Time Period/Setting: Where Jude writes from or to whom is a bit murky, but HC places Jude in Palestine as a leader of Jewish Christians.
Title: Jude seems to be the agreed-upon author. He is held to be the brother of James, author of the letters and the leader of the church in Jerusalem, and so a cousin of Jesus.
Jude is warning the Christian community (probably Gentile Christians according to Baker, but see above) of the dangers of giving in to "certain intruders" (v.4) who distort the gospel. These "waterless clouds," these "trees without fruit" are "blemishes on your lovefeasts, while they feast with you without fear, feeding themselves" (v. 12). Pretty damning language.
This book includes the beautiful doxology:
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
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