It’s not often that I make my translations available to the public, but I’d like to do so more often as a way of putting some of my scholarship out there, but more importantly as a ministry to anyone who finds interest in exegetical studies. Of course, in the process I run the risk of making mistakes, which by now in my pastoral ministry I’ve grown accustomed. I took two years of Koine Greek in College and two more in seminary which gives me a subtle advantage in this process. But alas, twelve years later can make a man rusty and dusty in the ancient language. Here’s my humble attempt to touch base with that needed process of translation. I will aim for a fairly literal translation while taking some liberty with dynamic renderings. My main pulpit translation is the English Standard Version which I cherish.
Jude
(Salutation)
1:1 Ἰούδας Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοῦλος, ἀδελφὸς δὲ Ἰακώβου, τοῖς ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ ἠγαπημένοις καὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ τετηρημένοις κλητοῖς·
1:2 ἔλεος ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη καὶ ἀγάπη πληθυνθείη.
(Judgment on False Teachers)
1:3 Ἀγαπητοί, πᾶσαν σπουδὴν ποιούμενος γράφειν ὑμῖν περὶ τῆς κοινῆς ἡμῶν σωτηρίας ἀνάγκην ἔσχον γράψαι ὑμῖν παρακαλῶν ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι τῇ ἅπαξ παραδοθείσῃ τοῖς ἁγίοις πίστει.
Translation: Jude, bond-servant of Jesus Christ, brother of James, to those called and loved in God the Father, preserved for Jesus Christ. May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
Beloved, although I was eager to write to you about our shared salvation, I found it necessary to write to you appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
-Jude 1:1-3
Notes:
*Jude is the brother of James which makes him the half-brother of Jesus. He was one of the twelve apostles. His name is also translated in some places as Judas or Judah and means “he shall be praised.”
*Opening verses establish his credentials as one under the authority and an eye-witness to the risen Messiah.
* κλητοῖς· adjective normal dative masculine plural no degree from κλητός – speaks of one who has accepted a calling or an invitation to become a guest or member of a select group.
*There is difference between Byzantine and Nestle-Aland here in understanding “loved” and “sanctified.” There is some overlap in language. The KJV does not include that the saints were loved, but that they were sanctified by God the Father. The ideas are quite similar since to be loved is to be set aside for a purpose. I am following the Nestle-Aland for various reasons. The idea of love is communicated in verse 2.
*I chose “preserve” for τετηρημένοις since the idea behind the language is that someone is keeping a watchful care over an inferior. In this case, God’s people are being preserved for a particular function.
*Verse 2 is pretty straightforward. Some translations like the NAS begin with “may” as a kind of initial benediction, but the KJV is more literal in its rendering.
*Verse 3 is the expression of purpose: to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.
*Ἀγαπητοί is a term of endearment. It still relates to introductory remarks. Jude is addressing from a point of love.
*κοινῆς has this sense of a shared mission.
*ἀνάγκην is singular, thus “it was necessary to me” or “I found it necessary.”
*παρακαλῶν implies an exhortation, a deep appeal to get someone to do something of great significance.
*ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι is in the infinitive present middle stressing a call to “fight for” something greater than yourself; there is an athletic imagery involved.
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