κρίσις

judging, divine judgment

Definition

The Greek word κρίσις primarily means 'judgment' or 'decision,' often referring to the act of judging or the result of that process. In the New Testament, it most frequently denotes divine judgment, particularly God's final judgment of humanity (e.g., Matthew 10:15, 11:22-24). It can also refer to human legal judgments or decisions, as seen in contexts of accusation or discernment (e.g., John 7:24, where Jesus urges 'righteous judgment'). Additionally, in John 5:22-30, κρίσις is closely tied to Jesus' authority to execute judgment, blending judicial and salvific themes.

Biblical Usage

Κρίσις appears 47 times in the New Testament, with heavy concentration in the Gospels (especially Matthew and John) and Revelation. It is used in eschatological contexts to warn of coming divine judgment (Matthew 12:36, Revelation 20:12-13), in discourses on justice and ethics (John 7:24), and to describe Jesus' role as judge (John 5:22, 27). The word often carries a solemn, weighty tone, emphasizing accountability and the ultimate separation of right and wrong.

Etymology

Derived from the verb κρίνω (krinō, G2919), meaning 'to judge, decide, or separate.' Κρίσις is a noun form indicating the action or result of judging. Its root implies discernment and evaluation, often with legal or moral overtones. Cognates include κριτής (kritēs, G2923, 'judge') and κρίμα (krima, G2917, 'judgment' or 'condemnation'), all sharing this judicial semantic field.

Semantic Range

Κρίσις is theologically central to understanding biblical concepts of justice, eschatology, and Christology. It underscores God's righteous character in judging sin (Romans 2:2-3) and Jesus' divine authority as judge (Acts 10:42). The word enriches Bible reading by highlighting the seriousness of human choices and the hope of final justice, contrasting mere human judgment with God's perfect, often merciful, judgment (Matthew 12:20).

In the Greco-Roman world, κρίσις was used in legal and philosophical contexts for formal judgment or decision-making. For Jewish audiences, it resonated with Old Testament themes of God's judgment (e.g., Psalm 96:13 LXX). Unlike modern, often relativistic views of judgment, κρίσις in the biblical context assumes an objective moral standard and a decisive, authoritative verdict from God.

κρίμα (krima, G2917) — often refers to the result or sentence of judgment, sometimes with a negative connotation of condemnation. κριτής (kritēs, G2923) — the person who judges, a judge or arbiter. διάκρισις (diakrisis, G1253) — emphasizes discernment or distinguishing between things, rather than final judgment.

Word Details

Scripture References