Charles Ellicott Commentary Jude 1:22-23

"And on some have mercy, who are in doubt; and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." — Jude 1:22-23 (ASV)

Exhortation to treat these libertines with discrimination, making three classes. (Jude 1:22) And of some have compassion, making a difference.—The evidence is very strong in favour of a widely different reading: And some indeed convict (Jude 1:15) when they are in doubt (Matthew 21:21; Acts 10:20; Acts 11:12; Romans 4:20; Romans 14:23; James 1:6); or, when they contend with you (Jude 1:9; Acts 11:2); or, when they separate from you.

The first reading seems best, though the second also makes excellent sense and has Jude 1:9 in its favour. This, then, is the first and least hopeless class—those who are still in doubt, though inclined the wrong way. They may still be remonstrated with, convicted of error, and reclaimed (Matthew 18:15; Titus 1:13; James 5:20). Some would make this first class the worst and most hopeless—those who are to be argued down in disputation, but without much chance of success. Such interpreters make the third class the best: those who can probably be saved by gentle means.

The Greek here is so ambiguous that we cannot be certain of the meaning. But the addition of in fear and hating even the garment spotted by the flesh to the directions respecting the third class seems to indicate that that class is the worst.

And others save with fear.—The phrase with fear must certainly be omitted, as it is no part of the true text. Save should perhaps be try to save. It is the present imperative, not the aorist.

Pulling them out of the fire.—Better, snatching them out of the fire. We have here another reminiscence of Zechariah 3:1-3; we had one in Jude 1:9. (Compare Amos 4:11.) The fire of the judgment to come is probably not meant; rather, the imminent danger (like someone asleep in a burning house) in which the fire of their sins keeps them. This is the second class: those who can still be rescued, but by strong measures.

After the words out of the fire, we must insert another clause omitted from the inferior Greek texts used by our translators: and on others have compassion in fear. Wycliffe and the Rhemish version, following the Vulgate, have this clause. This is the third and worst class: those on whom profound pity is all that we dare bestow, and that in fear and trembling, lest by contact with them we may be brought within the influence of the deadly contamination that clings to all their surroundings. Abhorrence must be shown to the very externals of pollution. (Compare 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Timothy 5:22; Titus 3:10–11; 1 John 5:16; 2 John 1:10–11.)