Jude 1:8 Commentary and Bible Study

The word ‘filthy’ is in italics; it is not in the original. There are any number of guesses why the translators have put it there. They are probably influenced rather by the example of Sodom and Gomorrha, and so the word ‘filthy’ has come into the text, but it should not really be there. We think of a dreamer as a somewhat innocent creature, a visionary. What are in mind here by dreamers are people who trust their imaginations and their own ingenuity rather than the Word of God. They have visions some of them rather than stick to the Word of God, and invent new ways. That is rampant in the Charismatic movement. That is a tragedy for them. They dream of their own opinions. Like the people of Sodom and Gomorrha, they defile the flesh and push the boundaries beyond that which God permits. They are like dreamers because they have lost touch with reality. They are living in a dream world where they no longer have to take account of what they do, where no real consequences come upon them for their actions. They have lost touch with reality no longer seeing sin as a deadly evil to be avoided, from which they instinctively recoil. It no longer fills them with horror, but they can play with sin and excuse a little sin and finally they dream up a whole theology which makes sin acceptable.They despise dominion; they want to be free to do what they please. They speak evil of dignities. The Greek has something like ‘glories’. That is back to lacking reverence and respect for the Word of God and for divine authority and criticising it.