Chapter
1
Verse

Jude 1:8

ESV Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.
NIV In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.
NASB Yet in the same way these people also, dreaming, defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak abusively of angelic majesties.
CSB In the same way these people—relying on their dreams—defile their flesh, reject authority, and slander glorious ones.
NLT In the same way, these people — who claim authority from their dreams — live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings.
KJV Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
NKJV Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.

What does Jude 1:8 mean?

Jude calls the apostates "dreamers," perhaps because they dreamed about ways to indulge their sinful appetites. They may also have claimed spiritual visions as an excuse for their action. Like the wicked inhabitants of Sodom, Gomorrah, and surrounding towns, the apostates disregard the harm their wicked habits cause their bodies. They reject authority, just as the rebellious Israelites rejected Moses' authority. They especially reject the authority of Jesus Christ, the head of the church (Colossians 1:18). It follows that they also reject the authority of those whom God has placed in the churches to teach His Word and to guide His people. The apostates even speak evil of angelic beings, a point continued into the next verse.

Instead of bowing to the authority of God's Word, these apostates teach falsehood. In 2 Timothy 2:16–18 the apostle Paul describes some apostates as indulging in godless chatter. They have wandered so far from the truth that they claim the resurrection has already taken place.

First Timothy 4:1–2 describes the source of the apostates' evil teachings and the wicked character of the apostates. Paul writes: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared."
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