1. Jude 1:3 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why does Jude refer to his addressees as "beloved"?

Jude 1:3 (ESV)

3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Rather than dear friends (NIV) a better translation of the Greek is beloved (ESV). Beloved was a common word used by a father to address his child. This term became one of the principle forms of address in the church (Romans 12:19; 1 Corinthians 10:14; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Corinthians 12:19; Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 6:9; 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 4:12; 2 Peter 3:1, 2 Peter 3:8, 2 Peter 3:14, 2 Peter 3:17; 1 John 2:7; 1 John 3:2, 1 John 3:21; 1 John 4:1, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:11; Jude 1:17, Jude 1:20) since it emphasizes the familial bond that exists between members of the Christian community.1