Jude (Brother of the Lord)

Biblical Record

• Gospels: His name appears in Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:55, in the passage where the people of Nazareth ask whether Jesus is not "the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon" (Mark 6:3). These two verses are the only places in the Gospels where he is mentioned by name.
• John 7:5 records that the brothers of Jesus did not at first believe in him.
• According to Acts 1:14, after the Ascension of Jesus, Mary and the brothers of Jesus continued in prayer with the disciples.
• 1 Corinthians 9:5 mentions that "the brethren of the Lord" took their wives with them in their ministry. This verse is read as indicating that they traveled from place to place as they ministered.
• In Jude 1:1, the author introduces himself as "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James."

Significance Within Scripture

His life is understood as an example of a family member who did not believe in Jesus but who, after the Resurrection, found a place within the early church community. If he is the author of the Epistle of Jude, he did not emphasize that he was the physical brother of Jesus but instead called himself a "servant." The Epistle of Jude warns against false teachers who had crept into the church, exhorts readers that they "should earnestly contend for the faith" (Jude 1:3), and closes with a doxology praising God (Jude 1:24–25).

Interpretations and Debates

• The meaning of "brother": Protestants generally regard him as a younger brother of Jesus, born to Joseph and Mary after Jesus. The Eastern Orthodox Church understands him as a son of Joseph from a previous marriage. The Catholic Church, in connection with its doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity, has held that he was a close relative, such as a cousin.
• Relationship to Thaddaeus: The Western church had a tradition identifying him with "Judas the brother of James" (Luke 6:16), that is, Thaddaeus, one of the Twelve Apostles. Many, however, hold that the two were different people, citing the statement that the brothers of Jesus did not believe in him (John 7:5) and the passage in which the author refers to the apostles as others apart from himself (Jude 1:17).
• The authorship of Jude: Traditionally, the epistle is held to have been written by Jude the brother of the Lord. Some scholars believe that a later writer composed it under his name. The Epistle of Jude cites traditions not found in the Old Testament, such as the prophecy of Enoch (1:14–15) and the account of Michael disputing over the body of Moses (1:9), and in the early church there was debate over whether the epistle should be included in the canon.
• Extrabiblical tradition: The fourth-century church historian Eusebius, citing the second-century writer Hegesippus, reports that Jude's grandsons were summoned before the Roman emperor and then released. This account does not appear in the biblical text.

In Korean Churches

In Korean translations of the Bible, he is easily confused with Judas Iscariot and with the apostle Judas (Thaddaeus), since all three bear the same name in Korean. For this reason, sermons and Bible studies in Korean churches often distinguish him as "Jude the brother of the Lord" or "Jude the author of the Epistle of Jude." Sermons about him are usually based on the text of the Epistle of Jude. Jude 1:3 is frequently cited in warnings against false teaching, and the closing doxology (Jude 1:24 and following) is also frequently quoted.