Jude 1:17

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Jude 1:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Jude 1:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Jude 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But, beloved, etc.] Or “my beloved”, as the Syriac and Arabic versions read; or “our brethren”, as the Ethiopic version; the apostle addresses the saints in this manner, to distinguish them from the false teachers, and to show that he had a different opinion of them from them; and that be would have them beware of them, and not be surprised at them, since it was no other than what was foretold; and also to engage their attention and regard to the following exhortation: remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; these words mean not the doctrines of the apostles in general, but particularly the prophecies delivered out by them, as by the Apostles…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But; beloved . . . ye--in contrast to those reprobates, Jde 1:20, again. remember--implying that his readers had been contemporaries of the apostles. For Peter uses the very same formula in reminding the contemporaries of himself and the other apostles. spoken before--spoken already before now. the apostles--Peter (see on Pe2 3:2-3), and Paul before Peter (Act 20:29; Ti1 4:1; Ti2 3:1). Jude does not exclude himself from the number of the apostles here, for in Jde 1:18, immediately after, he says, "they told You," not us (rather as Greek, "used to tell you" implying that Jude's readers were contemporaries of the apostles, who used to tell them).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But, beloved, remember ye ... - There is a striking similarity between these two verses and 2 Peter 3:1-3. It occurs in the same connection, following the description of the false and dangerous teachers against whom the apostle would guard them, and couched almost in the same words. See it explained in the notes at the similar passage in Peter. When Jude (Jude 1:17) entreats them to remember the words which were spoken by “the apostles,” it is not necessarily to be inferred that he was not himself an apostle, for he is speaking of what was past, and there might have been a special reason why he should refer to something that they would distinctly remember which had been spoken by the “other”…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“By the apostles - He does not exempt himself from the number of apostles. For in the next verse he says, they told you, not us. Jude 1:19”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“1:17 completely destroyed: See Lev 27:28-29. • Hormah: See study note on Num 21:2-3. 1:17-23 After condemning the false teachers, Jude again encourages his readers directly (see 1:3-4). They had been warned by the apostles about false teaching (1:17-19). They should encourage each other in the faith (1:20-21) and reach out to those who might be going astray through the false teachers’ influence (1:22-23). 1:17 what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted: Such predictions are in Acts 20:29-30; 1 Tim 4:1-3; 2 Tim 3:1-5.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“remember: Mal 4:4; Act 20:35; Eph 2:20, Eph 4:11; Pe2 3:2; Jo1 4:6 Jude 1:18”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification