Bible Strands
Jude 1:20
But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jude addresses his readers ("beloved") immediately after describing divisive, worldly individuals who operate without the Spirit. He issues this instruction as a direct countermeasure to the spiritual danger outlined in the preceding verse.
The words — ἐποικοδομοῦντες (epoikodomountes) translates literally as "building up," denoting the continuous, active process of strengthening one's own spiritual structure.
The thread — The directive to pray in the Spirit appears in Ephesians 6:18, while Romans 8:26 describes the Spirit's intercession during human weakness and 1 Corinthians 14:15 contrasts praying with one's spirit against praying with the mind.
Why it lands — The text commands believers to actively construct their faith and depend on the Spirit's guidance rather than human understanding. This practice equips them to remain in God's love while awaiting the mercy of Jesus Christ.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Cross-references
- Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
- 1 Corinthians 14:15 What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
- Colossians 2:7 rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
- 1 Corinthians 14:4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
- Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
- Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.
- Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”