But I desire to remind you, though once and for all you have come to know all things
that Jesus, who saved the people from the land of Egypt, the nest time
destroyed those who did not believe.
And the angels also who did not preservr their original state, but forsook their abode,
he has kept in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgement of
the great day.
Just as Godom
and Gomorrah, and the neigboring cities which like them committed sins
of immorality and practiced unnatural vice, have been made an example,
undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
In like manner
of these men also defile the flesh; disregard authority, deride majesty.
Yet when Michael the Archangel was fiercely disputing with the devil about the
body of Moses, he did not venture to bring against him an accusation
of blashemy, but said, "May the Lord rebuke thee."
But these men deride whatever they do not know; and the things thay know by instinct
like the dumb beast, become for them a source of destruction.
Woe to them!
for they have gone in the way of Cain, and have rushed on thoughtlessly
into the error of Balaam for the sake of gain, and have perished in
the rebellion of Core
These men are
stains on their feats, banqueting together without fear, looking after
themselves; clouds without water, carried about by the winds; trees in
the fall, unfruitful, twice dead, uprooted;
wild waves of
the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom the strom
of darkness has been reserved forever.
Now of
these also Henoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold
the Lord has come with thousands of his holy ones
to execute
judgement upon all, and to convict all the impious of all their
impious works, and of all the hard things that impious sinners have
spoken against him."
These are grumbling murmurers walking according to their lusts. And
haughty in speech, they cultivate people for the sake of gain.
But as for you,
beloved, be mindful of the words that have been spoken beforehand by
the apostles of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Who
kept saying to you that at the end of time there will come scoffers,
walking impiously according to their desires.
There
are they who set themselves apart, sensual men, not having the Spirit.
He speaks of the judgment to come upon the heretics who are living evil
lives and condemns the worldly-minded, the lustful, and ‘those who
cultivate people for the sake of gain.” He encourages Christians to
remain steadfast in the faith and foretells that false teachers,
leading wicked lives and ridiculing religion, will arise, but that
they will be punished.