# G2920 - krisis **Strong's:** [G2920](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2920/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** kree'-sis **Part of speech:** feminine noun **Root:** from *krinō* (G2919), "to separate / decide / judge" **LXX equivalent:** renders Hebrew *mishpat* (judgment / justice, H4941) and *din* (lawsuit / judgment) **NT occurrences:** 47 ## Semantic range 1. **Judgment, decision, verdict**, the act of judging 2. **Justice, righteousness** in some contexts (parallel to Hebrew *mishpat*) 3. **The eschatological judgment**, the dominant theological sense 4. **Tribunal, court** in some contexts ## Theological force, divine judgment The most theologically loaded use is **the eschatological / divine judgment**, God's final assessment of all persons, and the corresponding verdict (life or condemnation). ### The general / final judgment - **[Matthew 10:15](/codex/matthew-10-15/); 11:22, 24; 12:36, 41-42**, "*hēmera kriseōs*", the day of judgment - **[Matthew 25:31-46](/codex/matthew-25-31-46/)**, the sheep and goats; final judgment of nations - **[John 5:22](/codex/john-5-22/), [27](/codex/john-5-27/), [29-30](/codex/john-5-29-30/)**, "the Father has given all *krisin* to the Son", Christ as the final Judge - **[Acts 17:31](/codex/acts-17-31/)**, God "has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man" - **[2 Peter 2:4](/codex/2-peter-2-4/), [9](/codex/2-peter-2-9/); 3:7**, eschatological *krisis* - **[1 John 4:17](/codex/1-john-4-17/)**, confidence in the day of judgment - **[Hebrews 9:27](/codex/hebrews-9-27/); 10:27**, "appointed for men to die once and after this comes *krisis*" - **[Revelation 14:7](/codex/revelation-14-7/); 16:7; 19:2**, angels announcing the hour of *krisis*; declarations that God's *krisis* is true and righteous ### Christ as Judge The NT pattern: *Christ Himself is the Final Judge*: - [John 5:22-27](/codex/john-5-22-27/), "the Father has given all judgment to the Son" - [John 9:39](/codex/john-9-39/), "for *krisin* I came into this world" - [Acts 10:42](/codex/acts-10-42/), Peter: "He is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead" - [2 Timothy 4:1](/codex/2-timothy-4-1/), [8](/codex/2-timothy-4-8/), Christ Jesus "who is to judge the living and the dead" - [2 Corinthians 5:10](/codex/2-corinthians-5-10/), "we must all appear before the *bēmatos* of Christ" - [James 5:9](/codex/james-5-9/), "the Judge is standing right at the door" This is one of the strong NT proofs of Christ's deity, only God judges; Christ judges; therefore Christ is divine. ### Two outcomes of judgment - *Krisis zōēs*, judgment of life ([John 5:29](/codex/john-5-29/)), the saved - *Krisis kriseōs*, judgment of judgment / condemnation ([John 5:29](/codex/john-5-29/)), the unsaved - Believers: assured of verdict; *no condemnation* ([Romans 8:1](/codex/romans-8-1/)) - Unbelievers: face condemnation in *krisis* ### Justice / mishpat / krisis Following the Hebrew *mishpat*, *krisis* often carries the sense of "justice": - **[Matthew 23:23](/codex/matthew-23-23/)**, "the weightier provisions of the Law: *krisin*, mercy, and faithfulness" - **[Luke 11:42](/codex/luke-11-42/)**, parallel: "neglect *krisin* and the love of God" - **[Matthew 12:18](/codex/matthew-12-18/), [20](/codex/matthew-12-20/)**, Servant Christology: "He will proclaim *krisin* to the Gentiles… until He leads *krisin* to victory" (citing [Isaiah 42:1](/codex/isaiah-42-1/), [3](/codex/isaiah-42-3/)) The judgment-as-justice motif: God's *krisis* is the *vindication of righteousness*, not arbitrary punishment but the right setting-of-things-right. ## Apologetic significance *Krisis* anchors: 1. **The reality of final judgment**, against universalism / sentimentalism that denies real eschatological accountability 2. **Christ as Judge**, Christological proof + sobriety about Jesus's authority 3. **The unity of God's character**, His justice (*krisis*) and His mercy / love work together ([Romans 3:26](/codex/romans-3-26/), *dikaios kai dikaiōn*) 4. **Moral seriousness**, life decisions matter; eternity stakes; urgent evangelism 5. **The final righting of injustice**, the persecuted, the oppressed, the unjustly killed will see ultimate vindication ([Rev 6:9-11](/codex/revelation-6-9-11/)) ## Notable verses ### Eschatological judgment - **[Matthew 10:15](/codex/matthew-10-15/); 11:22, 24; 12:36**, *hēmera kriseōs* - **[Matthew 12:18](/codex/matthew-12-18/), [20](/codex/matthew-12-20/)**, Servant proclaims *krisis* - **[Matthew 25:31-46](/codex/matthew-25-31-46/)**, sheep and goats - **[John 5:22-30](/codex/john-5-22-30/)**, Father gives *krisin* to the Son - **[Acts 17:31](/codex/acts-17-31/)**, God will judge the world - **[Hebrews 9:27](/codex/hebrews-9-27/)**, appointed once to die, then *krisis* - **[2 Peter 2:4](/codex/2-peter-2-4/), [9](/codex/2-peter-2-9/); 3:7**, eschatological *krisis* - **[Jude 6](/codex/jude-6/), 15**, judgment of fallen angels and ungodly - **[Revelation 14:7](/codex/revelation-14-7/); 16:7; 19:2; 20:12-15**, final-judgment narrative ### Justice / mishpat sense - **[Matthew 12:18-20](/codex/matthew-12-18-20/); 23:23** - **[Luke 11:42](/codex/luke-11-42/)** ### Christ before *krisis* - **[John 9:39](/codex/john-9-39/)**, Christ comes for *krisin* - **[John 12:31](/codex/john-12-31/)**, *nun krisis estin tou kosmou toutou*, "now is the *krisis* of this world" - **[John 16:8](/codex/john-16-8/), [11](/codex/john-16-11/)**, Spirit convicts about *krisis* ## Patristic / scholarly note Patristic engagement extensive: every eschatological / apocalyptic discussion engages *krisis*. Modern: Stephen Travis (*Christ and the Judgement of God*, 1986); Anthony Hoekema (*The Bible and the Future*, 1979); R. C. Sproul (*Surprised by Suffering*, 1988; *Saved from What?*, 2002); Wayne Grudem. ## See also - G2919 - krino, verb to judge - [H4941 - mishpat](/codex/h4941-mishpat/), Hebrew judgment - [G3952 - parousia](/codex/g3952-parousia/), Christ's coming - [G0166 - aionios](/codex/g0166-aionios/), eternal - [Hell and Eternal Punishment](/codex/hell-and-eternal-punishment/), synthesis - [Romans 5.8](/codex/romans-5-8/), justice / mercy reconciliation ## Notes _Lexical workspace for krisis._