandnephews became bishops in the church: Jude the Zealot and Zachaeus the Bishop. Both were reputedly children of Jude’s brother Clopas. Jude Thaddeus is also celebrated as one of the first Christian missionaries to bring the gospel message to the Middle East.
Overall, Jude faithfully fulfilled his supporting role among the twelve disciples. He exemplified courage in following Jesus despite initial unbelief in his ministry. Jude’s letter continues to inspire believers to contend for true faith, resist falsehood, and keep themselves in the love of God while awaiting Christ’s return. The obscurity Jude endured in life has, in a way, become a mark of authenticity that supports his faithful service to Christ.