"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 ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
Jude 1:3
Part 2
Yesterday:
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation,”
Jude wanted to write to believers about the salvation that all true believers have.
“It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you.”
But he was led to write about another needful topic for believers.
Today:
“That ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
This “earnestly contending for the faith” is not a job for the lazy, faint, or the cowardly. But it is a calling for every believer.
“The ancient Greek word translated ‘contend’ comes from the athletic world – from the wrestling mat. It is a strengthened form of the word meaning ‘to agonize.’ Therefore ‘contend’ speaks of hard and diligent work” (Guzik).
Paul wrote to the Philippians that they should “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).
And notice what we are to be agonizing, “striving together” and “contending” for – “the Faith.” We are not wrestling for our preferences, nor do we fight to get our own way, but we do together as the believing community, contend for “the Faith.”
“The Faith.” This noun “faith,” that Jude is speaking of is the sum total of everything genuine Christians believe, based upon the Word of God.
“And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).
“The faith” [in Jude 1:3] doesn’t mean our own personal belief or faith in the sense of our trust in God. The phrase the faith means “The essential truths of the gospel that all true Christians hold in common” [1] (Blum).
The faith. “The system of religion revealed in the gospel. It is called “faith,” because that is the cardinal virtue in the system, and because all depends on that” [2] (Barnes).
What the scriptures say and teach, is what we contend for. This is where we take our stand, where the Word of God makes a stand.
One last thought from this verse. Notice the last phrase, “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” The canon of the scriptures is closed. This Word of truth is what God has given to us. The word order of this phrase in the Greek text is fascinating. It says, “the once delivered unto the saint’s faith.” This is God’s legacy to us. There is no more! This is all God gave us. This Word is what we contend for – “the Faith.”
[1] Blum, as quoted by Guzik. David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.