Catholic Saints Podcast – "St. Jude" (October 28, 2025)

Host: Dr. Tim Gray (President, Augustine Institute)
Guest: Dr. Jim Prothero (Professor of Scripture, Augustine Institute)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the frequently overlooked Letter of St. Jude. Hosts Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Jim Prothero explore who St. Jude was, the historical and biblical context of his letter, and the enduring relevance of his message for the Church today, especially regarding scandals, false teachers, and the need to remain steadfast in faith.

Who Was St. Jude? Clarifying Identities and Biblical Context

[00:15–03:54]

• Name Origins: Jude is a form of "Judas," the same as Judas Iscariot, though the "good guy" apostle is typically called Jude to avoid confusion.
• Biblical Family Ties:
  • Early Christian tradition identifies Jude as "a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James" (cf. Jude 1:1). Most early Church Fathers understand Jude as a cousin of Jesus, not a sibling, highlighting that the "brothers" of Jesus are likely close relatives (cf. Mark 6).
  • "You read along a little bit in the Gospel and you find out that James and Joses and Simon and Jude are actually the children of his aunt who's also named Mary..." — Dr. Jim Prothero [03:24]
• Names in First-Century Judaism: Simon and Jude/Judah were popular, both in the Old Testament (tribes of Israel) and due to the Maccabean Revolt; Jewish parents named children with hopes of liberation under Roman rule.
• Church Leadership: After Jesus' Resurrection, his family became central in the early Church—James, his cousin, became first bishop of Jerusalem.

Jude’s Audience and the Purpose of His Letter

[06:52–08:17]

• A Widespread Letter: Not written to a specific community, but to a broad audience described as "those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ."
• Reason for Writing:
  • Urges the community to "contend for the faith" due to false teachers who've infiltrated the Church.
  • "He’s writing to the church to contend for the faith. That seems to be the purpose of this letter." — Dr. Tim Gray [07:26]

The Problem of False Teachers and Scandal

[08:17–11:46]

• Imagery and Warnings:
  • False teachers described as "waterless clouds"—a vivid image for a dry, hope-filled region like Judea.
  • These teachers are not outsiders, but insiders—possibly even leaders—who cause confusion and scandal by living immorally.
  • "If you want a letter to look at to think about how to handle scandal in the church, I think Jude is really helpful." — Dr. Jim Prothero [09:30]
• Contending for the Faith:
  • Every believer is called to defend the true faith, not just clergy.
  • Scandal is not proof of the Church’s failure or falsity; Jesus and the apostles predicted such trials.
  • "Bad leaders doesn’t mean wrong church." — Dr. Tim Gray [11:46]

Pastoral Advice for Troubled Times

[12:12–15:59]

• Key Verses and Practical Guidance:
  • Build yourself up in faith and prayer—start spiritual renewal from within.
  • “It starts with you, right? When you're in these times of scandal, where should you start? Well, building yourself up in the faith. Right. Praying in the Holy Spirit.” — Dr. Jim Prothero [12:35]
  • Use resources like the Catechism to discern truth when leaders go astray.
  • Show mercy to those confused by bad example; be charitable—not combative—toward doubters.
  • “Have mercy on those who doubt. And then in verse 23, save others by snatching them out of the fire.” — Dr. Jim Prothero [14:47]

The Importance of Knowing Scripture

[15:59–17:04]

• The Role of God’s Word:
  • Urges Catholics to be familiar with the Bible and foundational Church teachings.
  • “Read the Word of God.” — Dr. Tim Gray [16:35]
  • Without understanding, “the devil comes and snatches that word from their hearts.” (cf. Matthew 13:19)

Lessons from Israel: Warnings and Patterns

[17:04–21:01]

• Historical Parallels:
  • Jude warns that, like the Israelites rescued from Egypt who later doubted and fell, Christians must remain faithful or risk judgment.
  • Soul-searching for today: Christians have greater spiritual gifts (Eucharist, Baptism) and must avoid the same pitfalls.

The Reality—and Consolation—of Judgment

[21:01–23:16]

• Judgment’s Dual Edges:
  • God will both judge evil and reward faithfulness.
  • “God's justice, even if it's delayed, comes swiftly when it's time.” — Dr. Jim Prothero [21:58]
  • Comfort for the faithful: justice will be done, even if unseen in this life. “God’s faithful to his justice.” — Dr. Tim Gray [23:01]

St. Michael the Archangel and Spiritual Authority

[23:16–27:25]

• Unique Reference to Michael:
  • Jude mentions the tradition of Michael disputing with the devil over Moses’ body (cf. Jude 1:9).
  • Even the greatest angel relies on God’s authority: “The Lord rebuke you.”
  • “When Michael wants to oppose Satan, right, with the greatest power, he doesn’t say, hold on a minute, let me get my special sword. He says, may the Lord rebuke you. And that's all he needs to say.” — Dr. Jim Prothero [25:52]
  • The St. Michael prayer recited after Mass echoes this passage of Jude.
  • “We’re actually joining Michael in his prayer and his acknowledgment of God’s authority…” — Dr. Jim Prothero [26:55]

How to Read Jude Fruitfully

[27:52–29:06]

• Study the Cross-References:
  • Jude draws on Old Testament examples: Cain, Balaam, Korah—archetypes of rebellion and error.
  • Without knowing these stories, readers may miss Jude’s full meaning and application.
  • “Nobody reads Numbers anymore and nobody reads Jude, so we're missing something that we could use to up build ourselves.” — Dr. Jim Prothero [28:58]

Jude’s Relevance for Modern Catholics

[29:06–30:08]

• Look to Scripture for Clarity in Crisis:
  • “When you know the story of the church, then you're not surprised by the twists and turns of ... your life, in our present time and the present side cycle of news that can be so confusing.” — Dr. Tim Gray [29:31]
• Memorable Ending and Encouragement:
  • Quoting Jude’s closing doxology: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy…” [29:50]
  • Reminder: St. Jude is patron of "helpless" or "hopeless" causes. Listeners are encouraged to read Jude and invoke his intercession.

Notable Quotes

• “Bad leaders doesn’t mean wrong church.”
  — Dr. Tim Gray [11:46]

• “Have mercy on those who doubt. And then in verse 23, save others by snatching them out of the fire.”
  — Dr. Jim Prothero [14:47]

• “God is not blinded to those... acts of justice or love ... if you’re doing the right thing in your parish ... God sees that ... even in hidden ways.”
  — Dr. Jim Prothero [22:10]

• “When Michael wants to oppose Satan ... he says, may the Lord rebuke you. And that’s all he needs to say.”
  — Dr. Jim Prothero [25:52]

• “Jude is telling the early Christians ... to go back to the stories of Israel and the Exodus and Numbers for lessons on how to live as the church today.”
  — Dr. Tim Gray [29:06]

Key Timestamps

• Who is St. Jude? — [01:19–03:54]
• Purpose and Audience of the Letter — [06:52–08:17]
• False Teachers & Church Scandal — [08:17–11:46]
• Pastoral Response to Scandal — [12:12–15:59]
• Importance of Knowing Scripture — [15:59–17:04]
• Historical Warnings from Israel — [17:04–21:01]
• Judgment and Consolation — [21:01–23:16]
• St. Michael & Spiritual Warfare — [23:16–27:25]
• Reading Jude: Practical Advice — [27:52–29:06]
• Modern Relevance & Final Blessing — [29:06–30:08]

This episode is a rich, faith-building guide to the Letter of St. Jude, offering historical context, spiritual consolation, and practical advice on how Christians can persevere in faith despite controversy and scandal. Recommended for anyone seeking greater clarity and encouragement in trying times.