Episode Details

What is "the way of Cain" and "the error of Balaam" in Jude 1:11 (KJV)? Cain, Balaam and Core are three men who used God for their own gain, and Jude says the apostates follow them.
Book of Jude Pt 4, hosted by Matt Hepner and TopLobsta.

Jude moves from group examples (Israel, the angels, Sodom and Gomorrah) to three individuals. Cain comes first: "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain" (Hebrews 11:4), then Genesis 4, "Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one" (1 John 3:12), comparing ourselves among ourselves (2 Corinthians 10:12), and Saul, where "to obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22).

Next, the apostates "ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward." Matt walks through Balak and Balaam (Numbers 22, 23, 25 and 31), "How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?" (Numbers 23:8), the doctrine of Balaam (Revelation 2:14), and "the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness" (2 Peter 2:15).

Core: Korah's rebellion with two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly (Numbers 16). Matt's summary: "A man of faith sacrifices himself for the good of the people. A man that's an apostate sacrifices the people for the good of himself." The study closes by reading verses 12-13.

Questions answered
• Why was Abel's sacrifice more excellent than Cain's? (10:26)
• What is the way of Cain? (19:18)
• Why is obeying better than sacrifice? (37:46)
• What is the error of Balaam? (47:50)
• What is the doctrine of Balaam in Revelation 2? (1:11:51)
• What is the gainsaying of Core? (1:25:46)

Related Straight Bible studies
• Previous, Pt 3 (audio for now): Who Are the Filthy Dreamers? Jude 1:8-10: https://www.spreaker.com/episo...
• Next, Pt 5: What Did Enoch Prophesy? Jude 1:14-15: https://youtu.be/byUM0xVmaUg
• The full Book of Jude study: https://www.youtube.com/playli...

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Chapters
0:00 Cold Open and Reading Jude 1, Verse 11 (KJV)
3:48 Cain, Balaam and Core: Three Examples
4:22 Now Faith Is the Substance (Hebrews 11, Verses 1-3)
10:26 By Faith Abel (Hebrews 11, Verse 4)
12:20 These All Died in Faith (Hebrews 11, Verses 13-16)
19:18 Cain Rose Up Against Abel (Genesis 4, Verses 1-17)
34:05 Cain Was of That Wicked One (1 John 3, Verse 12)
35:02 Comparing Themselves Among Themselves (2 Corinthians 10, Verse 12)
37:46 To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice (1 Samuel 15, Verses 13-23)
44:31 A Living Sacrifice (Romans 12, Verses 1-2)
47:50 The Error of Balaam (Jude 1, Verse 11)
50:12 Balak Sends for Balaam (Numbers 22)
56:01 The Ass Saw the Angel of the LORD (Numbers 22, Verses 21-35)
1:00:01 How Shall I Curse? (Numbers 23, Verses 7-11)
1:05:00 God Is Not a Man, That He Should Lie (Numbers 23, Verses 18-23)
1:06:37 Israel Joined Himself Unto Baalpeor (Numbers 25)
1:08:42 Balaam Slain With the Sword (Numbers 31)
1:11:51 The Doctrine of Balaam (Revelation 2, Verses 12-16)
1:19:11 The Way of Balaam (2 Peter 2, Verses 12-22)
1:24:51 Impossible to Renew Them Again (Hebrews 6