Doubt or dispute (Jude 9 and 22-23) 209 value of Michael’s example for Jude’s audience remains obscure at this point in the letter. However, this mystery will be revealed when Jude recalls Michael’s conduct with the repeated use of the participle diakrinomeno" (v. 22). v 3. Jude 22-23: a view from the inside In v. 22, the middle verb diakrivnomai reoccurs. Its immediate literary context (vv. 14-21) displays a parallel structure [A – B – C – A1 – B1 – C1] with a recurring theme. Table 2: The parallel structure of vv. 14-21 verse(s) structure content recurring theme 14-15 [A] Enoch’s prophecy 16 [B] reference to infiltrators (“these are they”) “they walk 17 [C] address to community (“but you”) in line with 17-18 [A ] apostles’ prophecy 1 their own 19 [B1] reference to infiltrators (“these are they”) desires” 20-21 [C1] address to community (“but you”) Two prophecies precede v. 22, one from the Book of Enoch [A], the other from “the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ” [A1]. Jude matches each prophecy with contemporary-to-his-day characters and events (ou|toiv eijsin, “these are they”; [B][B1]; cf. v. 12) (31). Thereafter, he addresses his audience with exhortations (uJmei'" dev, “but you”; [C][C1]) that function as commentary on the content of the prophecies(32). With a quote from the Book of Enoch [A], Jude expresses his expectation that God is at hand to execute judgment on those who presently “walk in line with their own desires” and trouble the faithful members of the community [B]. In turn, the faithful are asked to remember that “the —————— and argument of vv. 4-14 from a literary perspective, it is also central to the evolving theme of the letter. In other words, that which constitutes background information in v. 9 becomes the theme in v. 22. (31) REED–REESE, “Verbal Aspect, Discourse Prominence, and the Letter of Jude”, 192-193 point out that Jude consistently uses the phrases ou|toi dev or ou|toi eijsin to indicate a shift in levels of discourse prominence, i.e., with the help of these phrases, Jude moves from background to “rhetorically-prominent” material in the text. (32) Cf. HARRINGTON, Jude and 2 Peter, 177 for a discussion of the “example/prophecy” – ”application structure” of Jude’s letter.