Jude: A Family Legacy and a Short Letter

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Jan 5, 2026

Explore the intriguing identity of Jude, believed to be Jesus' brother, and the unique context of his short letter. Discover early Christian dynamics within Jude's family, including the different names for Jesus' brothers. Delve into the skepticism some relatives had towards Jesus and how his resurrection ignited their leadership roles. Learn about Jude's missionary efforts and the fascinating lineage of the Desposini. This insightful discussion sheds light on the rich tapestry of early Jewish Christianity.

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INSIGHT

Jude's Jewish Literary Style

Jude (Judah) is a short New Testament letter written by Jesus' brother and reads like Second Temple Jewish literature.
Tim Mackie and Jon Collins emphasize Judah's dense use of Hebrew Bible language and hyperlinks to interpret Jesus as the story's center.

INSIGHT

Author's Identity Frames The Letter

Jude identifies himself as "a slave of Jesus Messiah" and "brother of James," signaling humility and family ties.
Jon Collins and Tim Mackie note this frames the letter as coming from someone who both served Jesus and belonged to Jesus' family network.

INSIGHT

A Window Into A Family-Led Movement

The letter offers a rare window into a Messianic Jewish subculture tied to Jesus' family in Jerusalem and Galilee.
The hosts stress this community's distinctiveness from other New Testament streams and its synagogue-rooted practices.

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The Letter of Jude E1 — Jude is one of the shortest writings in the New Testament. It comes from one of Jesus’ own brothers (or cousins, or stepbrothers, depending on the tradition). Written in the early years of the Jesus movement, the letter addresses a Jewish community in Jerusalem or Galilee, made up of disciples who likely grew up with Jesus and knew his family. Jude (or Judah in Hebrew or Judas in Greek) is deeply rooted in the Hebrew Bible. His writing shows these roots through consistent biblical language and tons of hyperlinks. But who was Jude, and what do we know about his family and ancestors? In this episode, Jon and Tim introduce the background of this short letter and the larger world surrounding its author.

FULL SHOW NOTES

For chapter-by-chapter summaries, referenced Scriptures, and reflection questions, check out the full show notes for this episode.

CHAPTERS

Jude’s Identity and the Brothers of Jesus (0:00–8:29)
Jesus’ Brothers in the Gospels and Early Church (8:29–24:01)
James, Jude, and Their Descendants (24:01–44:15)

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

BIBLEPROJECT JUDE TRANSLATION

View our full translation of the Letter of Jude.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

Panarion by Epiphanius of Salamis
The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary: Against Helvidius by Jerome
Proto-Gospel of James
Commentary on Matthew by Origen
Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus
The Church History by Eusebius of Caesarea
Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

“afternoon reads.” by Lofi Sunday, PAINT WITH SOUND.
“date night” by Lofi Sunday, Cassidy Godwin
BibleProject theme song by TENTS

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, who also edited today’s episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

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