κριτήριον

criterion, a law-court

Definition

κριτήριον (kritērion) primarily means a place or means of judgment. In the New Testament, it carries two main senses: (1) a court of law or tribunal where judgments are made, as seen in 1 Corinthians 6:2 and 6:4, where Paul refers to believers judging the world and trivial cases. (2) It can also refer to the legal case or dispute itself that is brought before such a court, which is the sense in James 2:6, where the rich are said to drag the poor into court. The word thus encompasses both the judicial forum and the matter under judgment.

Biblical Usage

This word is used three times in the New Testament, exclusively in contexts addressing legal judgment and community conduct. In 1 Corinthians 6:2 and 6:4, Paul uses it to rebuke the Corinthian church for taking internal disputes before secular courts (κριτήρια), arguing believers should be competent to judge such matters themselves. In James 2:6, it describes the oppressive action of the rich dragging the poor into court (κριτήρια), highlighting social injustice. The usage consistently critiques reliance on worldly judicial systems and underscores the church's own responsibility for righteous judgment.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek verb κρίνω (krinō, G2919), meaning 'to judge, decide, or separate.' The suffix -τήριον typically denotes a place or instrument associated with the action of the root verb. Thus, κριτήριον literally means 'a place for judging' or 'an instrument for judgment.' It is related to κριτής (kritēs, G2923), meaning 'a judge.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it touches on the nature of God's people as a community under divine authority. In 1 Corinthians, Paul's argument that saints will judge the world and should therefore handle minor κριτήρια (1 Corinthians 6:2-4) points to the believer's eschatological authority and the present call to live in wisdom and reconciliation within the church body. In James, its use exposes the sin of partiality and oppression, connecting unjust legal actions (κριτήρια) with a failure to live by the 'royal law' of love (James 2:8). Understanding this term enriches reading by highlighting the New Testament's challenge to the church's identity as an alternative community with its own standards of justice, distinct from worldly systems.

In the Greco-Roman world, κριτήριον referred to a law-court or tribunal, a central civic institution. For Paul's readers in Corinth, a major Roman colony, taking disputes to these public courts was a normal way to seek justice and assert social status. However, for the early church, a close-knit community often at odds with prevailing culture, using pagan courts for internal disputes was scandalous. It meant airing conflicts before unbelievers and trusting human systems over the wisdom and authority granted to the believing community. This cultural practice of litigation contrasts with the biblical call for believers to settle matters among themselves.

κρίμα (krima, G2917) — focuses more on the result of judgment (a verdict, condemnation). κρίσις (krisis, G2920) — emphasizes the process or act of judging, often with a sense of decisive separation.

Word Details

Scripture References