1. Jude 1:1 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why does Jude call himself a servant of Jesus Christ?

Jude 1:1 (ESV)

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

By identifying himself as a servant or a slave of Jesus Christ, Jude is telling the church two things:

Firstly, it is a recognition that he belongs to Jesus Christ and serves him as his Master and Lord. Where Jude was initially very skeptical about Jesus and did not believe in him (see also John 7:3, John 7:5; Matthew 13:57; Mark 3:21), he had come to put his faith in him so that he gathered with the apostles for prayer (Acts 1:14) and also participated in Christian mission (1 Corinthians 9:5).1

Secondly, Jude could also be making a claim to authority and divine commission. In the Bible, the term servant of God is often used to signify someone that has been set apart specifically for service to God (for example, 2 Kings 18:12; 2 Kings 21:8; Joshua 24:29; Judges 2:8; Jeremiah 25:4; Amos 3:7; Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10; Philippians 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1). The apostle Paul talks about Timothy being a servant of the Lord (2 Timothy 2:24) along with Epaphras (Colossians 4:12). It is also used by the apostle John in reference to himself (Revelation 1:1).2