ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Lexicon

G2920 - krisis

Strong's: 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

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  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; 11:22, 24; 12:36, 41-42, "hēmera kriseōs", the day of judgment
  • Matthew 25:31-46, the sheep and goats; final judgment of nations
  • John 5:22, 27, 29-30, "the Father has given all krisin to the Son", Christ as the final Judge
  • Acts 17:31, God "has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man"
  • 2 Peter 2:4, 9; 3:7, eschatological krisis
  • 1 John 4:17, confidence in the day of judgment
  • Hebrews 9:27; 10:27, "appointed for men to die once and after this comes krisis"
  • 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, "the Father has given all judgment to the Son"
  • John 9:39, "for krisin I came into this world"
  • 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, 8, Christ Jesus "who is to judge the living and the dead"
  • 2 Corinthians 5:10, "we must all appear before the bēmatos of Christ"
  • 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), the saved
  • Krisis kriseōs, judgment of judgment / condemnation (John 5:29), the unsaved
  • Believers: assured of verdict; no condemnation (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, "the weightier provisions of the Law: krisin, mercy, and faithfulness"
  • Luke 11:42, parallel: "neglect krisin and the love of God"
  • Matthew 12:18, 20, Servant Christology: "He will proclaim krisin to the Gentiles… until He leads krisin to victory" (citing Isaiah 42:1, 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, 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)

Notable verses

Eschatological judgment

Justice / mishpat sense

Christ before krisis

  • John 9:39, Christ comes for krisin
  • John 12:31, nun krisis estin tou kosmou toutou, "now is the krisis of this world"
  • John 16:8, 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

Notes

Lexical workspace for krisis.