Then wouldn't a reference to Lucifer in Isaiah have been more apropriate, my stubborn FRiend?
“Then wouldn’t a reference to Lucifer in Isaiah have been more apropriate, my stubborn FRiend?”
Lucifer isn’t a man, and isn’t a well respected member of the church. Korah was one of the Levites, and set apart for service to God already...but he wanted an office not given him.
From Barnes, with an unauthorized interpretation:
“The errors which he combats in the epistle were evidently wide-spread, and were of such a nature that it was proper to warn all Christians against them. They might, it is true, be more prevalent in some quarters than in others, but still they were so common that Christians everywhere should be put on their guard against them. The design for which Jude wrote the epistle he has himself stated, Jude 1:3. It was with reference to the “common salvation”— the doctrines pertaining to salvation which were held by all Christians, and to show them the reasons for “contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.” That faith was assailed. There were teachers of error abroad. They were insinuating and artful men—men who had crept in unawares, and who, while they professed to hold the Christian doctrine, were really undermining its faith, and spreading corruption through the church. The purpose, therefore, of the epistle is to put those to whom it was written on their guard against the corrupt teachings of these men, and to encourage them to stand up manfully for the great principles of Christian truth.”
“Verse 11. Woe unto them! See Matthew 11:21.
For they have gone in the way of Cain. Genesis 4:5-12. That is, they have evinced disobedience and rebellion as he did; they have shown that they are proud, corrupt, and wicked. The apostle does not specify the points in which they had imitated the example of Cain, but it was probably in such things as these—pride, haughtiness, the hatred of religion, restlessness under the restraints of virtue, envy that others were more favoured, and a spirit of hatred of the brethren (comp. 1 John 3:15) which would lead to murder.
And ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward. The word rendered ran greedily—\~execuyhsan\~, from \~ekcew\~—means to pour out; and then, when spoken of persons, that they are poured out, or that they rush tumultuously on an object, that is, that they give themselves up to anything. The idea here is, that all restraint was relaxed, and that they rushed on tumultuously to any course of life that promised gain. See Barnes “2 Peter 2:15”.
And perished. They perish, or they will perish. The result is so certain that the apostle, speaks of it as if it were already done. The thought seems to have lain in his mind in this manner: he thinks of them as having the same character as Korah, and then at once thinks of them as destroyed in the same manner, or as if it were already done. They are identified with him in their character and doom. The word rendered perish (\~apollumi\~) is often used to denote future punishment, Matthew 10:28,39; 18:14; Mark 1:24; Luke 13:3,5; John 3:15,16 John 10:28; 2 Thessalonians 2:10; 2 Peter 3:9.
In the gainsaying of Core. Of Korah, Numbers 16:1-30. The word gainsaying here means properly contradiction, or speaking against; then controversy, question, strife; then contumely, reproach, or rebellion. The idea here seems to be, that they were guilty of insubordination; of possessing a restless and dissatisfied spirit; of a desire to rule, etc.”
So, you see, Jude, under the inspiration of God, with “God-breathed” words, DOES use appropriate examples.
Pride. Desire for gain. Desire to rule. Where has that been encountered?
Well, TV Evangelists. We have an Internet prophet who calls himself ‘Jedediah’ - don’t know if he is after money, but he seems to want acclaim and he frequently uses this passage to attack those who doubt his ‘authority’.
Anyone else? Someone inside the church, with Pride, Desire for gain and Desire to rule. Hmmm....
In honesty, this scripture fits a LOT of people, including some deacons in Baptist congregations. If someone is sowing discontent from within a church, and eager for gain, acclaim and higher authority...it fits.
Lucifer in Isaiah would not.