Jude Ἰούδας
A brother of Jesus and author of the epistle
Who is Jude in the Bible?
Jude was a brother of Jesus Christ and the author of the Epistle of Jude, one of the shortest books in the New Testament. Also known as Judas (not Iscariot), he is mentioned alongside Jesus' other siblings in the Gospel accounts (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3) and identifies himself as "Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James" in his epistle (Jude 1:1). Growing up in Nazareth with Jesus, Jude initially did not believe in his brother during Jesus' earthly ministry (John 7:5), but came to faith in Christ after the resurrection and is found among the believers in Jerusalem (Acts 1:14). His epistle, written to warn believers against false teachers, emphasizes the importance of contending for the faith and remains significant as an authoritative apostolic letter on doctrinal purity.
Biography
Jude, also known as Judas (not Iscariot), was one of the brothers of Jesus Christ and the author of the Epistle of Jude. He is mentioned in the lists of Jesus' siblings in the Gospels (Mat.13.55; Mrk.6.3) and identifies himself as "Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James" in his epistle (Jud.1.1).
As one of Jesus' brothers, Jude would have grown up in the same household as Jesus in Nazareth. The Gospels mention that during Jesus' earthly ministry, His brothers did not believe in Him (Jhn.7.5). However, after the resurrection, they are found among the believers (Act.1.14), indicating that they came to faith in Christ.
Jude's epistle is one of the shortest books in the New Testament, consisting of only 25 verses. In it, he urges the believers to contend for the faith and warns against false teachers who have crept into the church (Jud.1.3-4). He employs various examples from the Old Testament and Jewish literature to illustrate the consequences of unbelief and rebellion against God (Jud.1.5-16).
The epistle of Jude emphasizes the importance of persevering in the faith, building up oneself in the love of God, and showing mercy to those who doubt (Jud.1.20-23). It concludes with a doxology, praising God for His ability to keep believers from stumbling and to present them blameless before His presence with great joy (Jud.1.24-25).
Apart from his epistle and the mention of his name in the lists of Jesus' brothers, no other details about Jude's life or ministry are provided in the Bible.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Jesus Tribe of JudahSon of JosephThe Son of God and Savior of the world.View full profile →
- James Tribe of JudahSon of JosephJesus' brother, leader in the Jerusalem churchView full profile →
- Joses Tribe of JudahSon of JosephBrother of Jesus and son of MaryView full profile →
- Simon MaleA tanner in Joppa who hosted Peter.View full profile →
In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 3 with study contentJude 1 verse
- Jude 1:1
"Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who are called, loved by God the Father, and kept in Jesus Christ:"
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Matthew 1 verse
- Matthew 13:55
"“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?"
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Mark 1 verse
- Mark 6:3
"Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Ἰούδας | Ioúdas | Judas (i.e. Jehudah), the name of ten Israelites; also of the posterity of one of them and its region |
| (same form as previous) | Greek | Ἰούδας | Ioúdas | Judas (i.e. Jehudah), the name of ten Israelites; also of the posterity of one of them and its region |
| (same form as previous) | Greek | Ἰούδας | Ioúdas | Judas (i.e. Jehudah), the name of ten Israelites; also of the posterity of one of them and its region |
Encyclopedia Article
ISBE 1915 (Public Domain)