Jude, verse-by-verse
Session 8 | Jude 8-10
Jude 8-10 | They Speak Evil of Dignities
Verse 8 --
Having given illustrations that speak of the judgment of certain men (v. 4), Jude now gives further detail on their activity. Because he begins with the word likewise, we also have New Testament commentary on Sodom and Gomorrha. I am assuming that likewise is connected only with verse 7 and not with verses 4-7.
Jude says that the certain men are filthy dreamers who defile the flesh. He does not elaborate, but the word likewise would connect this defilement to either homosexuality or some form of going after strange flesh (v. 7).
Furthermore, the men despise dominion. This is presumably connected with likewise, which would tell us that Sodom and Gomorrah also did the same. The words for despise dominion are literally to reject being governed (as in 2 Peter 2:10). The word for dominion is κυριότης [kuriotes] which is "the one who possesses lordship." That is, these men despise any kind of leadership, they are ungovernable.
Finally, the men speak evil of dignities. This would describe the men of Sodom as well as that of the certain men (v. 4).
Verse 9 --
Now Michael the archangel is presented as a contrast, especially in the context of those who speak evil of dignities (v. 8).
This is the only place in Scripture that it is revealed that Michael is the archangel.
Everything we know about Michael -
He is the archangel (Jude 1:9)
He shouts at the rapture (1 Thes 4:16)
He is the central figure of a "war in heaven" in Revelation 12:7
He was called "one of the chief princes" and came to Daniel's aid in Daniel 10:13, then revealed information about the last days.
In Daniel 12:1, he is the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people and he protects them (Israel) through the tribulation.
He contended with the devil about the body of Moses but would not bring a railing accusation against him (Jude 9).
Michael disputed about the body of Moses. The word disputed is translated from διαλέγομαι [dialegomai] is *dia *(thoroughly) and *legomai *
According to Deuteronomy 34:6, God buried Moses' body in a secret location in Beth-Peor. Apparently, the devil wanted it. One assumption is that God has future plans for the body of Moses, as one of the two witnesses of the last days.
A railing accusation is literally a blasphemous judgment. In his dispute, Michael was careful to stay with that which is true and leave the rebuke to the Lord.
Verse 10 --
Now speaking directly of the certain men (v. 4), Jude further describes their behavior.
They speak evil of those things which they know not. To speak evil is, once again, to blasphemeβλασφημέω [blasphemeo]. The men, it seems, know of the things which they speak, but not about those things. It is very easy to blaspheme something you only know a little about, but you don't know enough to make you wise.
Does this mean that those who know little should just keep their mouths shut? I do not think so. Rather, when we are not fully educated on a matter, we should ask questions that drive to the heart of the assumptions. Let the answers to those questions either confirm or deny the position. Sadly, too many are willing to simply blaspheme the position they know nothing of, when they could either decimate the position by strategic questions that bring forth truth OR learn that they are wrong and come to a knowledge of the truth.
The things the men do know they know naturally. That is, they know it from the physical world. There is nothing wrong (and everything commendable) about such knowledge. But, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. The phrase brute beasts is literally, "illogical beings." The word brute is ἄλογος [alogos], which means "without reason / logic."
I do not think Jude is making a comparison between spiritual as opposed to physical knowledge. All knowledge is physical in some sense, for we cannot measure and analyze that which is spiritual. Our spiritual knowledge comes by way of physical revelation. Rather than a comparison, Jude is telling us that the men corrupt themselves by using only a small degree of natural knowledge to speak evil of that which they know nothing about.
