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3 John ⇐ ⇒ Revelation
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For more great commentaries on Jude check:
Commentaries on the General Epistles, Commentaries on All the Epistles, Commentaries on the Whole New Testament & Whole Bible Commentaries
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Order of Contents 16
Best 6
Commentaries 9
Early & Medieval 4
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The Best Commentaries on Jude
1500’s
Luther, Martin – A Commentary or Exposition upon Jude (d. 1546)
*** “In Luther’s racy style. One of his best productions. Copies are scarce as white elephants, and consequently expensive.” – Spurgeon
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1600’s
Dickson, David – ‘…Jude Analytically Expounded’ in An Exposition of All St. Paul’s Epistles… (1659), pp. 320-23
Dickson was a prominent Scottish covenanter. Note that the Banner of Truth reprint contains Dickson’s commentary on less books than the original.
*** – ‘Dickson is a writer after our own heart. For preachers he is a great ally. There is nothing brilliant or profound; but everything is clear and well arranged, and the unction runs down like the oil from Aaron’s head. In this volume the observations are brief.’
Jenkyn, William – An Exposition of Jude 850 pp.
*** “Earnest and popular, but very full, and profoundly learned. A treasure-house of good things.” – Spurgeon
“This work preceded Manton’s monumental treatment. Manton regarded this exposition with such awe that he purposely avoided duplicating any of its material in his own work. Should be purchased if found.” – Cyril J. Barber
Manton, Thomas – A Practical Commentary on Jude (1658) in Works, vol. 5
*** “Manton at first gave up all idea of printing this book on Jude, when he found that Jenkyn had taken up the subject; but he afterwards changed his mind. He tells us: ‘I consulted with my reverend brother’s book, and when I found any point at large discussed by him, I either omitted it or mentioned it very briefly; so that his labors will be necessary to supply the weakness of mine.” – Spurgeon
*** “This book is in the [British] Museum, but we cannot procure a copy.” – Spurgeon
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Advanced
Poole, Matthew – Critical Synopsis of the Bible: 1 John – Jude Buy (†1679)
This is different and much larger than Poole’s Annotations on Scripture. Here Poole gives something of a history of interpretation (from Jewish writers until Christian interpreters of Poole’s own day) on every verse of the Bible.
‘…you will find in Poole’s Synopsis a marvelous collection of all the wisdom and folly of the critics. It is a large cyclopedia worthy of the days when theologians could be cyclopean, and had not shrunk from folios to octavos. Query—a query for which I will not demand an answer—has one of you beaten the dust from the venerable copy of Poole which loads our library shelves? Yet as Poole spent no less than ten years in compiling it, it should be worthy of your frequent notice—ten years, let me add, spent in Amsterdam in exile for the truth’s sake from his native land. His work is based on an earlier compilation entitled Critic Sacri, containing the concentrated light of a constellation of learned men who have never been excelled in any age or country.’ – Spurgeon
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Commentaries on Jude
1500’s
Ridley, Lancelot – An Exposition in the Epistle of Jude the Apostle of Christ wherein he sets plainly before every man’s eyes false apostles, & their crafts, by the which they have long deceived simple Christian people. (1538)
On his work on Ephesians: ** “John Bale wrote in 1543: ‘The Commentary which that virtuous learned man, Master Lancelot Ridley, made upon St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, for the true erudition of his Christian brethren, hath my Lord Bonner here also condemned for heresy. But what the cause is I cannot tell, unless it be for advancing the Gospel as the thing whereby we are made righteous.’ Our author is equally fierce against Anabaptists and Papists, but is not much of a commentator.” – Spurgeon
Marlorat, Augustine – A Catholic & Ecclesiastical Exposition upon the Epistle of St. Jude… (London: 1584) 43 pp.
Marlorat (1506-1562) was reformed. His commentaries are particularly valuable as they are compendiums of block quotes from some of the best reformed divines of his day on the passages of that particular Biblical book. See here for an excerpt from his commentary on John.
** – “Marlorate was an eminent French reformer, preacher and martyr. His commentaries contain the cream of the older writers, and are in much esteem, but are very rare. He wrote on the whole New Testament, but we have in English only the Gospels [2-3 John] and Jude [and Revelation 1 & 13].” – Spurgeon
Turnbull, Richard – An Exposition upon the Canonical Epistle of St. Jude, Divided into Ten Sermons or Lectures (1592)
Turnbull (1593) was reformed.
* “Old and occupied with Popish controversies. Good solid, and tedious.” – Spurgeon
Trigge, Francis – A Touchstone, whereby may be Easily Discerned which is the True Catholic Faith, of All them that Profess the Name of Catholics in the Church of England, that they be not Deceived, taken out of the Catholic Epistle of St. Jude (London, 1599)
Trigge (c.1547-1606) was reformed.
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1600’s
Otes, Samuel – An Explanation of the General Epistle of Saint Jude in 41 Sermons (1633) 525 pp.
** “Of the conforming Puritan style, full of quaintness and singularities of learning. A book by no means to be despised.” – Spurgeon
Perkins, William – A Godly & Learned Exposition upon the Whole Epistle of Jude, containing 66 Sermons (d. 1602)
** “Perkins was regarded by his contemporaries as a paragon of learning, but his writings fail to interest the generality of readers.” – Spurgeon
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Intermediate
1800’s
Gardiner, Frederic – The Last of the Epistles, A Commentary upon the Epistle of St. Jude… (Boston: Jewett, 1856)
** “An interesting, straightforward, instructive commentary.” – Spurgeon
McGilvray, Walter – Lectures on Jude (1855) 150 pp.
McGilvray was a minister of the Free Church of Scotland. The work is dedicated to Rev. Thomas Brown.
** “Vigorous, popular addresses by a Free Church divine.” – Spurgeon
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1900’s
Kelly, J.N.D. – ‘The Epistle of Jude’ in A Commentary on the Epistles of Peter & Jude in Black’s New Testament Commentary (Hendrickson, 1993), pp. 241-94 ToC Reprinted by Baker in the Thornapple Commentary series
Kelly (1909–1997), the noted Early Church historian, was an Oxford scholar. He has a few liberal tendencies.
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Advanced
Mayor – The Epistle of St. Jude & the Second Epistle of St. Peter: Greek Text with Introduction, Notes & Comments (1907) 460 pp.
“A brilliant, technical treatment. Denies the Petrine authorship of II Peter, but is inclined to accept its canonicity and fully appreciates its intrinsic spiritual value and practical worth.” – Cyril J. Barber
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The Early Church
Compilations
ed. Bray, Gerald – Commentary on 2 John in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude Pre Buy (IVP, 2000), pp. 231-38
ed. Skaggs, Rebecca – 1, 2 Peter & Jude Through the Centuries Pre (2020) 312 pp. ToC
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Individual
Clement of Alexandria – On Jude at Patristic Bible Commentary
Clement (c. 150 – c. 215)
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Medieval Church
Bede – Commentary on the Seven Catholic Epistles Ref (Cistercian Publications, 1985) 284 pp.
Bede (672/3 – 735)
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