“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,” (Jude 1a (ESV)
The Epistle of Jude’s first word “Jude” raises the question as to the identity of this individual. The Hebrew name “Judah” or in the Greek “Judas” is comparable to the English name “Jude.” The author’s identity cannot be ascertained solely based upon his name.
There are at least six individuals in the Scriptures who have this name Jude. Those who bore the name Jude include the following:
- Judas the son of James – Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13. One of the twelve disciples. He was also called Thaddeus. However, the author of this book does not call himself an apostle.
- Judas Iscariot – Luke 6:16; Acts 1:15-20. For obvious reasons, the writer cannot be Judas Iscariot.
- Judas the Galilean – Acts 5:37. He was a revolutionary who was killed because of his subversive activities.
- Judas Barsabbas – Acts 15:22-32. He was present at the Jerusalem Council and served as letter carrier to the Gentile Churches.
- Judas – Luke 3:33. An ancestor of Jesus.
- Judas – Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). The brother of James and the half-brother of Jesus.
It is evident that this final individual listed is the author of this epistle. Why? Today’s text provides the best evidence as to Jude’s identity; “brother of James.”
“The best clue as to his identity is the description “brother of James (vs.1). The only James known well enough in the early church to be referred to in this unqualified way is James the prominent church leader (Acts 12:17; 15:13), author of the epistle that bears his name, and half-brother of Jesus (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3; Gal. 1 :19). If this identification is correct, the author of the present epistle is Jude, the half-brother of Jesus (Matt. 13 :55; Mark 6:3), who, along with his other brothers, did not believe in Jesus until after the resurrection (Mark 3:21, 31; John 7:5; Acts 1:14),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Jude does not mention his father but rather his brother; James. Why? James was the pastor of the church in Jerusalem and the author of the Epistle of James. How can we be sure that this is the James to whom Jude is referring? Because no other James mentioned in Scripture also is identified as a brother of our Lord except Jude and James. Others in scripture who had the name James are also as follows:
- James the son of Zebedee (Matthew 10:2).
- James the son of Alpheus (Matthew 10:3).
- James the younger (Mark 15:40).
- James the father of Judas (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13).
- James the half-brother of our Lord (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; Acts 15:13; 1Cor. 15:7; Gal. 1:19; 2:9;).
“From the self-identification of Judas as the brother of James we conclude that Jude, the (half) brother of Jesus, is the author who wrote the epistle. Notice that he does not call himself an apostle. Were that the case, we would know that the writer was Judas, the son of James. Instead, in his epistle the author separates himself from the apostles when he writes, “Remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold” (v. 17),” states Dr. Simon Kistemaker.
“Further corroboration comes from a second-century Jewish-Christian historian named Hegesippus. He relates that grandsons of Jude (“who is said to have been the brother, according to the flesh, of the Saviour”) were summoned before Emperor Domitian. This summons presumably took place in a.d. 96. When the emperor saw their calloused hands and learned of their meager income, he despised them as inferior people and dismissed them.”
Keeping with the epistle’s characteristic of triads, following his name, and prior to him mentioning his relationship to James, Jude identified himself as “a servant of Jesus Christ.”
A great deal is discovered about an individual by observing what they do not say about themselves. Jude does not call himself a brother of Jesus (vs.1). Neither did James (James 1:1). Jude recognized physical kinship to Jesus did not give him any special privileges. As should all believers in Christ, he recognized Jesus as his Lord and Master.
We also learn a great deal about an individual by observing what they do say about themselves. Jude called himself a bondservant (δοῦλος; doulos), or a slave. This was a subjection without the idea of forced bondage. Servant described a relationship of absolute dependence in which the total commitment of the δοῦλος on the one side corresponded to the total claim of the Lord or Master (κύριος; kurios) on the other. Notice, Jude did not claim apostleship.
The phrase “of Jesus Christ” referred to absolute and sole possession. Jesus Christ, the only Savior and Lord, possessed Jude. Jude understood this and willingly submitted to the Lord’s authority. He was the Lord’s slave.
“He knew what slave meant. He lived in a world of slavery. He was a slave in world of slaves, and this was a very familiar way to designate oneself. Paul, Romans 1:1, a bondservant of Christ Jesus. Paul loved that designation. Philippians 1:1, Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Christ Jesus. And even Peter saw himself the same way, 2 Peter 1:1, Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ. And though we as Christians are free from the law and we’re free from its condemnation, we are still slaves to righteousness and slaves to the righteous One,” concludes Dr. John MacArthur.
How do you refer to yourself? Are you enamored with your titles, power and position? What a privilege it is to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Each of us who claim the Lord to be our Savior, may we live out in practice what we are in position; slaves in humble service for the Master.
Soli deo Gloria!
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