CP The Contest for the Faith: A Message from Jude

Editorial Peregrino has published the commentary on the book of Malachi titled "When Contact with God is Lost" and on Titus "How to Straighten a Self-Centered Church." Those who have read these books will already know from experience Benton's ability to apply Scripture to our complex modern world. The Contention for the Faith is no exception and follows in that vein. This is the greatest virtue of the commentaries that come from Benton's pen: the way he shows the modern relevance of eternal biblical principles.

The book of Jude contains an astonishingly pertinent message for our postmodern world. Jude defends two principles that are becoming increasingly openly denigrated by our society. On the one hand, the existence of an objective truth that does not change with the passage of time or with one's place of residence. Today, many tend to think that all truth is relative and that what I believe is as true or valid as what you affirm. Jude, on the contrary, defends the existence of an immutable and objectively true Christian faith: "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). Christianity proclaims a series of unalterable principles centered around the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ. Benton rightly gives great importance to this reality concerning the sovereignty of Jesus Christ. The heretics denounced by Jude, Benton argues, denied this absolute power of Christ. But these principles cannot be sold or altered if we want to be faithful to the God revealed in the pages of the Holy Scriptures.

That faith "which was once for all delivered to the saints" brings with it a distinctive lifestyle. Jude also defends that Christian ethics are not optional but are part of the very essence of the Gospel. His Epistle is filled with denunciations of an immoral lifestyle as incompatible with the holiness of God and of the Church. Embracing the Christian faith truly leads to godliness (Titus 1:1). Ungodliness and immorality only signal a profound ignorance of God among those who live that way. Benton points out the ethical landscapes where today the Church may feel tempted to yield ground to the world. He solemnly warns that such concession can only result in profound discredit as well as bring God's judgment upon us.

Jude also warns us about the existence of false teachers, always ready to propagate their errors. The Epistle helps us recognize them and teaches us how to avoid them. Today, obviously, there are still false teachers and much pseudo-spirituality. Benton unmasks some of these modern movements and points out their similarities with those that existed in Jude's time.

This is not just another commentary on the Epistle of Jude. Of course, Benton comments on the text intelligently and with insight. But in addition to this, Benton applies it to our modern situation. I do not believe that anyone can read and reflect on this book without receiving great spiritual benefit.

José Moreno Berrocal