What does Jude 1:11 Mean?

Study Notes

Core
See Numbers 16. The sin of Korah was denial of the authority of Moses as God's chosen spokesman, and intrusion into the priest's office.

gainsaying antilogia = against the Word.

error of Balaam
Balaam, the "error" of Balaam must be distinguished from his "way" and his "doctrine" See Scofield " Revelation 2:14 ".

The "error" of Balaam was that, reasoning from natural morality and seeing the evil in Israel, he supposed a righteous God must curse them. He was blind to the higher morality of the Cross, through which God maintains and enforces the authority and awful sanctions of His law, so that He can be just and the justifier of a believing sinner. The "reward" of Judges 1:11 may not be money, but popularity, or applause.

Core

See Numbers 16. The sin of Korah was denial of the authority of Moses as God's chosen spokesman, and intrusion into the priest's office.

gainsaying antilogia = against the Word.

Balaam

Balaam. (See Scofield " Numbers 22:5 ") was the typical hireling prophet, anxious only to make a market of his gift. This is the "way" of Balaam. See the "error" of Balaam, See Scofield " Judges 1:11 " and the "doctrine" of Balaam, See Scofield " Revelation 2:14 ".

Cain
Cain (cf) Genesis 4:1 type of the religious natural man, who believes in a God, and in "religion," but after his own will, and who rejects redemption by blood. Compelled as a teacher of religion to explain atonement, the apostate teacher explains it away.

error of Balaam

Balaam, the "error" of Balaam must be distinguished from his "way" and his "doctrine" See Scofield " Revelation 2:14 ".

The "error" of Balaam was that, reasoning from natural morality and seeing the evil in Israel, he supposed a righteous God must curse them. He was blind to the higher morality of the Cross, through which God maintains and enforces the authority and awful sanctions of His law, so that He can be just and the justifier of a believing sinner. The "reward" of Judges 1:11 may not be money, but popularity, or applause.

Core

See Numbers 16. The sin of Korah was denial of the authority of Moses as God's chosen spokesman, and intrusion into the priest's office.

gainsaying antilogia = against the Word.

Balaam

Balaam. (See Scofield " Numbers 22:5 ") was the typical hireling prophet, anxious only to make a market of his gift. This is the "way" of Balaam. See the "error" of Balaam, See Scofield " Judges 1:11 " and the "doctrine" of Balaam, See Scofield " Revelation 2:14 ".

Verse Meaning

Cain"s way was the way of godlessness and sensuality, violence and lust, greed and blasphemy, that led to divine judgment. It was the way of pride. Cain wanted to earn a relationship with God by his works, and he became a hateful murderer. [source][source]

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Balaam"s error was compromise with God"s enemies and teaching the Israelites that they could sin with impunity ( Numbers 31:16; cf. Revelation 2:14). He counseled the Midianites to seduce the Israelites to commit idolatry and fornication ( Numbers 31:16). His way was to use the spiritual to gain the material for himself. His error was thinking that he could get away with his sins. The false teachers also compromised God"s truth in a way that involved idolatry and immorality. They would likewise perish under God"s judgment, as Balaam did ( Numbers 31:8). [source][source]

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"Balaam stands for two things. (a) He stands for the covetous Prayer of Manasseh , who was prepared to sin in order to gain reward. (b) He stands for the evil Prayer of Manasseh , who was guilty of the greatest of all sins-the sin of teaching others to sin. So Jude is declaring of the wicked men of his own day that they are ready to leave the way of righteousness to make gain; and that they are teaching others to sin." ^[1] [source]

"Balaam was the prototype of all greedy religionists who lead God"s people into false religion and immorality . . ." ^[2] [source]

Korah"s rebellion was against God and His appointed leaders, Moses and Aaron ( Numbers 16:1-35). The false teachers were rebelling against God and his leaders, the apostles. Korah also perished. [source][source]

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According to William Barclay there was a sect of Gnostics called Orphites that regarded Cain, Balaam, and Korah as great heroes of the Old Testament. ^[3] Barclay regarded much of what Jude wrote as polemic against Gnosticism. [source][source]

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Each of these three examples shows a different aspect of unbelief. [source][source]

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"Cain, to show the arrogance, malice, and false piety of apostates, the example of religious unbelief; Balaam, to show the avarice, subversiveness, and seductive character of apostates, the example of covetous unbelief; and Core ^[4], to show the factiousness and sedition toward rightful authority, the example of rebellious unbelief." ^[2] [source]

"Cain rebelled against God"s authority in salvation, for he refused to bring a blood sacrifice as God had commanded. Balaam rebelled against God"s authority in separation, for he prostituted his gifts for money and led Israel to mix with the other nations. Korah rebelled against God"s authority in service, denying that Moses was God"s appointed servant and attempting to usurp his authority." ^[6] [source]

Context Summary

Kept is the keynote of this Epistle. It occurs in Judges 1:1; Judges 1:6; Judges 1:21, and in another form in Judges 1:24. Many evil doctrines and practices were intruding into the Church. Certain persons had crept in, who quoted the mercy of God as an excuse for immorality and practically disowned the teachings of the Lord Jesus.

In contrast with these were the disciples whom Jude addresses and who owned the Lord Jesus as their beloved "Despot," (the Greek for Master, Judges 1:4, r.v.) They were kept for him, as the others were kept in chains. Let us also keep ourselves in the love of God, Judges 1:21. It is much easier to live consistently in hours of storm than in hours of ease.

Let us be warned against drifting back from our first faith. Let us take heed from the fate of fallen angels, of Sodom and Gomorrah, of Cain and Balaam, of Korah and others. Let us watch and pray and earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints, Judges 1:3, bearing it through the world as the pilgrim host bore the sacred vessels in the days of Ezra. See Ezra 8:28. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jude 1

¹  He exhorts them to be constant in the profession of the faith
⁴  false teachers crept in to seduce them, for whose evil doctrine a horrible punishment is prepared;
²⁰  whereas the godly may persevere, grow in grace, and keep the faith