Judgment in the New Testament

  1. The primary Greek noun for judgment is κρισις, krisis . The noun means judging, judgment, condemnation, punishment, board of judges, court, right in the sense of justice, righteousness. The verb is κρινω and means to separate, distinguish, judge, think, consider, reach a decision, decide, propose, pass a judgment, reach a decision. It is used of people judging, as a legal term, and of God judging.
  2. Judgment is right because God who is perfect set the standard. Violation of the standard may result in judgment. The judgment may be direct or indirect like the domino effect.
  3. Judgment is one of the issues that the Holy Spirit convinces the unbeliever about (John 16.8-11). The point is that Satan has been judged by Christ. All unbelievers follow Satan. If they do not change their status to one of faith in Christ they will not have God’s righteousness, will remain under condemnation, and therefore be under God’s judgment along with Satan.
  4. God, often through Jesus, is the only judge (John 5.22,27, Romans 2.5,16; Revelation 20.12-15), except in the cases of human authority under the laws of divine establishment (Romans 13.1-5; 1 Peter 2.13-18; Ephesians 5.23-24; 6.1-6).
  5. Believers are not to openly criticize, condemn, or judge one another or others (Matthew 7.1-2; Romans 14.1-13; 1 Corinthians 4.1-5; Colossians 3.23).
  6. There are at least nine judgments mentioned in the Bible. For these see the doctrine of judgments in the Bible.
    • The judgment of sin on Jesus
    • The judgment of Satan and his angels
    • Judgment of Israel in time
    • Judgment of unbeliever nations and individuals in time
    • The divine discipline judgment of believers in time
    • Believers judging themselves by confession of sin
    • Judgment of believer’s works at the Judgment Seat of Christ
    • The judgment associated with the tribulation and the second coming of Christ
    • Judgment of unbelievers at the Great White Throne judgment