In our examination of Jude 1:4, we encounter a passage that has suffered from textual corruption, reflecting the influence of early doctrinal shifts and the emerging Catholic church's attempts to shape Scripture to support its wicked theological agenda. While the Codex Sinaiticus is often regarded as a valuable witness to some of the earliest New Testament texts, we, the Mashiachim, affirm that in the case of Jude 1:4, the Textus Receptus actually preserves the more accurate and original reading.
The Textual Corruption of Jude 1:4
The corruption of Jude 1:4 can be traced back to the beginning of the 4th century A.D. when the emerging Catholic church, under the influence of Emperor Constantine of Rome, who reigned from 306 – 337, and the developing heresy of the Trinitarian doctrine, began to exert significant influence over the transmission of the New Testament texts. This period was marked by theological disputes and the consolidation of ecclesiastical power, which created fertile ground for subtle yet significant alterations to the sacred Scriptures. The evidence suggests that Jude 1:4 was among the passages that were tampered with to align more closely with the doctrines being propagated by emerging Catholic oligarchs.
The Reconstructed Translation of Jude 1:4
After a careful analysis of the manuscript evidence, we present the following translation of Jude 1:4, confident in its fidelity to the original text:
Greek Text (From the Textus Receptus):
παρεισέδυσαν γὰρ τινὲς ἄνθρωποι, οἱ πάλαι προγεγραμμένοι εἰς τοῦτο τὸ κρίμα, ἀσεβεῖς, τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν χάριν μετατιθέντες εἰς ἀσέλγειαν, καὶ τὸν μόνον δεσπότην Θεὸν καὶ κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἀρνούμενοι.Reconstructed Translation of Jude 1:4: "For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ."
This translation is supported by key early manuscripts, as well as the Textus Receptus, which we believe maintains the critical elements of the text in a form that reflects Jude's original intent and is consistant with the rest of Scripture. The phrase "who deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ" preserves the dual focus of the denial, which later corruptions seemingly sought to obscure.
Manuscript Evidence Supporting the Reconstructed Translation
The reconstructed translation draws on the earliest and most reliable manuscripts, including 𝔓72 and other significant witnesses, which uphold the integrity of the original text. Key elements of this translation include:
- "παρεισέδυσαν" (pareisedysan) – "have crept in unnoticed": Consistently supported by the earliest manuscripts, this term accurately conveys the clandestine nature of the infiltration by ungodly men.
- "κριμα" (krima) – "condemnation": The earliest manuscripts uniformly support this term, emphasizing the preordained judgment awaiting these men.
- "τὸν μόνον δεσπότην Θεὸν καὶ κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν" (ton monon despotēn Theon kai kyrion hēmōn Iēsoun Christon) – "the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ": This phrase, preserved in the Textus Receptus, clearly distinguishes between the "only Lord God" and "the Lord Yeshua HaMashiach", in contrast to later corruptions that seemingly sought to blur this distinction for doctrinal purposes.
Theological Integrity and Early Catholic Manipulation
The reconstructed translation of Jude 1:4 not only aligns with the earliest manuscript evidence but also preserves the theological integrity of the apostolic teaching. The original text of Jude emphasizes the distinct roles of the Father and the Son, which the emerging Catholic Church, as it moved towards a formalized Trinitarian doctrine, sought to obscure. By introducing textual alterations, early Catholic scribes attempted to elevate Yeshua's status in a way that diverged from the original apostolic understanding, which consistently distinguished between God the Father and the Lord Yeshua HaMashiach.
These manipulations were driven by the desire to support the developing Trinitarian doctrine, which became a cornerstone of Catholic theology following the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The alterations in Jude 1:4 reflect this broader trend of doctrinal tampering, aimed at aligning the Scriptures with the theological positions endorsed by the early Catholic hierarchy.
The Danger of Early Corruptions
The textual corruptions found in Jude 1:4 underscore the perilous influence of early Catholic manipulation on the transmission of the New Testament texts. These alterations were not isolated incidents but part of a broader effort to mold the Scriptures to fit the theological agendas of the time. The Codex Sinaiticus, while valuable in many respects, was itself produced during a period when these corruptions had already taken root.
We, the Mashiachim, reject these alterations and affirm that the original text, as reconstructed here, represents the true Word of God as delivered by His apostles. Our confidence in this translation is bolstered by its alignment with the earliest and most reliable manuscript evidence, as well as its preservation of the theological clarity that Jude intended to convey.
Comparison with the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE)
To highlight the impact of these early Catholic corruptions, we compare our reconstructed translation of Jude 1:4 with the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE), a version that reflects the forgeries favored by the Catholic church:
- Reconstructed Translation: "For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ."
- NRSV-CE (a Catholic Bible): "For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."
The NRSV-CE, influenced by the Catholic church’s doctrinal agenda, subtly alters the text to align with Trinitarian theology. By omitting the clear distinction between "the only Lord God AND our Lord Jesus Christ," this version promotes the Trinitarian view that Yeshua is co-equal with the Father, rather than preserving the apostolic teaching that acknowledges Yeshua's distinct yet human role as the Son of God, indwelled by God the Father (see John 14:10; Col 2:9).
The Consequences of Catholic Alterations
Those who tamper with the Word of God face dire consequences, as warned in Revelation 22:18-19. The emerging Catholic church’s alterations to Jude 1:4, whether through deliberate forgery or theological bias, represent a grave offense against the integrity of the Scriptures. We, the Mashiachim, stand firm in our commitment to preserving the true and unaltered Word of God, recognizing that these early corruptions are part of a broader pattern of manipulation that the emerging Catholic church used to establish its authority and propagate its false doctrines.