Jude: A Family Legacy and a Short Letter
Jude is one of the shortest writings in the New Testament. It comes from one of Jesus’ own brothers (or cousins, or stepbrothers, depending on the tradition). Written in the early years of the Jesus movement, the letter addresses a Jewish community in Jerusalem or Galilee, made up of disciples who likely grew up with Jesus and knew his family. Jude (or Judah in Hebrew or Judas in Greek) is deeply rooted in the Hebrew Bible. His writing shows these roots through consistent biblical language and tons of hyperlinks. But who was Jude, and what do we know about his family and ancestors? In this episode, Jon and Tim introduce the background of this short letter and the larger world surrounding its author.
Episode Chapters
Show Notes
Bibleproject Jude Translation
View our full translation of the Letter of Jude.
Reflection Questions
What do we learn about Jude’s background and his connection to Jesus’ family?
Why does Jude call himself a “slave of Jesus” rather than “brother of the Lord?”
How does the language of being “loved, kept, and called” connect to Israel’s Scriptures?
What does it mean to carry Israel’s covenant identity into the Jesus movement?
How did Jesus’ family become central to the spread of the early Church?
What social and religious context shaped Jude’s writing?
How does Jude use Israel’s Scriptures to frame the identity of Jesus’ people?
Chapter 1: Jude’s Identity And The Brothers Of Jesus
Jude (or Judah in Hebrew or Judas in Greek) identifies himself as a slave of Jesus Messiah and the brother of James. This relationship places him within the family of Jesus, who became leaders and missionaries in the early Church (Jude 1:1). Judah is writing to a Jesus community in Jerusalem or Galilee, made up of disciples who know Jesus’ family. Jude is deeply rooted in the Hebrew Bible. His writing shows these roots through consistent biblical language and hyperlinks.
Chapter 2: Jesus’ Brothers In The Gospels And Early Church
Early Christian debates wrestled with how to understand Jesus’ brothers’ actual relationship to him. Different traditions called them half-brothers, cousins, or even stepbrothers from Joseph’s first marriage (the New Testament consistently refers to them as brothers; see 1 Corinthians 9:5; Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55; Galatians 1:18–19). Writings from Jerome, Origen, and Clement of Alexandria reveal how these questions were bound up with a theology of Mary’s perpetual virginity. Regardless of who these brothers were, during Jesus’ ministry, they all thought he was out of his mind (Mark 3:20–21; Mark 6:4; John 7:3–5). It was only after his resurrection that they believed in Jesus and became leaders in the Church (1 Cor. 15:3–4, 7).
Chapter 3: James, Jude, And Their Descendants
James, remembered as “the Just,” rose to prominence as leader of the Jerusalem church. He was known for his simple lifestyle, wisdom, and eventual martyrdom. Jude, along with the other brothers of Jesus, traveled as missionaries, planting churches beyond Jerusalem. Later traditions reference Jude’s descendants as Church leaders into the second century, extending the influence of Jesus’ family well beyond the time of the apostles.
Scripture References
Referenced Resources
- Panarion by Epiphanius of Salamis. Tim cites this fourth-century work as an early Christian source that preserves traditions about Jesus’ family. In it, Epiphanius records the names of Jesus’ sisters as Mariam and Salome, reflecting how the memory of Jesus’ relatives continued to circulate in later Church history.
- The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary: Against Helvidius by Jerome. Tim references this fourth-century treatise where Jerome argues that the “brothers” of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels were not biological siblings but cousins. Jerome defends the doctrine of Mary’s perpetual virginity by reinterpreting the familial language, a view that became influential in the Western Church’s tradition and shaped later Catholic teaching.
- Proto-Gospel of James. Tim notes this mid-second-century apocryphal work as an early retelling of Jesus’ birth and family background. It portrays Joseph as an elderly widower with children from a previous marriage, which explains the “brothers” of Jesus as stepsiblings.
- Commentary on Matthew by Origen. Tim points to this early third-century work where Origen discusses the Proto-Gospel of James and affirms the view that Jesus’ brothers were sons of Joseph from a previous marriage. For Origen, this interpretation preserved the theological conviction of Mary’s perpetual virginity.
- Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus. This first-century historical work preserves a brief but significant reference to James, the brother of Jesus. Josephus recounts the condemnation and stoning of James and some of his companions, providing an important testimony outside the Church about Jesus’ family and the leadership role of James in the early Jerusalem Church.
- The Church History by Eusebius of Caesarea. Written in the early fourth century, this work notes key traditions about Jesus’ family and the leadership of the Jerusalem church. Eusebius quotes earlier sources like Hegesippus to describe James, including his lifestyle, central role in the Jerusalem community, and his martyrdom at the hands of Jewish leaders. Eusebius also records how Jesus’ relatives, including Jesus’ cousin Symeon and Jude’s grandsons, were remembered as Church leaders in subsequent generations.
Interested in learning more? Check out Tim's extensive collection of recommended books here.
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Show Music
- “afternoon reads.” by Lofi Sunday, PAINT WITH SOUND.
- “date night” by Lofi Sunday, Cassidy Godwin
- BibleProject theme song by TENTS
Show Credits
Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, who also edited today’s episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.