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NASB | Jude 1:23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Jude 1:23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy but with fear, loathing even the clothing spotted and polluted by their shameless immoral freedom. [Amos 4:11; Zech 3:2-4] |
Subject: Interpret Jude1:23 - hate sinners shirt |
Bible Note: Hi Radioman. The Zechariah text is particularly good, as it includes - not only the shirt image - but also the bit about the "brand from the fire." That seems to confirm that the text was in Jude's mind. I guess the reason I raised the issue was that there seems to be contempt in the tone. To hate "even the garment" --- the garment polluted by the person --- seems to imply a contempt of the person. Eugene Peterson's paraphrase seems to take a "love the sinner, hate the sin" approach: "Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven." Is that really what the text is saying, or is that softening the violence out of it somehow? How do we know when the "mercy mixed with fear" approach applies? |