Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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JUDE, EPISTLE OF

A letter of the Apostle Jude, surnamed Thaddaeus, written to strengthen the faith of Hebrew converts to Christianity. It is therefore a warning against false prophets. Illustrations are drawn from the Old Testament, but also from Jewish apocalyptic literature, namely the Assumption of Moses and the Book of Enoch. The evidence of previous divine punishments is a prophetic assurance that a similar punishment awaits depraved teachers. Most probably written at Jerusalem before the destruction of the city in A.D. 70, the epistle vindicates the mysterious character of the Christian faith, against those who "abuse anything they do not understand" (Jude 10).