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THE BIBLE - DOUAY-RHEIMS - BOOK 72
THE BIBLE - DOUAY-RHEIMS - BOOK 72 TITLE THE HOLY BIBLE
Translated from the Latin Vulgate
Diligently Compared with the Hebrew Greek
and Other Editions in Divers Languages
THE OLD TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Douay
A.D. 1609 & 1610
and
THE NEW TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Rheims
A.D. 1582
With Annotations
The Whole Revised and Diligently Compared with
the Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard Challoner
A.D. 1749-1752
THE CATHOLIC EPISTLE OF ST. JUDE
St. Jude who wrote this Epistle was one of the twelve Apostles and
brother to St. James the Less. The time it was written is uncertain:
only it may be inferred from verse 17 that few or none of the Apostles
were then living except St. John. He inveighs against the heresies and
wicked practices of the Simonians Nicolaites and Gnostics etc.
describing them and their leaders by strong epithets and similes He
exhorts the faithful to contend earnestly for the faith first delivered
to them and to beware of heretics.
Jude Chapter 1
He exhorts them to stand to the faith first delivered to them and to
beware of heretics.
1:1. Jude the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James: to them
that are beloved in God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and
called.
1:2. Mercy unto you and peace: and charity be fulfilled.
1:3. Dearly beloved taking all care to write unto you concerning your
common salvation I was under a necessity to write unto you: to beseech
you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.
1:4. For certain men are secretly entered in (who were written of long
ago unto this judgment) ungodly men turning the grace of our Lord God
into riotousness and denying the only sovereign Ruler and our Lord Jesus
Christ.
1:5. I will therefore admonish you though ye once knew all things that
Jesus having saved the people out of the land of Egypt did afterwards
destroy them that believed not.
1:6. And the angels who kept not their principality but forsook their
own habitation he hath reserved under darkness in everlasting chains
unto the judgment of the great day.
Principality... That is the state in which they were first created
their original dignity.
1:7. As Sodom and Gomorrha and the neighbouring cities in like manner
having given themselves to fornication and going after other flesh were
made an example suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
1:8. In like manner these men also defile the flesh and despise
dominion and blaspheme majesty.
Blaspheme majesty... Speak evil of them that are in dignity; and even
utter blasphemies against the divine majesty.
1:9. When Michael the archangel disputing with the devil contended
about the body of Moses he durst not bring against him the judgment of
railing speech but said: The Lord command thee.
Contended about the body etc... This contention which is no where else
mentioned in holy writ was originally known by revelation and
transmitted by tradition. It is thought the occasion of it was that the
devil would have had the body buried in such a place and manner as to
be worshipped by the Jews with divine honours. Command thee... or rebuke
thee.
1:10. But these men blaspheme whatever things they know not: and what
things soever they naturally know like dumb beasts in these they are
corrupted.
1:11. Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain: and after
the error of Balaam they have for reward poured out themselves and have
perished in the contradiction of Core.
Gone in the way etc... Heretics follow the way of Cain by murdering
the souls of their brethren; the way of Balaam by putting a scantal
before the people of God for their own private ends; and the way of
Core or Korah by their opposition to the church governors of divine
appointment.
1:12. These are spots in their banquets feasting together without fear
feeding themselves: clouds without water which are carried about by
winds: trees of the autumn unfruitful twice dead plucked up by the
roots:
1:13. Raging waves of the sea foaming out their own confusion:
wandering stars to whom the storm of darkness is reserved for ever.
1:14. Now of these Enoch also the seventh from Adam prophesied
saying: Behold the Lord cometh with thousands of his saints:
Prophesied... This prophecy was either known by tradition or from some
book that is since lost.
1:15. To execute judgment upon all and to reprove all the ungodly for
all the works of their ungodliness whereby they have done ungodly: and
for all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against God.
1:16. These are murmurers full of complaints walking according to
their own desires: and their mouth speaketh proud things admiring
persons for gain's sake.
1:17. But you my dearly beloved be mindful of the words which have
been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
But you my dearly beloved be mindful etc... He now exhorts the
faithful to remain steadfast in the belief and practice of what they had
heard from the apostles who had also foretold that in aftertimes (lit.
in the last time) there should be false teachers scoffing and
ridiculing all revealed truths abandoning themselves to their passions
and lusts; who separate themselves from the Catholic communion by
heresies and schisms. Sensual men... carried away and enslaved by the
pleasures of the senses.
1:18. Who told you that in the last time there should come mockers
walking according to their own desires in ungodlinesses.
1:19. These are they who separate themselves sensual men having not
the Spirit.
1:20. But you my beloved building yourselves upon your most holy
faith praying in the Holy Ghost
1:21. Keep yourselves in the love of God waiting for the mercy of our
Lord Jesus Christ unto life everlasting.
Building yourselves upon your most holy faith... Raising by your
actions a spiritual building founded 1st upon faith; 2d on the love
of God; 3d upon hope whilst you are waiting for the mercies of God
and the reward of eternal life; 4th joined with the great duty of
prayer.
1:22. And some indeed reprove being judged:
1:23. But others save pulling them out of the fire. And on others have
mercy in fear hating also the spotted garment which is carnal.
And some indeed repove being judged... He gives them another instruction
to practice charity in endeavouring to convert their neighbour where
they will meet with three sorts of persons: 1st With persons obstinate
in their errors and sins; these may be said to be already judged and
condemned; they are to be sharply reprehended reproved and if possible
convinced of their error. 2d As to others you must endeavour to save
them by pulling them as it were out of the fire from the ruin they
stand in great danger of. 3d You must have mercy on others in fear
when you see them through ignorance of frailty in danger of being drawn
into the snares of these heretics; with these you must deal more gently
and mildly with a charitable compassion hating always and teaching
others to hate the carnal garment which is spotted their sensual and
corrupt manners that defile both the soul and body.
1:24. Now to him who is able to preserve you without sin and to present
you spotless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy in the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1:25. To the only God our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord be
glory and magnificence empire and power before all ages and now and
for all ages of ages. Amen.
Now to him etc... St. Jude concludes his epistle with this doxology of
praising God and praying to the only God our Saviour which may either
signify God the Father or God as equally agreeing to all the three
persons who are equally the cause of Christ's incarnation and man's
salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord who being God from eternity
took upon him our human nature that he might become our Redeemer.
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