Customer Reviews

Kept: The Message of Jude

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Kept is the first commentary from Delaware pastor and author David Phillips. Sub-titled, "The Message of Jude," this short volume (about 85 pages) is both devotional and theological and intentionally so, as Jude isn't exactly an Isaiah length writing. Phillips starts with his own translation from the Greek, providing a fresh look at the text. He then breaks the epistle into to major parts, the shorter first part (vs. 1-4) is more devotional while the balance of the books takes a more in depth look the difficult passages within this book.

Phillips does a good job of providing multiple points of view where needed to give a full picture of interpretive positions and ideas. He also is careful not to speculate too much, especially regarding the apocalyptic passage quoting the book of Enoch where he give a very good, though brief, treatment.

The places I find myself in primary disagreement are with his view of the "cohabitation theory" of the sons of God and daughters of men (since Jude provides to explicit tie to Genesis 6) and with the assumption that praying "in the Holy Spirit" is potentially "praying in tongues" when the text does not require that interpretation. Though footnoted the arguments supporting that position would have been better quoted, I feel. However, my differences of interpretational preference in no way weakens his presentation and he is within the bounds of orthodox biblical interpretation in both cases.

While this commentary might not provide anything "brand new" to the heart of a pastor or theologian who has done their own in depth study of the book, it does provide some fresh thought for sermon preparation and would be a very good companion for a lay person who is preparing to teach through Jude with its message of being kept.