[from Heb., a form of the name Judah].

“A slave of Jesus Christ, but a brother of James.” This is the way the writer of the inspired letter bearing his name introduces himself. Apparently he was not the same person as “Judas the son of James,” one of the 11 faithful apostles of Jesus Christ. (Lu 6:16) He speaks of himself as “a slave,” not an apostle, of Jesus Christ; also he refers to the apostles in the third person as “they.”​—Jude 1, 17, 18.

Though the Christian Greek Scriptures speak of other persons called Jude or Judas, this Bible writer distinguished himself from the others by mentioning the name of his brother. (See JUDAS No. 5.) From this it may be inferred that his brother James was well known among Christians. Only one person by that name appears to have been outstandingly prominent. The apostle Paul referred to this James as one of the “pillars” of the Jerusalem congregation and as “the brother of the Lord.” (Ga 1:19; 2:9; see also Ac 12:17; 15:13-21.) Therefore, Jude, or Judas, was evidently a half brother of Christ Jesus. (Mt 13:55; Mr 6:3) Yet humbly he did not seek to capitalize on his fleshly relationship to the Son of God but calls himself “a slave of Jesus Christ.”

An inspired letter of the Christian Greek Scriptures written by Jude, a brother of James and therefore evidently also a half brother of Jesus Christ. (See JUDE.)