Question 1

What does Jude 1:18 mean?

Accepted Answer

Jude 1:18 warns that in the last days, there will be people who mock and follow their own ungodly desires instead of living by God’s ways. The verse points out that this was something the believers had already been told to expect. Jude, the brother of James, is writing to early Christians, reminding them of a warning given by the apostles. The situation is one of concern about false teachers and people who live without regard for what is right. Jude highlights that these “mockers” are not just skeptics, but people who let their own selfish and irreverent cravings guide their actions, which sets them apart from the faithful.

Question 2

The Greek behind Jude 1:18

Accepted Answer

ἐμπαῖκται (empaiktai, “mockers”): This word means people who make fun of or ridicule others, especially those who hold to faith. It carries a sense of open disrespect, not just private doubt. ἐπιθυμίαις (epithymiais, “lusts”): This word refers to strong desires or cravings, often with a negative sense of uncontrolled or wrongful longing. Here, it highlights that the mockers are led by their own urges rather than by any moral standard. ἀσεβεῖαις (asebeiais, “ungodly”): This word means lacking reverence or respect for God. It points to a lifestyle that is not just morally loose, but openly irreverent. ἐσχάτου (eschatou, “last”): This word means “last” or “final,” referring to the end times or a period of final testing. It shows that Jude is talking about a future period of particular challenge for believers.

Question 3

Why Jude 1:18 matters

Accepted Answer

Jude 1:18 clears up that the presence of mockers and ungodly behavior is not a surprise or a sign that faith is failing, but something believers were told to expect. The verse emphasizes that the real problem is not just disbelief, but a way of living driven by selfish and irreverent desires, which helps readers understand the deeper issue at stake. Jude 1:18 connects to the wider warning in Jude about false teachers and those who cause division, showing that these behaviors are part of a pattern the early church was already being warned about.

Jude 1:18 (KJV)