In the book of Jude there is a brief mention of the Archangle Michael and the devil fighting over the body of Moses. Why do you think there was a dispute over Moses’ physical body?

I’m excited about this question.  It means you have been reading your Bible.

There is a group of books written between 200 bc and 200 ad which have been placed in a genera called  pseudepigrapha.  These ancient writings contain various biographical information of some historical events.  It is to one of these books which Jude is referencing, entitled The Assumption of Moses.  It is important to note this book was not included in the Old Testament.  None of the pseudepigrapha made it into the Old nor New Testaments.

One interesting thing about Jude mentioning the story from this book is the reminder that all truth is God’s truth.  It does not belong to man.  While these books are not, nor ever will be, equated with Holy Scripture, they do contain some truth.  Again, all truth is God’s.  It is interesting that Jude, which makes reference to non-scripture, was itself included in the New Testament.

The story to which Jude is referencing is  a dispute between the angel Michael and Satan.  This book mentions that after the death of Moses, Michael arrives to bury him.  Satan protests by reminding Michael that Moses was a murder (remember he killed the Egyptian before running away to the desert) and did not deserve a proper burial.

An important thing to remember is that Jude is using this story as an example and not as the main point of thought.  Don’t lose sight of Jude’s point by focusing on the insertion of this illustration.