Judgment Seat
Judgment-Seat
The judge invariably sat on a special seat or throne. Thus Jerusalem and the smaller cities alike had their thrones for judgement (Jdg 4:5, 1Ki 7:7, Psa 122:5, etc.). In Rome magistrate and jury were seated together on the raised tribunal, or bench, the magistrate oh his sella curulis, or chariot seat, specially associated with the Roman imperium. The custom extended also to the Provinces. In the NT (tribunals) is used of law-courts generally (in 1Co 6:2; 1Co 6:4 and Jam 2:6), while , lit. [Note: literally, literature.] step, seat (for parties in a law-suit), is applied to the judgment-seat not only of the Emperor (Act 25:10), but also of the governors Pilate (Mat 27:19, Joh 19:13), Gallio (Act 18:12; Act 18:16 f.) and Festus (Act 25:6; Act 25:17), and even metaphorically of God (Rom 14:10) and Christ (2Co 5:10). See, further, Trial-at-Law.
A. R. Gordon.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Judgment seat
(, properly a step, hence a rostrum or stage for speakers; as a “throne,” e.g. Herod’s in the theater at Caesarea, Act 12:21), an elevated seat or tribunal (in Jam 2:6, the term is , a court of justice), especially of the Roman governor (Mat 27:19; Joh 19:13; Act 18:12; Act 18:16-17; Act 25:6; Act 25:10; Act 25:17); hence of the final bar of God (Rom 14:10; 2Co 5:10). SEE PAVEMENT.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Judgment seat
(Matt. 27:19), a portable tribunal (Gr. bema) which was placed according as the magistrate might direct, and from which judgment was pronounced. In this case it was placed on a tesselated pavement, probably in front of the procurator’s residence. (See GABBATHA)
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Judgment-Seat
JUDGMENT-SEAT.The usual word employed for this in the NT is bma (Mat 27:19, Joh 19:13, Act 18:12; Act 18:16 f., Act 25:6; Act 25:10; Act 25:17, Rom 14:10, 2Co 5:10), properly a tribune. In the NT the word is used of the official seat (tribunal) of the Roman judge. The word kritrion used in Jam 2:5 occurs also in 1Co 6:2; 1Co 6:4, where it is translated in RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] by tribunal. See, further, art. Gabbatha.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Judgment Seat
(, bema, a raised place, platform, tribune, Mat 27:19; Joh 19:13; see GABBATHA; Act 12:21 margin (text throne); Act 18:12, Act 18:16 ff; Act 25:6, Act 25:17): In Greek law courts, one bema was provided for the accuser, another for the accused; but in the New Testament the word designates the official scat of a judge, usually of the Roman governor; also of the emperor (Act 25:10); then of God (Rom 14:10), of Christ (2Co 5:10). The word , kriterion, a tribunal, bench of judges (Jam 2:6) occurs also in 1Co 6:2-4, and is there translated in the Revised Version margin by tribunals. See also JUDGE.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Judgment-Seat
General references
Mat 27:19; Act 18:12; Act 25:10
Of Christ
Rom 14:10
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Judgment Seat
primarily, “a step, a pace” (akin to baino, “to go”), as in Act 7:5, translated “to set (his foot) on,” lit., “foot-room,” was used to denote a raised place or platform, reached by steps, originally that at Athens in the Pnyx Hill, where was the place of assembly; from the platform orations were made. The word became used for a tribune, two of which were provided in the law courts of Greece, one for the accuser and one for the defendant; it was applied to the tribunal of a Roman magistrate or ruler, Mat 27:19; Joh 19:13; Act 12:21, translated “throne;” Act 18:12, Act 18:16-17; Act 25:6, Act 25:10, Act 25:17.
In two passages the word is used of the Divine tribunal before which all believers are hereafter to stand. In Rom 14:10 it is called “The judgment seat of God,” RV (AV, “of Christ”), according to the most authentic mss. The same tribunal is called “the judgment seat of Christ,” 2Co 5:10, to whom the Father has given all judgment, Joh 5:22, Joh 5:27. At this bema believers are to be made manifest, that each may “receive the things done in (or through) the body,” according to what he has done, “whether it be good or bad.” There they will receive rewards for their faithfulness to the Lord. For all that has been contrary in their lives to His will they will suffer loss, 1Co 3:15. This judgment seat is to be distinguished from the premillennial, earthly throne of Christ, Mat 25:31, and the postmillennial “Great White Throne,” Rev 20:11, at which only “the dead” will appear. The judgment-seat of Christ will be a tribunal held “in His Parousia,” i.e., His presence with His saints after His return to receive them to Himself.
primarily “a means of judging” (akin to krino, “to judge:” Eng., “criterion”), then, a tribunal, law court, or “lawsuit,” 1Co 6:2 (last clause), for which see JUDGE, B, No. 3, Note (1); 1Co 6:4, for which see JUDGMENT, Note (1) at end; Jam 2:6.