Briefly: Jude 8-10

Today

Briefly: Jude 8-10

I was listening to the King James Version, audio version today...

Jude 8-10

The King James Version

8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Jude 8-10

English Standard Version

8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.

Jude 8-10

New American Standard Bible

8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile [a]angelic majesties. 9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are [b]destroyed.

Footnotes:

Jude 1:8 Lit glories

Jude 1:10 Lit corrupted
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My focus, admittedly briefly for this post, is the concept in verse 9, which has always interested me since reading (or hearing) it.

Satan (the devil), it appears is respected by the archangel Michael, to the point where Michael did not dare pronounce a judgement against the devil, but instead, left the judgement of Satan, with the Lord.

David F. Payne states that Jude contrasts the arrogance of the false brethren under review and criticism in the Book of Jude, to how Michael dealt with Satan. 'Michael would not speak arrogantly even to the devil.' (1591).

Based on my developed biblical and philosophical theology, Michael is an angel of high rank, that never departed, since his (an asexual entity) creation, by nature and choice from finite, moral, ethical, ontological perfection in serving the Triune God.

Satan, in contrast, departed, some point after his (an asexual entity) creation, from finite perfection, to corrupted, tainted, imperfection, opposing God.

Yet, with an implied correct understanding of conduct, Michael respected Satan.

I have read commentators that have opined that Satan could do damage to Michael in some way, and so Michael showed him respect. Possible theologically.

A Reformed theological perspective could be that Michael understood that Satan was a tool within God's plans, God as a primary cause and Satan as a secondary cause, and by showing respect to Satan, Michael showed respect to God, and for the eventual divine judgement of Satan.

I found it difficult to find what I viewed as clear and concise commentaries on this verse, that I could share on this website that would make much sense to readers (I found them tedious and disorganized), but John Calvin is helpful:

9. Yet Michael the archangel. Peter gives this argument shorter, and states generally, that angels, far more excellent than men, dare not bring forward a railing judgment. [2 Peter 2:11.] But as this history is thought to have been taken from an apocryphal book, it has hence happened that less weight has been attached to this Epistle. But since the Jews at that time had many things from the traditions of the fathers, I see nothing unreasonable in saying that Jude referred to what had already been handed down for many ages. I know indeed that many puerilities had obtained the name of tradition, as at this day the Papists relate as traditions many of the silly dotages of the monks; but this is no reason why they should not have had some historical facts not committed to writing. 

It is beyond controversy that Moses was buried by the Lord, that is, that his grave was concealed according to the known purpose of God. And the reason for concealing his grave is evident to all, that is, that the Jews might not bring forth his body to promote superstition. What wonder then is it, when the body of the prophet was hidden by God, Satan should attempt to make it known; and that angels, who are ever ready to serve God, should on the other hand resist him? And doubtless we see that Satan almost in all ages has been endeavoring to make the bodies of God's saints idols to foolish men. Therefore this Epistle ought not to be suspected on account of this testimony, though it is not found in Scripture. 

That Michael is introduced alone as disputing against Satan is not new. We know that myriads of angels are ever ready to render service to God; but he chooses this or that to do his business as he pleases. What Jude relates as having been said by Michael, is found also in the book of Zechariah, 

"Let God chide (or check) thee, Satan." (Zechariah 3:2.) 

And it is a comparison, as they say, between the greater and the less. Michael dared not to speak more severely against Satan (though a reprobate and condemned) than to deliver him to God to be restrained; but those men hesitated not to load with extreme reproaches the powers which God had adorned with peculiar honors. 

This seems a reasonable interpretation, citing the apocryphal and Hebrew Bible references that are found in scholarship as well as the often referenced from the Bible. (Zechariah, 2 Peter).

2 Peter 2:11

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

11 whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.

The respect Michael showed to the condemned by God, Satan, is contrasted with the disrespect which false teachers showed to angelic majesties, those that God had honoured as such with majesty.

CALVIN, JOHN (1542) (2018) Jude, Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Bible Hub, Pennsylvania.
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/calvin/jude/1.htm

MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

PAYNE DAVID F. (1986) 'Jude' in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

Jude: Bible Study Tools

9 ὁ δὲ Μιχαὴλ ὁ ἀρχάγγελος, ὅτε τῷ διαβόλῳ διακρινόμενος διελέγετο περὶ τοῦ Μωϋσέως σώματος, οὐκ ἐτόλμησεν κρίσιν ἐπενεγκεῖν βλασφημίας, ἀλλὰ εἶπεν · Ἐπιτιμήσαι σοι κύριος.

But Michael, the archangel, when the devil contended argued about the of Moses body did not a judgement to bring on of railing but said rebuke you Lord. (With the use of Greek interlinear text).

Chucky was thrilled when I purchased new gamepads for my old British games computer. It changed how Actua Soccer 3 is played and eliminated massive curved shots. He thought he had more chance. I struggled for a bit to score, but soon discovered the new way to score. Better than watching soap operas on television...Good for the mind.