Jude 1:24

Context

The Epistle of Jude is a short letter written by Jude, who identifies himself as "the brother of James," to warn against false teachers who had crept into the church unnoticed. Most of the letter warns of their licentiousness and of the judgment awaiting them. Near the end, in verses 20–23, the author exhorts his readers to build themselves up on their faith and to "keep yourselves in the love of God." He then closes the letter with the doxology (a formula of praise ascribing glory to God) of verses 24–25. Verse 24 is the part of this doxology that describes the God who is being praised.

The exhortation of verse 21, "keep yourselves," is paired with the phrase in verse 24, "him that is able to keep you." Together they also echo the greeting of verse 1, which is addressed to those who are "preserved," so that the theme frames the letter from beginning to end.

Interpretation

The Korean rendering "거침이 없게" (KJV: "from falling") does not mean being free of obstacles but being kept from stumbling, that is, from falling away from the faith. The Greek word translated "faultless" is related to the term used in Old Testament sacrifice for an unblemished offering. The expression "to present you ... before the presence of his glory" is generally understood to refer to standing before God at the Second Coming and the Last Judgment.

• Reformed reading (Presbyterian and others): Emphasizes God's power to keep believers to the end. The verse is frequently cited in support of the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, which holds that those who truly believe will never finally fall away.
• Reading in the Wesleyan tradition (Methodist, Holiness, and others): Affirms God's keeping grace but holds that the verse must be read together with the exhortation of verse 21, "keep yourselves." It also connects the word "faultless" with the hope of sanctification and holiness attainable by the believer.
• Broader Arminian reading: God is able to keep believers from falling, but the verse is not taken to guarantee that a believer can never fall away.

Debates and Issues

Because the verse is a doxology, it is rarely disputed directly. It is, however, cited by both sides in the broader debate over the perseverance of believers and free will (see predestination and free will). Interpreters from several traditions point out that, given the context, God's keeping in verse 24 and human responsibility in verse 21 should be read together.

Some manuscripts are reported to read "us" instead of "you," though the difference does not significantly affect the meaning. Preachers also often note that Korean readers may confuse "거침이 없게" with the everyday expression "거침없이" ("without hindrance" or "unrestrainedly").

In the Korean Church

In English-speaking churches, verses 24–25 are widely used as a closing doxology or as the words of the benediction at the end of worship. In Korean churches, the benediction generally uses 2 Corinthians 13:13 (13:14 in most English Bibles). Jude 1:24 is cited mainly in sermons on assurance of salvation and on the grace that keeps believers to the end.

Related Passages

• Philippians 1:6
• John 10:27-29
• 1 Peter 1:18-19
• Colossians 1:22
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23