By Dr. Maxwell Shimba | Shimba Theological Institute
Abstract
This paper examines the theological implications of Jude 1:4–5 in asserting the divinity and pre-existence of Jesus Christ. By closely analyzing the linguistic, historical, and canonical context of these verses, this article argues that Jude attributes to Jesus actions that the Old Testament ascribes to Yahweh, specifically the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. This identification presents robust internal New Testament evidence for the deity of Christ, supporting the broader biblical doctrine of the pre-existent, incarnate God.
Introduction
The question of Jesus' divinity is central to Christian theology. While explicit claims of divinity are found throughout the New Testament, certain texts implicitly but powerfully affirm Christ's deity by attributing to Him roles and actions reserved for Yahweh in the Hebrew Scriptures. Jude 1:4–5 provides one such testimony. This passage not only refers to Jesus as "our only Sovereign and Lord" but also credits Him with delivering Israel out of Egypt—a foundational act of Yahweh in Jewish history. This paper contends that Jude’s language reveals both the pre-existence and deity of Christ.
Textual Analysis: Jude 1:4–5
Verse 4: The Title “Our Only Sovereign and Lord, Jesus Christ”
"For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord." (Jude 1:4, NIV)
The phrase "our only Sovereign and Lord, Jesus Christ" (Greek: μονον δεσπότην καὶ κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν) explicitly ascribes to Jesus titles commonly reserved for God. The term δεσπότης (despotēs) signifies absolute ownership and authority, a title predominantly used for God the Father (cf. Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24; Rev. 6:10) in both Septuagint and New Testament usage. By combining δεσπότης and κύριος (Lord) for Jesus, Jude confers upon Christ the highest possible sovereign authority, affirming His full divinity and equality with the Father.
Verse 5: The Lord Who Delivered Israel from Egypt
"Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe." (Jude 1:5, NIV)
In many critical manuscripts, including early and reliable ones like Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Vaticanus, the reading is “Jesus” instead of “the Lord”:
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ὅτι Ἰησοῦς λαὸν ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου σώσας (that Jesus, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt…)
If this reading is original—and textual critics like Bruce Metzger and the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament give it considerable support—it means Jude directly identifies Jesus with Yahweh, the God of the Exodus. Theologically, this ascribes pre-existence to Jesus, depicting Him actively participating in Israel’s history long before His incarnation.
Even if one adopts the reading “the Lord,” Jude’s prior explicit identification of “our only Lord” as Jesus (v. 4) makes it contextually natural to understand “the Lord” in v. 5 as referring to the same person.
The Old Testament Context: Who Delivered Israel?
According to the Hebrew Scriptures, it was Yahweh who delivered Israel from Egypt:
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"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." (Exodus 20:2)
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"The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand." (Deuteronomy 6:21)
This act of deliverance was not mediated by a subordinate deity or angel but was the direct work of Yahweh Himself. For Jude to assign this salvific act to Jesus is a theologically loaded declaration that Jesus shares in the identity and prerogatives of Yahweh.
Implications for the Doctrine of Christ’s Pre-Existence and Deity
By ascribing the Exodus deliverance to Jesus, Jude testifies to:
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Jesus' Pre-Existence:
The event took place centuries before the incarnation. Jude implies that Jesus existed prior to His birth in Bethlehem and was active in Israel’s history. -
Jesus' Identity as Yahweh:
In Jewish monotheistic belief, no one but Yahweh could deliver Israel. Jude’s identification of Jesus with this role equates Him ontologically with God. -
Christocentric Reading of Old Testament History:
Jude’s statement aligns with the broader New Testament pattern of seeing Christ as the pre-incarnate God who interacted with Israel (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:4, where Paul says the rock in the wilderness was Christ).
Historical and Patristic Witness
Early Christian theologians recognized this implication. Clement of Alexandria (Stromata 6.5) and Justin Martyr (Dialogue with Trypho 61) affirm that the pre-incarnate Christ appeared and acted in the Old Testament. The Epistle of Barnabas (c. A.D. 70–132) interprets the Old Testament deliverances as prefiguring Christ’s ultimate salvation.
Conclusion
Jude 1:4–5 offers a profound affirmation of Jesus’ deity and pre-existence. By applying to Jesus titles and actions that in the Old Testament belong solely to Yahweh, Jude participates in the earliest Christian understanding of Christ as the incarnate God. The textual and contextual evidence from Jude is consistent with the high Christology found throughout the New Testament, positioning Jesus not merely as a subordinate figure or exalted human, but as God Himself, active from eternity past and sovereign over the covenant people.
Bibliography
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Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, 2nd ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1994.
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F.F. Bruce, The Epistle of Jude, in The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1969.
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Larry W. Hurtado, Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho.
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Clement of Alexandria, Stromata.
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Epistle of Barnabas.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version.
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Nestle-Aland 28th ed., Novum Testamentum Graece.
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