MASTER, sovereign owner — the master of a household SLAVE (our 'despot'), a stronger, more possessive word than the ordinary 'lord' (kyrios). Jude calls himself a 'slave (doulos) of Jesus Christ' (1:1), then charges the intruders with denying 'our only DESPOTES and Lord, Jesus Christ' (1:4): runaway slaves disowning the one who owns them. The same title is given to the Sovereign Lord in Simeon's song (Luke 2:29) and the martyrs' cry (Revelation 6:10). → first discussed at Jude 1:4