1Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and a brother of James, to those who are called and sanctified by God, the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: 2Mercy, peace, and love, be multiplied to you. 3Beloved, while I had eagerly planned to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write, instead, to urge you to earnestly contend for the faith that was entrusted, once for all, to God’s holy people. 4Becaues some ungodly people have slipped in among you, who say that God’s marvelous grace gives us license to live immoral lives with impunity. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago; for they have denied and rejected our only true Master, our Lord Jesus Christ. 5Although you already know all this, I will remind you, that the Lord, having rescued His people out of the land of Egypt, later destroyed those that did not believe. 6And the angels that did not stay within the bounds of their first positions of authority, but abandoned their proper place – these, he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains until the great day of judgment. 7In a similar fashion, Sodom, Gomorrah, and the surrounding towns, that gave themselves over to sexual immorality and perversion, are set out as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire, 8In that same way, these filthy dreamers also defiled and polluted their bodies, despising and rejecting authority, and speaking evil of celestial beings. 9Yet even Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil over the body of Moses, did not dare to accuse Satan of blasphemy, but instead said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10But these people scoff at and slander the things they do not understand - the very things that even unthinking brutes instinctively know will destroy them. 11Woe unto them! For they have chosen the way of Cain, and have rushed greedily after the error of Balaam for profit, and have been destroyed by the rebellion of Korah (Num.16:1). 12These people eat with you at your fellowship feasts, feeding themselves without fear. They are like clouds that blow across the land without giving rain, carried about by winds; like shepherds who feed only themselves; like trees whose fruit withers, unproductive, uprooted and twice dead; 13Like wild raging waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds; wandering stars, for which the blackness of darkness is reserved forever. In verse 8, the Greek word translated as “celestial beings” is rare in the New Testament, occurring in only three verses: 1Peter 1:11, 2Peter 2:10, and here in Jude 1:8. It first appears in 1st Peter 1:11, where it is rendered as “glory” or “glories” by 23 of 24 English translations. But here and in 2Peter 2:10, the word is used in a different context from that occurrence in 1st Peter 1:11, and it offers no insight on the question of what are these entities that are translated as “celestial beings” here in verse 8, as well as in 2Peter 2:10. There is really no consensus among 24 English translations; nor agreement among Bible scholars as to what (or who) “dignities” refers to. Ellicott’s Commentary says, “The exact meaning of ‘dignities’, (or ‘glories’) is not clear.” That is perhaps the clearest of commentaries on the subject! Some opine that “dignities” does not refer to earthly powers (governmental authorities) – while others allow that the earthly powers, as well as angelic beings, may be referred to. Still others say it means “unseen powers worthy of reverence.” One commentary referred to them as “supernatural beings,” whatever they might be! The most ‘popular’ rendering (11 of 24) is for “glorious ones” or “glorious beings”. And while the question cannot be answered with any degree of certainty; and the most ‘popular’ rendering of that rare Greek word is as either “glorious ones” or “glorious beings” (11 of 24 translations), a rendering of “celestial beings” seems the better choice for the RFP Bible, along with this caveat. In verse 14, those who will accompany Christ in His glorious and triumphant second coming (Matt.25:31) are called “His holy ones” or “His saints”, depending upon the translation. Opinions vary among commentaries as to exactly who will make up His glorious entourage. Among those they mention are: “God’s angels”; “heavenly beings”; “redeemed saints”; “Christians”’; and “the souls of glorified saints … reunited to their own bodies, which will then be raised”. So it will be large and perhaps widely varying. 14And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints (holy ones), 15To execute judgment on all the people of the world, and to convict all that are ungodly among them of all the evil deeds which they have wickedly committed, and of all the defiant words which these sinners have spoken against Him.” 16These people are murmurers, complainers, pursuing their own evil lust; and bragging loudly about themselves. They flatter others to gain advantage and to get their way. 17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted: 18How they told you there would be scoffers in the last times, who will pursue their own ungodly lusts. 19These are those who would create divisions among you – sensual, not having the Spirit. 20But, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21Keep yourselves in the love of God, as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life. 22And be merciful and compassionate to those with doubts; 23And rescue others with love, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the sins that stained their corrupted lives. 24Now unto Him Who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before His glorious presence with great joy - 25To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. 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