Jensens survey of the old testament adam 609

“certain men” (e.g., v. 4).165 This stirred
Jude to write what Dean Alford has called
“an impassioned invective, in the impetuous
whirlwind of which the writer is hurried
along … laboring for words and images
strong enough to depict the polluted
character of the licentious apostates against
whom he is warning the Church.”176 It is
for this content that S. Maxwell Coder calls
the book of Jude “The Acts of the
Apostates.” Read verses 3, 17, 21, and 22 for
Jude’s commands to his readers in view of
the threatening situation.
D. CANONICITY
Like 2 and 3 John, Jude was not
recognized as canonical as early as were the
longer books of the New Testament. Its
brevity, nonapos-tolic authorship, polemical


character, and apparent use of apocryphal
sources delayed the church’s acceptance.
But the acceptance came, and the epistle
deservedly found its place among the other
inspired New Testament books.18
E. REFERENCES TO OLD TESTAMENT
HISTORY
For background to Jude’s references to
past history, read the passages cited in the
accompanying chart.
JUDE’S REFERENCES TO THE OLD

TESTAMENT


XXVIII. SURVEY OF JUDE
A. READINGS
1. First mark paragraph divisions in your
Bible beginning at verses 1, 3, 5, 8, 14, 17,
24.
2. Read the epistle once or twice for initial
observations.
What
are
your
rst
impressions? Assign a title to each
paragraph.
3. What is the general tone of the epistle?
What is Jude’s main burden?
4. How much Old Testament history does
Jude use to support his message?
5. What paragraphs mainly have an Old
Testament historical association? What
paragraphs diagnose the times of Jude’s
writing?


6. Observe every appearance of the word
“beloved” and the phrase “but you,
beloved.”
7. Compare the rst two and the last two

verses.
8. Where is there a main turning point in
the epistle?
9. Jude has been called the “vestibule to
the book of Revelation.” What future events
are cited?
10. From the things Jude says, how
intimately did he know his readers?
B. SURVEY CHART
1. Study Chart 119 carefully, and compare
outlines and observations with those you
made in your survey studies.
2. How is the turning point shown on the