κατάκριμα

punishment following condemnation

Definition

Katakrima refers to the judicial sentence or punishment that follows a formal condemnation. It specifically denotes the penal consequence of being found guilty, not just the act of condemning itself. In Romans 5:16, it is contrasted with the free gift of justification, highlighting it as the 'judgment' that came from Adam's one trespass. In Romans 5:18, it is set in parallel with 'justification of life,' showing it as the resulting state of condemnation for all people. Finally, Romans 8:1 declares there is 'no condemnation' (katakrima) for those in Christ, meaning the penal sentence has been removed.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. All three occurrences (Romans 5:16, 5:18, 8:1) are found in dense theological arguments about sin, law, judgment, and grace. It is consistently used in a forensic or legal context, describing the resulting penalty from God's judgment against sin. The pattern is one of stark contrast: katakrima is what humanity deserves because of Adam's sin and our own transgression, but it is precisely this sentence that is nullified for believers through Christ.

Etymology

Derived from the verb katakrinō (G2632), which means 'to condemn, judge against.' It is a compound of the preposition kata ('down, against') and the root krima ('judgment, decision'). Thus, katakrima literally means 'a judgment against,' emphasizing the resulting penalty or sentence handed down. It is a stronger, more concrete term than the simpler krima, focusing on the executed consequence of the verdict.

Semantic Range

This word is crucial for understanding the doctrine of justification. It clarifies that salvation is not merely forgiveness but a legal reversal of a guilty verdict and its associated penalty. In Romans, Paul uses it to explain the cosmic scope of Adam's sin, which brought a sentence of condemnation upon all humanity (Romans 5:18). The glorious promise of 'no condemnation' in Romans 8:1 means believers are forever free from the penal consequences of God's law because Christ bore the sentence in their place. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting the forensic precision of Paul's gospel.

In the Greco-Roman world, this term would have been understood in a strong legal context. Citizens were familiar with court verdicts (krima) and the subsequent penalties (katakrima) like fines, imprisonment, or death. Paul uses this widely understood concept to explain humanity's standing before God's divine lawcourt. The modern idea of 'condemnation' can sometimes feel abstract or emotional, but katakrima conveys a concrete, judicial reality—a sentence that has been officially pronounced and must be carried out.

krima (G2917) — a judgment or verdict; katakrima is the resulting penalty of that verdict. katakrinō (G2632) — the verb 'to condemn,' the action that produces the katakrima. dikaiōma (G1345) — an ordinance or act of righteousness; often contrasted with katakrima as its opposite (e.g., Romans 5:16).

Word Details

Scripture References