Lexical Summary kritérion: Criterion, tribunal, court of justice Original Word: κριτήριον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance a law court, tribunalNeuter of a presumed derivative of krites; a rule of judging ("criterion"), i.e. (by implication) a tribunal -- to judge, judgment (seat). see GREEK krites NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom krités Definition a law court NASB Translation court (1), law courts (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2922: κριτήριονκριτήριον, κριτηρίου, τό (from κριτηρ, equivalent to κριτής); 1. properly, the instrument or means of trying or judging anything; the rule by which one judges (Plato, Plutarch, others). 2. the place where judgment is given; the tribunal of a judge; a bench of judges: plural, 1 Corinthians 6:2; James 2:6 (the Sept.; Plato, Polybius, Plutarch, others). 3. in an exceptional usage, the matter judged, thing to be decided, suit, case: plural 1 Corinthians 6:4 (this sense is denied by many; cf. e. g. Meyer on 1 Corinthians 6:2). Strong’s Greek 2922 designates a place or process of legal adjudication—a tribunal, lawsuit, or court proceeding. While the term arises from ordinary civic life in the Greco-Roman world, the New Testament employs it to address distinctly Christian concerns about justice, community order, and the believer’s future role in God’s judgment. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. 1 Corinthians 6:2 – “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?” Judgment and the Role of the Saints The Corinthian passage frames everyday disputes against the backdrop of the eschatological destiny of believers: they will one day “judge the world.” The word 2922 magnifies the irony that those destined for cosmic judgment seats were running to pagan courts over “trivial cases.” Paul argues from the greater to the lesser: if the saints are appointed to participate in God’s final assize, they should surely handle common disagreements without outsourcing them to unbelieving magistrates. Thus, the term becomes a theological reminder that the church, indwelt by the Spirit, already possesses the moral and spiritual resources necessary for righteous discernment. Implications for Christian Community Ethics Because 2922 is tied to legal redress, its use in 1 Corinthians exposes a deeper issue—brotherly love. The congregation’s willingness to litigate before outsiders revealed a failure to live out the self-sacrificial ethic of the cross. Paul presses for internal arbitration, emphasizing restoration over retaliation. Modern assemblies can glean from this that public lawsuits between believers often undermine gospel testimony, suggesting that the church lacks wisdom to resolve its own affairs. Warnings against Partiality and Oppression In James 2:6 the same term surfaces to condemn economic injustice: the wealthy exploit their advantage by “dragging” the poor into court. Here 2922 underscores how legal machinery can be weaponized by those with social power. James confronts a community that showed preferential seating to the rich in worship while the same rich abused the poor outside. The word therefore functions as a prophetic alarm, exposing hypocrisy and calling believers to impartial love that mirrors God’s character (James 2:1). Historical Context of Greco-Roman Legal Proceedings First-century civic courts were public venues tied to local honor culture. Litigants sought not only restitution but social status. For Christians living under Roman rule, participation in such venues carried the risk of shame, factionalism, and distraction from mission. Paul’s and James’s instructions do not reject secular authority (Romans 13:1-7) but caution against adopting its adversarial spirit within the family of God. They also anticipate potential persecution, as civil courts could become instruments against the faith (Acts 24:1-9). Ministry Application • Cultivate internal, biblically informed processes for conflict resolution that prioritize reconciliation (Matthew 18:15-17). In every usage, Strong’s 2922 calls the church to embody God’s righteous standards, demonstrating to a watching world the justice, mercy, and unity that flow from the gospel. Englishman's Concordance 1 Corinthians 6:2 N-GNPGRK: ἀνάξιοί ἐστε κριτηρίων ἐλαχίστων NAS: [to] [constitute] the smallest law courts? KJV: unworthy to judge the smallest matters? INT: unworthy are you of judgments the smallest 1 Corinthians 6:4 N-ANP James 2:6 N-ANP Strong's Greek 2922 |
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