Greetings Series

Jude 1:2 - Greetings

Jude 1:2 “May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.” “Relax, everything's going to be all right; rest, everything's coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!” (Message Bible).

There are four cross references to this verse: 1 peter 1:2, 2 Peter 1:2, Romans 1:7, and Revelation 1:4-6. In the Greco-Roman society, the final section of an epistles greeting would contain a wish-prayer for the readers of the letter. The greeting of Jude’s letter is quite short, but it is densely packed with spiritual truth. Jude uses a threefold construction. A true knowledge of God results in mercy and grace from God, which breeds peace and contentment within the lives of believers. We are dearly loved by God who has done everything we need for a safe and secure salvation.

He asked that an overflowing abundance of mercy, peace, and love be showered on all who trust in Jesus. He looked for multiplication instead of simple addition. He knew that wolves were prowling around seeking to scatter the little flock of God, and so he asked the Father for mercy to help in time of need and for an abundance of peace and love, in the midst of difficult times. Mercy is the sparing of just judgment. In light of our sinful condition, we need the mercy of God every hour. Peace is a very Jewish concept, coming from the Hebrew word shalom. The peace of God encompasses the entirety of a person. It not simply the opposite of chaos or lack of strife; rather, it is the holistic wellbeing that can only come from no longer being in enmity against God. Our peace flows from our reconciliation with God and into our present circumstances. Since we know that we will ultimately be with God, no temporal anxiety of this world will be able to quench our peace. Finally, love is the characteristic of God that first enabled our calling. The Christian worldview is saturated in love.

MERCY

In this salutation the apostle wishes first for multiplication of "mercy", from God the Father, by whom these persons were sanctified: mercy is a perfection in God; the multiplication of it intends an enlarged view and fresh application of it, which they sometimes stand in need of when they want the sense and manifestation of it to them; and under temptations and afflictions, when they need sympathy and compassion; and when they fall into sin they stand in need of the fresh discoveries and application of pardoning mercy to them. According to Calvin, Mercy means nearly the same as grace in the salutations of Paul. Grace is properly the effect of mercy.

PEACE

Secondly, the multiplication of "peace" from Christ, in whom these chosen ones were preserved; may design a fresh and enlarged view of peace being made for them by his blood, and an increase of conscience and peace in their own hearts, as the effect of it; and may include peace, and an abundance of it, among themselves, as well as all prosperity, both external, internal, and eternal. Peace, meaning a strong sense of wellness, would enable them to feel secure in troublesome times. Philippians 4:7 describes God's gift of peace as transcending all understanding and as being a protective guard for the heart and mind. Love for God and others would keep Jude's readers close to God and actively engaged in defending and sharing the truth. We are to work to have peace and live in such a way as to have peace. We should emphasize to each other that we can have peace with God, Christ, and our brethren and with ourselves.

LOVE

Thirdly, the multiplication of "love", and multiplication of it is wished for from the Spirit of God, by whom they were called. According to Calvin, God has embraced us in love because he pitied our miseries. Love may be understood as that of God towards men, as well as that of men towards one another.

(Ref: Bible study tools; Bible ref; B. C. Newton: Jude Contending for Faith, Bible Commentaries in Study light).