The Judas We Never Knew
Dr. Jerome Van Kuiken (Professor of Ministry and Christian Thought, Oklahoma Wesleyan University) is the author of The Judas We Never Knew, a Bible study on the life and Letter of Jude. In this interview with our friends at Seedbed, he shares insights behind the project.
Who is the Judas you’re referring to in this study and what was his relationship to Jesus?
This Judas is the one named in the Gospels as a brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). He’s also known as Jude. He’s the author of the little letter of Jude that’s in the back of the New Testament just before the book of Revelation.
What particular interest do you have in Jude and what motivated you to write this study now?
Jude interests me because who he is and what he wrote haven’t been talked about much, in my experience. But the more I’ve studied him and his letter, the more I’ve come to recognize that his life experience and his message are relevant to issues that the church is facing today.
What is the primary message of Jude’s letter that we have in our biblical canon?
Think of an Allstate commercial that shows the Mayhem guy running amuck and then asks you if you’re in good hands. It’s a short commercial but it grabs your attention and communicates two things: 1) Watch out for Mayhem. 2) Trust Allstate. Jude’s letter is short, too, but it grabs our attention and communicates three things: 1) Watch out for spiritual scammers who bring mayhem to church. 2) Trust Jesus—you’re in his good hands. 3) Show mercy to the mayhem-makers while exercising proper caution.
Why do you think the church has largely neglected this letter and the historical person has all but faded into obscurity?
Jude isn’t mentioned much in the New Testament and his letter’s short, so they’re both easy to overlook. The ancient church was put off by the fact that he refers to a couple of pieces of Jewish literature that aren’t part of the Bible, and Martin Luther didn’t like Jude because he didn’t sound like Paul, Luther’s favorite New Testament writer. These are the reasons Jude’s been sidelined for so long.
Why do we need to pay attention to Jude’s letter today just as much as the early church did?
Today we hear many voices offering trendy, unorthodox opinions about who Jesus is, how Christians should live, and what the spiritual realm and the afterlife are like. Jude gives us answers based on Jesus’ authority, but he also encourages us to show God’s mercy to those who disagree with us. It’s a message we need to hear and put into practice in our confused and polarized culture.
What positive change would we witness in our world today if people took the life and letter of Jude seriously?
Some Christians are bold to stand for what they believe in but lack grace and love toward people on the other side of the issues. Other Christians are the opposite: warmhearted but without the will or the understanding to hold to their convictions. Jude shows us how to be Christ-followers who are neither spineless nor heartless.
Dr. Jerome Van Kuiken (PhD, University of Manchester) grew up as a missionary kid and preacher’s kid, and brings a wealth of practical experience to his teaching. He has served in local church ministries and taught college-level courses since 2000. He is married with two children.
Who is the Judas you’re referring to in this study and what was his relationship to Jesus?
This Judas is the one named in the Gospels as a brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). He’s also known as Jude. He’s the author of the little letter of Jude that’s in the back of the New Testament just before the book of Revelation.
What particular interest do you have in Jude and what motivated you to write this study now?
Jude interests me because who he is and what he wrote haven’t been talked about much, in my experience. But the more I’ve studied him and his letter, the more I’ve come to recognize that his life experience and his message are relevant to issues that the church is facing today.
What is the primary message of Jude’s letter that we have in our biblical canon?
Think of an Allstate commercial that shows the Mayhem guy running amuck and then asks you if you’re in good hands. It’s a short commercial but it grabs your attention and communicates two things: 1) Watch out for Mayhem. 2) Trust Allstate. Jude’s letter is short, too, but it grabs our attention and communicates three things: 1) Watch out for spiritual scammers who bring mayhem to church. 2) Trust Jesus—you’re in his good hands. 3) Show mercy to the mayhem-makers while exercising proper caution.
Why do you think the church has largely neglected this letter and the historical person has all but faded into obscurity?
Jude isn’t mentioned much in the New Testament and his letter’s short, so they’re both easy to overlook. The ancient church was put off by the fact that he refers to a couple of pieces of Jewish literature that aren’t part of the Bible, and Martin Luther didn’t like Jude because he didn’t sound like Paul, Luther’s favorite New Testament writer. These are the reasons Jude’s been sidelined for so long.
Why do we need to pay attention to Jude’s letter today just as much as the early church did?
Today we hear many voices offering trendy, unorthodox opinions about who Jesus is, how Christians should live, and what the spiritual realm and the afterlife are like. Jude gives us answers based on Jesus’ authority, but he also encourages us to show God’s mercy to those who disagree with us. It’s a message we need to hear and put into practice in our confused and polarized culture.
What positive change would we witness in our world today if people took the life and letter of Jude seriously?
Some Christians are bold to stand for what they believe in but lack grace and love toward people on the other side of the issues. Other Christians are the opposite: warmhearted but without the will or the understanding to hold to their convictions. Jude shows us how to be Christ-followers who are neither spineless nor heartless.
Dr. Jerome Van Kuiken (PhD, University of Manchester) grew up as a missionary kid and preacher’s kid, and brings a wealth of practical experience to his teaching. He has served in local church ministries and taught college-level courses since 2000. He is married with two children.
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