Paragraph 22–23

In this paragraph, Jude told his readers to help three groups of people (In order to translate 22–23, a translator needs to decide how many different types of people Jude told his readers to help here. The English versions translate as follows:(1) Jude meant three types of people (Berean Standard Bible, God’s Word, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, NET Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation).(2) Jude meant two types of people (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, King James Version).(3) The number is not clearly defined (Contemporary English Version).It is recommended that you translate according to interpretation (1), that Jude here wrote about three distinct types of people influenced by the fake Christians.) whom the fake Christians had influenced by their false teaching and sinful living.

The order in which Jude mentioned these three types of people relates to the amount of influence the fake Christians had on each type. Their false teaching and sinful living had influenced the first type less than the second type, and the second type less than the third type.

22

have mercy: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as have mercy means “to be kind and compassionate.” Jude wanted his readers to have mercy by helping these people.

Jude used the noun form of this word in verses 2 and 21b–c.

on those who doubt: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as those who doubt refers to people in the church who were confused about what to believe. The church leaders taught God’s true message, but the fake Christians spoke and acted contrary to this true teaching.

Ways to translate this include:

those people who do not know what to believe
-or-
those people whose faith is wavering
-or-
those people who have doubts

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.