For an article on the meaning of the word “eternal” in Greek and Hebrew, visit here.
The Epistle of Jude, which was written to warn of the destructive concourses of false doctrines, is often cited by the Augustinian-Calvinist Eternal Conscious Torment proponents as supporting the concept of hellfire. For instance, in John MacArthur’s commentary on Jude verse 23, he claims the fire is “the fire of hell.”
However, a closer examination of the text, context, and the use of figurative language reveals that Jude is not teaching about endless torture in hellfire but rather warning against the immediate and destructive consequences of following false teachers. Let’s explore this in detail.
Now I want to remind you, though you know everything once and for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. And angels who did not keep their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling place, these He has kept in eternal restraints under darkness for the judgment of the great day, just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these angels indulged in sexual perversion and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire… …And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
Jude 1:5-7, 22-23
Jude 1:7 – Eternal Fire and Sodom and Gomorrah
Jude 1:7 states, “Sodom and Gomorrah…are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.” Are Sodom and Gomorrah still burning today? No. How, then, can Jude say they underwent a punishment of eternal fire? Because it’s figurative language.
In this context, “eternal fire” represents the complete and irreversible destruction that befell these cities. It does not imply that the physical fire is still burning. As we previously covered, the term “eternal” here is used to describe the totality and finality of the judgment. The consequences of the destruction were permanent, but the fire itself was not.
Interestingly, in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus uses the same Greek words translated as “eternal fire” (Matthew 18:8). Jesus says, “And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.” Most would agree that Jesus was speaking figuratively when He talked about cutting off a hand or foot. Therefore, it only makes sense that Jesus also spoke figuratively about “eternal fire” in the same way Jude did.
The broader biblical context supports this figurative interpretation. As we previously covered, the Bible often uses fire as a symbol of God’s judgment and purification, not necessarily as a literal description of eternal torment. For instance, Malachi 3:2-3 describes God as a refiner’s fire, purifying the Levites. Similarly, Hebrews 12:29 calls God “a consuming fire,” which speaks to His purifying and judging nature, not to literal flames.
Strange Flesh
Sodom and Gomorrah are often associated with homosexuality. However, “Strange Flesh” refers to the desire for human flesh by angels, as depicted in the story of Sodom, signifying a forbidden yearning between an angel and a human rather than sexual acts between humans. Hermeneutically, ‘strange flesh’ is never linked to homosexuality in Scripture. The term ‘strange’ is incompatible with homosexuality, which occurs within the same gender, race, and species and is not ‘foreign.’ The primary sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was not idolatry or homosexuality, as these were common in many cities. Instead, it was the intent to interact with visiting angels. In Genesis 6, angels sought human flesh; in Sodom, humans sought the ‘strange’ flesh of angels. This is why Sodom is associated with angels in the New Testament and why it was punished so severely. This distinction is crucial for the context of the angel’s “eternal restraints,” preventing them from once again interacting with humans.
Jude speaks of angels in the context of false teachers to illustrate the severity of rebellion against God. Just as the rebellious angels were judged and punished, false teachers will also face judgment for leading others astray. The connection underscores the consequences of abandoning God’s truth.
Jude’s references to fire and eternal fire are metaphorical, highlighting the destructive consequences of false teachings and immoral behavior. These passages warn of immediate, permanent, earthly destruction rather than eternal torture. The figurative use of language is consistent with the broader biblical context, emphasizing God’s judgment and purification rather than eternal torment. Therefore, Jude does not teach about hellfire but about the serious, immediate consequences of straying from the truth.
Jude 1:23 – Snatching from the Fire
With that context in mind, in Jude 1:23, we read, “Save others by snatching them out of the fire.” If this were speaking of an individual’s salvation from hellfire, then it would place the responsibility on people, not God, to save from hellfire, which contradicts the central message of the Bible about salvation being solely a work of God.
Here, “saving” means rescuing people from the destructive consequences of following false teachers (Jude 1:4, 11). The phrase “snatching them out of the fire” is metaphorical, suggesting the act of rescuing individuals from a dangerous or perilous situation—namely, the false doctrines that threaten their faith and spiritual well-being. This metaphor indicates that the people being “saved” are in a hazardous state that could lead to severe negative consequences in their earthly lives. They are not being saved from an afterlife situation but from an immediate effect on their lives—false teachings that will devastate their lives. In a way, this also represents the purpose of the book.
For example, consider a loved one being misled by harmful teachings and consequently joining a cult that could ruin their life. You can rescue that friend from the grips of the cult, much like pulling someone out of a fire.
A modern example of this could be the prosperity gospel, where individuals lose their life savings to charlatans promising financial blessings in exchange for donations. This “fire” is not about eternal damnation but false teachings’ immediate, destructive impact.
This article was a copy-paste from my new book on hell: HELL: A Jewish Perspective on a Christian Doctrine
