For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
JUDE 1:4KJVWhat does Jude 1:4 mean?
Jude 1:4 warns that certain people have secretly joined the community who were long ago marked for judgment because of their ungodly behavior. These people misuse God’s grace as an excuse for immoral living and deny the authority of Jesus Christ.
Jude, a servant of Jesus and brother of James, writes to early Christians to alert them about deceptive individuals within their group. He describes these people as “crept in unawares,” meaning they entered unnoticed, and says their actions twist God’s kindness into a license for wrongdoing. Jude emphasizes that their denial of Jesus and their immoral choices were foreseen and condemned long before.
The Greek behind Jude 1:4
- "Crept in unawares" (παρεισέδυσαν, pareisedysan): This Greek word means to slip in secretly or sneak in by stealth. Jude uses it to show that these people did not enter openly but blended in without being noticed.
- "Turning" (μετατιθέντες, metatithentes): The Greek here means to change or pervert. Jude is saying these people are actively twisting the meaning of God’s grace, not just misunderstanding it.
- "Lasciviousness" (ἀσέλγεια, aselgeia): This word refers to unrestrained, shameless behavior, especially in a moral sense. Jude is highlighting that these individuals use the idea of grace to justify actions that go against God’s standards.
- "Denying" (ἀρνούμενοι, arnoumenoi): The Greek means to reject or disown. Jude points out that these people are not just making mistakes but are actively rejecting the authority of Jesus Christ.
Why Jude 1:4 matters
- Jude 1:4 clarifies that not everyone who appears to be part of the Christian community truly follows its teachings; some may secretly oppose its core beliefs.
- The verse warns against using God’s grace as an excuse for immoral behavior, making clear that grace is not permission to do whatever one wants.
- Jude’s words set the stage for the rest of his letter, which continues to address the danger of false teachers and the importance of holding to true faith.