I used a picture of Beza rather than Calvin intentionally.
Anachronistically speaking of course. It’s easy to read Jude and come away with a strongly deterministic message. His little epistle is jam-packed with deterministic words and phrases such as:
To those who are called [Jude 1:1]
Interpretation: Meaning to the preordained elect individuals.
who are… kept by Jesus Christ [Jude 1:1]
Interpretation: Meaning those who are in his hands he will not allow to apostate, i.e. once saved always saved.
For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago [Jude 1:4]
Interpretation: In contrast to the “called”, these individuals have been passed over for damnation.
[They] deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord [Jude 1:4]
Interpretation: Those bloody Arminian and Pelagian heretics!
[Praise] Him who is able to keep you from falling [Jude 1:24]
Interpretation: once saved always saved.
So was Jude a Calvinist? Yes, it would seem at first glance that he was. Now let’s have a second look.
***To Be Continued***
