| Geneva Study Bible {11} But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; (11) The rising up of such monsters was spoken of before, that we should not be troubled at the newness of the matter. People's New Testament Jude 1:17 Remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord. The language implies that Jude was not an apostle. Wesley's Notes 1:17 By the apostles - He does not exempt himself from the number of apostles. For in the next verse he says, they told you, not us. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 17. But; beloved . ye-in contrast to those reprobates, Jude 20, again. remember-implying that his readers had been contemporaries of the apostles. For Peter uses the very same formula in reminding the contemporaries of himself and the other apostles. spoken before-spoken already before now. the apostles-Peter (see on [2673]2Pe 3:2, 3), and Paul before Peter (Ac 20:29; 1Ti 4:1; 2Ti 3:1). Jude does not exclude himself from the number of the apostles here, for in Jude 18, immediately after, he says, "they told You," not us (rather as Greek, "used to tell you" implying that Jude's readers were contemporaries of the apostles, who used to tell them). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 1:17-23 Sensual men separate from Christ, and his church, and join themselves to the devil, the world, and the flesh, by ungodly and sinful practices. That is infinitely worse than to separate from any branch of the visible church on account of opinions, or modes and circumstances of outward government or worship. Sensual men have not the spirit of holiness, which whoever has not, does not belong to Christ. The grace of faith is most holy, as it works by love, purifies the heart, and overcomes the world, by which it is distinguished from a false and dead faith. Our prayers are most likely to prevail, when we pray in the Holy Ghost, under his guidance and influence, according to the rule of his word, with faith, fervency, and earnestness; this is praying in the Holy Ghost. And a believing expectation of eternal life will arm us against the snares of sin: lively faith in this blessed hope will help us to mortify our lusts. We must watch over one another; faithfully, yet prudently reprove each other, and set a good example to all about us. This must be done with compassion, making a difference between the weak and the wilful. Some we must treat with tenderness. Others save with fear; urging the terrors of the Lord. All endeavours must be joined with decided abhorrence of crimes, and care be taken to avoid whatever led to, or was connected with fellowship with them, in works of darkness, keeping far from what is, or appears to be evil. | 
