This epistle, as others, beginneth witli usual Christian salutations ; these are continued through the two first verses, in which -you have : —
1. The person saluting, Jude, the author of the epistle.
2. The persons saluted, the believers of that age.
3. The form of salutation, ver. 2, mercy, and pedes, and love he multiplied.
This first verse presenteth us with the two first circumstances, the saluter and the saluted. (1.) The saluter is described by his name, Judas ; his office and condition of life, the servant of Jesus Christ ; by his kindred and relation, and brother of James. (2.) The saluted, they are described — (1st.) By their condition, kX^toi'?, called, that is to read first, as Beza. (2d.) By the effects and manifestations of it, which are two : First, sanctified by God the Father ; secondly, preserved in Jesus Christ. These are the parts : I shall explain them branch by branch in the order propounded, with practical hints from each, which I shall handle in no fuller latitude than the present text will allow.
1. The saluter, and there his name, ' Judas,' called also ' Thaddeus,' Mat. X. 3, and 'Lebbfeus;' these several names implying the same thing, and were given him either by the people or the disciples, partly to distinguish him from Judas the apostate, partly to note his con- stancy in confessing and praising Grod ; for so it signifieth, as you may see. Gen. xxix. 35, ' Now Leah said, I will praise the Lord, therefore she called his name Judah.'
Ohs. Divers note hence — (1.) That Christian names should be sig- nificant, such as may remember us of duty. (2.) That it is lawful to divulge or conceal our names in our writings, according as it may make for the glory of God to do either the one or the other. Jude mentioneth his name, but Paul doth not, or whosoever was the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. (3.) That godly men and wicked may both be called by the same name ; so Judas the apostle and Judas the apostate ; there was Enoch, Cain's son, Gen. iv. 17, and Enoch, Seth's
10 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 1.
son, of the church line, that ' walked with God,' Gen. v. 22. But to mention these things is more than enough; the next circumstance will afford us more.
2. His office and condition, ' the servant of Jesus Christ.' It is a thing usual with the apostles to prefix this among other their honorary titles; as Rom. i. 1, 'Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ;' so Phil. i. 1. The greatest honour that he would put upon himself and Timothy- was this, ' Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ.' This term, a servant of God or Christ, in the use of scripture, is several ways applied. (1.) It may be understood of any kind of subserviency to God's will and secret counsels, or instrumentality in the execution of his decrees ; so wicked men may be said to be God's servants, so far forth as he serveth his designs of their endeavours ; as Cyrus was God's servant, because he should perform all his pleasure ; so Nebu- chadnezzar, Jer. xxvii. 6, ' These things have I given into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, my servant.' (2.) It noteth a pious care to perform God's revealed will ; they that out of a sense of his love resign up themselves to do his will are called his servants : so ' he that is called in the Lord,' whether he be bond or free, is said to be ' Christ's ser- vant,' 1 Cor. vii. 22. So godly masters are said to have the Lord for their master : Eph. vi. 9, ' Knowing that your master is also in heaven.' In the former place he saith a servant is God's freeman ; and here, that a master is God's servant. (3.) It noteth designation to any public office for God's glory ; those that do mwe eminently or more nearly serve G8d in some peculiar office are called his servants ; as magistrates : Pom. xiii. 4, ' He is the minister of God for thy good ;' and ver. 6, ' God's ministers attending continually for this thing.' But yet more especially they are called ministers and servants who sustain the public offices of the church ; as 2 Tim. ii. 24, ' The ser- vant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient,' meaning one employed in the public ministry. So the priests of the Old Testament were called the Lord's servants ; as Ps. cxxxiv. 1, 'Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.' He speaketh to the priests that were to watch in the temple ; and in this sense it is said, Amos iii. 7, ' I have sent my servants the prophets.' But now among these ministers and officers of the church the prophets and apostles are styled so by way of eminency. Yea, yet further, Christ, because of his office of Mediator, which is the highest office, and proper to the head of the church, is called God's servant ; as Isa. xlix. 3, ' Thou art my servant ;' and Isa. liii. 11, 'By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.' To apply all now to the case in hand : Jude is called ' a servant of Jesus Christ,' not only as one that had given up himself to do his will as a Christian, but as an apostle.i Let us now observe something hence.