ENEMY ILLUSTRATIONS – Jude 12-13

What this episode covers

Jude, in admonishing the church of all ages, writes to equip his sincere readers to contend for the once for all, immutable faith delivered to the saints of all ages. His brief letter nevertheless contains thorough training for the believer to discern and oppose enemies of the gospel. The scope of what we are to stand against as the Christian church includes anything and anyone that would deny or diminish the glory, majesty, dominion, and authority of Jesus Christ our Lord (25). To help us identify the enemy, our last passage featured 3 cautionary tales or warning stories that Jude references from the Old Testament. He informs us that false teachers and other enemies of Christ follow the way of Cain, Balaam's error, and Korah's rebellion. Our passage today goes further to illustrate by use of 6 analogies. He compares these scoffers and worldly people (18,19) to: hidden reefs, selfish shepherds, waterless clouds, fruitless trees, wild waves, and wandering stars. A logic book we use in homeschooling our kids: “The Fallacy Detective” covers the concept of 'analogy' at some length. The author draws a distinction between scientific and poetic analogies. The first seeks to draw an inference based on evidence, the 2nd uses comparisons as a literary device to illustrate a point. Jude utilizes six text book poetic analogies in verses 12 and 13 to relay the danger and character of wolves in sheep's clothing hiding in the assembly of believers. Here we learn, when their true character is revealed, why they are so out of place at the 'love feast' of the saints..

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