Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Jude 1:17

"But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;" — Jude 1:17 (ASV)

“But, dear friends” makes the transition from the burning denunciation in vv.8–16 to the preparation of the believers for their necessary struggles. They must remember (cf. v.5; 2 Peter 1:12–15) the previously spoken words of the apostles. The apostles (the Twelve plus Paul) must have had a wide ministry of which we have little knowledge, and their preaching was part of the oral deposit of faith for the early churches. One of their prophecies was a prediction of mockers in the last days who would live ungodly lives. So the church must be vigilant and prepare itself for action, for that time is at hand and the ungodly mockers are already on the scene. The “last time” (Greek has singular) is the age of messianic salvation and judgment that culminates in the judgments of the Second Advent.