Jude

Once a year I try to do a study on the book of Jude.  I really enjoy this little book and the wisdom that always finds its way into my mind as I study and meditate on its message.

This year I took a different approach: I looked at stuff surrounding the book.  For instance, who wrote the book?  First off, you have to realize that Jude is actually a corruption of Judas.  Yeah, would not do to have a book of the Bible penned by someone of the name of Judas!  And, there were four fairly high profile Judas' we know about in the first century.

The first one goes without saying, but he was dead by the time any of this would have been written - and really no one associated with the apostate Judas Iscariot would have saved anything written by him!

There was a Judas whom was the son (not brother as some versions have translated this) of James.

Then Judas of Damascus, where Saul stayed and did some soul searching.

And, of course, Judas whom was Jesus' brother (Matthew 13:55).

So, four good candidates, one of whom must have lived long enough to warn the early Church of the coming of the apostates!  Personally, I like the idea of it being Jesus' half-brother.

So, you are raised a God-ly Jewish young man, your oldest brother is condemned and executed - probably in front of your eyes, if you were with your mother in Jerusalem.  And at some point, you come to realize that this older brother is the long awaited for Messiah!  Then like your brother James, you become involved.  Perhaps traveling to Ephesus with John (and since he had been given charge of Mary, then to be near your mother was well!).

Well, if nothing else, I am a romantic at heart.....