Who is Jude, and what is his relationship to Jesus and James in Jude 1:1? Name and Etymology “Jude” in English renders the Greek Ἰούδας (Ioudas), the same form translated elsewhere as “Judas.” The name corresponds to the Hebrew יְהוּדָה (Yehudah, “Judah,” “praise”). To avoid association with Judas Iscariot in English, translators traditionally shorten it to “Jude.” Canonical Self-Identification (Jude 1:1) “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James …” The writer claims two things: (1) he is δοῦλος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (“a slave/servant of Jesus Christ”) and (2) he is ἀδελφὸς Ἰακώβου (“brother of James”). The grammatical construction treats “brother” as a blood relationship, not a spiritual one. Relationship to James 1. The New Testament mentions only one James so prominent that a simple first-name reference needed no further description—James the Lord’s brother, head of the Jerusalem church (Galatians 1:19; Acts 15:13). 2. Jude’s appeal to that well-known James supplies apostolic credibility. Were he citing the lesser-known apostle James the son of Alphaeus, he would have added clarification. 3. Early Christian writers concur. Hegesippus (c. AD 170) calls Jude “the brother of the Lord according to the flesh” and records examination of Jude’s grandsons under Domitian (Eusebius, Hist. Ecclesiastes 3.19-20). Relationship to Jesus Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3 list Jesus’ siblings: “James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.” The order begins with James, ends with Judas—mirroring Jude 1:1. Scripture therefore places Jude among Jesus’ adelphoi (a term that, in first-century Jewish usage, denotes biological brothers when listed with parents and sisters). Further New Testament data: • John 7:5 shows the brothers’ initial unbelief. • Acts 1:14 records their presence among the earliest believers after the Resurrection. • 1 Corinthians 9:5 grants “the Lord’s brothers” apostolic traveling rights, implying subsequent missionary work that fits Jude’s self-description as a servant of Christ. Why Jude Omits “Brother of Jesus” Ancient Mediterranean etiquette frowned upon self-promotion. Jude chooses the honorific “slave of Jesus Christ,” emphasizing Christ’s lordship, and anchors his credibility by citing James—already recognized as Jerusalem’s chief elder. The humility echoes James 1:1 and parallels 2 Peter 1:1. Distinction from Other Men Named Judas/Jude 1. Judas Iscariot—the betrayer; obviously not our author. 2. Judas (Thaddaeus) the apostle—always paired with “of James” (Luke 6:16), probably “son of James,” not “brother.” No early source equates him with the epistle’s author. 3. Judas of Galilee (Acts 5:37)—a revolutionary figure ca. AD 6. Multiplicity of the name prompted the author to identify himself through James rather than the common patronymic “son of Joseph,” which would have been misunderstood after Joseph’s death. Historical and Patristic Witness • Clement of Alexandria (Stromateis 3.2) explicitly calls Jude “the brother of the Lord.” • Tertullian (De Cultu Feminarum 1.3) attributes the epistle to an apostolic man and cites it as canonical. • The Muratorian Fragment (c. AD 170–200) lists the Letter of Jude among accepted writings. Patristic unanimity on Jude’s familial connection bolsters internal evidence. Cultural-Legal Context of “Brother” First-century Jews distinguished between full brothers, half-brothers, and cousins through additional qualifiers when needed (e.g., “son of …”). The plain use of ἀδελφός without fatherly qualifier in Jude 1:1 mirrors Mark 6:3’s listing of Jesus’ siblings, reinforcing a natural-brother reading. Archaeological Corroboration The controversial James Ossuary (inscription: “James son of Joseph, brother of Jesus”)—while debated—demonstrates early inscriptional practice of naming a brother only when the brother was famed. Such usage is consistent with Jude identifying himself by James. Summary Jude, author of the epistle that bears his name, is best understood as: • the half-brother of Jesus Christ according to the flesh, • the full brother of James, the leader of the Jerusalem church, • a former skeptic converted by the Resurrection, • an authoritative missionary and Spirit-inspired writer whose short letter continues to warn the church against apostasy and to exhort believers “to contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). |
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