Verses 22-23: And refute some who are doubting; save others,
snatching them out of the fire; and to some have mercy with fear, hating even
the garment polluted by the flesh. [corrected translation]
In approaching verse 22, it should be noted at the outset that there are some major Greek manuscript discrepancies. Even the 20th Century Greek scholar A.T. Robertson has agreed that “The text of this verse is in much confusion.”1 Therefore, the alternate reading preferred by many respectable Bible scholars, may be the better reading then the English translation we are using in this study. The various manuscripts contain different verbs: some have the Greek verb mercy and others the Greek verb refute, reprove—both have similar spelling in the Greek.2 The renowned textual critic, Dr. Bruce M. Metzger, regarded this as maybe “a scribal modification introduced in order to differentiate the statement from that in the clause of ver. 23, thus producing a sequence progressing from severity (“reprove”) to compassion (“show mercy)”3.
The question to be consider is exactly who are the “some” and the “others” to whom Jude is referring in these two verses? It is highly probable that Jude means fellow believers within the church, for the believers were apparently in various stages of being deceived by the false teachers. In these two verses, he is focusing on three distinct groups that require the intervention of mature believers.
First, for those who are doubting sound doctrine, Jude advises that their objections need to be refuted, by showing why they are wrong. This is supported by the directive of the Apostle Paul to Titus:
Holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. (Titus 1:9; cf. 1:13; 2:15)
There is a need in our day also to do this, but we must not do it in a belligerent or arrogant manner. Let us instead follow Paul’s instruction:
With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2)
And he explains the reason for this approach in the next verse:
Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)
It is imperative that the unity of the Body of Christ be maintained by sound doctrine and upheld by all believers, regardless of denominational affiliations.
Second, we are commanded to save others. The saving that Jude is referring to is not for eternal life. The reason is made clear when it is realized that Jude has relied upon a passage in Zechariah chapter 3 for this verse. Let us recall that when Jude mentioned the confrontation of Michael with the devil (v.9) that too was a parallel reference to Zechariah contained in the Book of Enoch:
The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2)
The word fire is common Old Testament imagery for the judicial wrath of God4 (cf. Ezekiel 15:7; Amos 4:11). Note that in Zechariah, ‘fire’ describes the divine discipline of Israel having “been saved [plucked] out of the fire of the Babylonian captivity.”5 Jude is employing this same imagery to describe ‘snatching’ out, literally, to forcibly seize6 fellow believers being captivated by the false teachings of apostates. Hence, the ‘fire’ Jude refers to is figurative of divine discipline for those who believe false doctrines.
I have heard it humorously stated that this verse refers to someone making it to heaven “smelling of smoke.” The idea being that they escaped from Hell and were singed by its fire. This is a distortion of what Jude is writing—no one will enter heaven smelling like smoke. Remember, there is nothing funny or amusing about the eternal punishment of Hell.
Third, we are commanded to have mercy with fear on some. Having mercy is simply demonstrating compassion. Our Lord affirmed in His famous Beatitudes that “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) Hence, mature believers who are compassionate with fellow believers caught up in the mire of false teachers, by their demonstration of mercy they are blessed, being “the nature of that which is the highest good”7 in God’s estimation.
But we are to show our compassion with fear. Some commentators believe this indicates that one should be afraid of being contaminated by “the contagion of sin while we are rescuing them.”8 However true this may be, the word fear does not always infer to be afraid, it is used elsewhere to denote the showing of respect— esteeming someone with high regard, especially God (Acts 10:2, 22, 35; 13:16, 26). It follows that the one showing compassion should do so respectfully, without hostility towards the fellow believer. We should beware not to influence others into thinking too lightly of their sins; keeping in mind the victory that can be achieved, rescuing them from the apostasy and preserving unity among all believers.
This compassion of ours should be focused and directed at “hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.” Jude is not speaking of hating our fellow believers in Christ but in the sense of strongly disapproving and repudiating the sin that has overwhelmed them. Their sin is expressed figuratively of a polluted garment, like a shirt worn close to the body, being symbolic of one’s personal life. In this case, a life that has been stained (polluted) by sinfulness brought on by having been influenced and led astray by the false doctrines of the apostates.
The phrase by the flesh is figurative of the “old self,” about which the Apostle Paul defined and advised:
That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit. (Ephesians 4:22; cf. Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:9)
And Paul warns of indulgence in the sins of the flesh:
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:8; cf. Romans 8:12f)
This is a reminder to us, that the believer is responsible for all personal sin, especially when they are inattentive to learning and applying sound doctrine and become indifferent to achieving spiritual maturity.
These two verses constitute Jude’s concluding instructions on dealing with the repercussions of the apostasy that has infiltrated among believers. It would be sensible for us to follow his wise advice for these same challenges are confronting us today.
[1] Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, Jude 22.
[2] Mercy - ἐλεέω; refute - ἐλεγχω
[3] Metzger, Bruce M. (2001). A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Stuttgart: United Bible Societies, p. 660.
[4] Lang, F. (1964–). πῦρ. In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley, & G. Friedrich, Eds.). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 6.935.
[5] Ryrie, C. C. (1995). Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1995 update. Chicago: Moody Press, p. 1463 note.
[6] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, G726.
[7] Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 2.70.
[8] Vincent, Marvin R. (n/d). Word Studies in the New Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1.722.
© 2023 David M. Rossi
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