Unredeemed human nature has not improved over the centuries. Even within the body of Christ, unredeemed human nature appears and causes dissensions, sometimes even divisions. It was so in the early days of the church, and the apostle Paul wrestled with it. From his day to this, some in the so-called cause for purity have stirred up the church.
Of course, when truth is threatened, it is required that “men of the cloth” stand for truth. In chapter 11 we referred to I Corinthians 4:2, which reads, “Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
Jude, when writing his letter, warned his readers with these words in verse 3: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
Jude’s further warning identified his deep concern: “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 4).
Jude urged his readers to be earnest contenders for the once delivered faith. There is, however, a marked contrast between earnestly contending and being contentious. To contend may imply rivalry rather than animosity. In other words, he’s referring to the use of argument rather than physical combat. It means to stand firm with purpose and gentleness. But contentiousness carries the meaning of being hostile with a warlike temper, a wearisome persistence in dispute with an inability or unwillingness to consider any other viewpoint in the argument.
In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, I detect that a contentious spirit had arisen in the church, so much so that he felt compelled to attempt correction by some clear-cut admonition. His comments are found in I Corinthians 4:10-15:
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised.
11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;
12 And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, [and are] the offscouring of all things unto this day.
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
Follow me as we go through the several LEVELS of Paul’s well-crafted admonitions.
The first level is:
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised.
Paul uses the word we, but his use is not the editorial we, the niceties of the journalistic world. He referred to himself, Apollos, and Peter before, so I believe the “we” includes them. They were the leaders in the congregation.
Paul used biting irony. All knew the apostles were not fools. Yet he said, “We are fools for Christ’s sake.” The word fool is a very graphic word. We use it in English to refer to a person who has difficulty in his mind. We call him a moron. The Bible meaning is “without learning, empty-headed, st...
