Blaspheming the Glorious Ones: What Jude Actually Means
Jude 8–10 describes a troubling pattern found among certain false teachers: they “blaspheme the glorious ones.” The phrase is unusual and often misunderstood, yet understanding what Jude actually means is part of understanding his warning to the church. According to the Bible, this behavior reveals a deeper rebellion—rejecting God’s authority and treating heavenly realities with contempt. Exploring what Jude means helps Christians recover reverence for God’s spiritual order and resist the posture of self-rule that Jude condemns.
I. Identifying “the Glorious Ones”
The first step in grasping what Jude means is clarifying who these beings are. Scripture uses the phrase “glorious ones” to describe holy angels—those who carry out God’s purposes.
Angelic Guardians in Scripture
The Bible presents angels as:
Mighty servants who “do his word” (Psalm 103:20)
Witnesses to God’s work in creation and redemption
Messengers who reveal God’s will
Warriors who resist evil forces
Guardians over God’s people (Psalm 34:7)
These patterns suggest that “the glorious ones” refers to faithful angels who share in God’s governance of the world.
Why Jude Connects Them to Church Life
In Revelation 2–3, each church is addressed through “the angel of the church” in that city. This language points to angelic representation tied to local congregations. Jude’s concern aligns with this pattern: false teachers within the church are not merely stirring social trouble—they are disregarding heavenly authority. To insult these glorious ones is to oppose the order God has ordained.
II. What It Means to Blaspheme Them
The next question is what Jude means by “blaspheming the glorious ones.” The biblical word for “blaspheme” refers to speech that injures, dishonors, or slanders.
The Harm Done by Words Aligned Against God’s Order
Jude describes people who:
Reject authority
Follow their own impulses
Speak carelessly about heavenly realities
Assume autonomy over truth
Treat God’s servants with contempt
Their words do not arise from wisdom but from pride. To blaspheme the glorious ones is to use speech that contradicts God’s order and despises the beings who serve it.
Treating Spiritual Realities with Arrogant Ignorance
Jude adds that they “blaspheme all that they do not understand.” Their ignorance becomes the foundation of their arrogance. Instead of seeking understanding:
They ridicule what they cannot see.
They elevate instinct over truth.
They treat heavenly beings as if they were insignificant.
This posture reveals their deeper rejection of Christ’s lordship.
III. Angels as Ministers of God’s Authority
Understanding what Jude means requires seeing how Scripture presents angels within God’s governance. Angels do not act independently; they serve as ministers of God’s authority.
Revelation 2–3 and the Angels of the Churches
Christ addresses each congregation through its angel, emphasizing that church life participates in heavenly realities. The church is not merely an earthly institution; it is bound to the unseen realm. Jude’s warning fits this setting. When people blaspheme the glorious ones, they undermine the spiritual structure God has woven into the life of his people.
Galatians 3:19 and Angels Mediating the Law
Galatians states that the law “was put in place through angels by an intermediary.” This reinforces:
God entrusts significant responsibilities to angels.
Angels participate in delivering God’s instruction.
Spiritual authority is not arbitrary; it reflects God’s ordered design.
These examples show why blaspheming the glorious ones is no small matter. It is resistance against the hierarchy God has established.
IV. Why Jude Brings This Up
Jude raises this issue because blaspheming the glorious ones exposes the true nature of the false teachers troubling the church.
False Teachers Insulting Realities They Do Not Understand
Jude describes a tragic pattern:
They corrupt themselves.
They dismiss God’s authority.
They speak boldly about spiritual matters without knowledge.
They behave like “unreasoning animals,” driven only by instinct.
What Jude means becomes clear: their speech reflects their rebellion. Their contempt for God’s servants mirrors their contempt for God’s moral instruction.
The Spiritual Consequences of Dishonor
Dishonoring what God has ordained leads to destruction, not freedom. Jude’s warning underscores that:
Rejecting spiritual authority leads to spiritual decay.
Treating heavenly beings with contempt reveals a hardened heart.
Self-rule cannot coexist with Christ’s rule.
Jude exposes their end so that God’s people will remain steadfast.
V. Recovering Reverence for God’s Spiritual Order
Understanding what Jude means about blaspheming the glorious ones leads to a call for reverence. Christians are invited to live within God’s order, not above it.
Respecting God’s Hierarchy
Scripture calls for humility within God’s arrangement of:
Christ as Lord
Angels as his ministers
The church under his shepherding
Creation under his care
Reverence protects the heart from the self-exalting spirit Jude confronts.
Celebrating the Holiness of God’s Unseen Servants
The glorious ones reflect the glory of the God who sends them. Honor toward them is ultimately honor toward him. Their role in God’s purposes points beyond themselves to Christ, the one who reigns over every authority in heaven and on earth.
For that reason, understanding what Jude means is not simply about angels. It is about embracing the reality that Christ rules both the seen and the unseen, and his rule brings life.
Bible Verses about the Glorious Ones
“Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word.” (Psalm 103:20)
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him.” (Psalm 34:7)
“Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)
“When he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’” (Hebrews 1:6)
“He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flaming fire.” (Psalm 104:4)
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write…” (Revelation 2:1)
“The law…was put in place through angels by an intermediary.” (Galatians 3:19)
“His kingdom rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19)
“The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands.” (Psalm 68:17)
“You who receive the blessing of the Lord, bless the Lord, all you his hosts.” (Psalm 134:1)
