Exposition of Jude, Exegesis of Jude · Verse 5
VER. 5.
I will therefore put you in remembrance, though yee once knew this, how that the Lord having ſaved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward deſtroyed them that beleeved not.
AT This verſe the Apoſtle begins the ſecond Argument, whereby he proves it the duty of theſe Chriſtians Earneſtly to contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints, and now oppoſed by the ſeducers of thoſe times. The Argument is taken from the certainty of the deſtruction of thoſe Seducers: the Apoſtle by the zealous proſecution thereof, declaring, that theſe Chriſtians muſt avoid their Doctrines, if they would not be involved in their downfall.
The Apoſtle, in the managing of this Argument, doth theſe three things;
1. He gives us ſeverall Examples of Gods ſevere wrath upon others in former times, for ſundry heinous ſins, to the 8th Verſe.
2. He declares that theſe Seducers lived in the ſame ſins which God had formerly puniſh'd in others; to the 11th verſe.
3. He concludes, that they practiſing the ſame impieties, ſhall partake of the ſame plagues with thoſe who were before them, to the 17th verſe.
For the firſt of theſe, the Apoſtle propounds three Examples of Gods moſt ſevere diſpleaſure againſt the ſinners of former times:
The firſt is of the Iſraelites, who were deſtroyed in the wilderneſſe.
The ſecond of the wicked Angels, who are reſerved in everlaſting chains under darkneſſe.
The third of the Sodomites, who ſuffer the vengeance of everlasting fire. The Apoſtle with admirable wiſdom making choice of theſe Examples, to prevent the plea which might be made for theſe Seducers, in regard of their priviledg, as viſible profeſſors, of their eminency for place, and of their reputation for ſanctity: For though they had Church-priviledges, yet ſo had the Iſraelites; though they were eminent for place and ſtation, yet ſo were the Angels; and though they were deſirous to be accounted in the higheſt form of religion and ſanctitie, yet were they as filthy and guilty as Sodomites, a people as famous for Gods judgments, as they were infamous for their own impurities.
The firſt of theſe Examples, that of the Iſraelites, who were destroyed in the wilderneſſe, &c. is ſet down here in this fifth verſe; wherein are two parts:
1. A Preface prefixed.
2. An Example propounded.
1. He ſets down a Preface before the Example, in theſe words, I will put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this. Wherein two things are expreſſed.
1. The duty of the Apoſtle; or, what he would do: I will therefore put you in remembrance.
2. The commendation of the Chriſtians; or, what they had already done: Though ye once knew this, namely, the following example of the Iſraelites.
1. For the duty of the Apoſtle: I will put you in remembrance.