Features of the Letter of Jude
The letter consists of a single chapter, and only 25 verses. However, it can be said that it is an unknown and rarely read letter, despite its short length. Perhaps because of the difficulty of its background, which describes situations in images and quotes that are totally strange to us. All this can make the reader think that it is more curious than edifying. However, these are also more than enough reasons to justify its study, since by unraveling the situation in which the Letter of Judas is written, it becomes more interesting for the history of the early church and its relevance to the present day.
Author of the letter
The writer of this letter identifies himself as Jude. Something must be said at this point regarding this name, Jude. The name is literally ‘Judas’. But to avoid connection with Judas Iscariot, most English translators have used the name ‘Jude’. In the New Testament we find at least six people of that name, but all the best evidence points to the one who is mentioned in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3: Jude, the brother of Jesus. Jude, like the other brothers of Jesus (including James), did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah until after the resurrection of Jesus (John 7:5 and Acts 1:14).
Recipient
Those who are called: Jude wrote to Christians (some scholars argue that, although the letter does not have a specific addressee, it is not a universal letter addressed to all Christians but was probably addressed by the apostle to a very specific group of churches, probably formed by Israelites) ; he does not give a specific designation to his audience as Paul does to the believers at Rome or Timothy. Hence, we can categorize this letter as a general (catholic) letter. Though the message is specific, no particular audience is identified.
Date of writing
It is usually dated around 70 A.D. However, it is best to give a tentative date between 70 and 90 A.D. Also, we must keep in mind that the 2nd Letter of the Apostle Peter (dated A.D. 100) uses the Letter of Judas, only 6 verses of Judas have no parallel in 2 Peter; therefore it had to have been written earlier.