Jude: An Overview
While there is much debate surrounding the authorship of the Epistle of Jude, "there is no serious doubt that Jude, the full brother of James and half brother of Jesus, is the author of the book bearing his name." Jude's authorship is due to his introduction, "Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James (Jude 1)," and this self-attribution as the brother of James clarifies his identity. Jude's epithet is necessary in identifying himself as the Epistle's author as "James was much better known… but Jude is hardly mentioned elsewhere" except when he is mentioned alongside his brothers (Mark 3:21, 31; 6:3; Matt.