Bible Dictionaries
Condemn, Condemnation

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

"to know something against" (kata, "against," ginosko, "to know by experience"), hence, "to think ill of, to condemn," is said, in Galatians 2:11 , of Peter's conduct (RV, "stood condemned"), he being "self-condemned" as the result of an exercised and enlightened conscience, and "condemned" in the sight of others; so of "self-condemnation" due to an exercise of heart, 1 John 3:20,21 . See BLAME.

signifies "to exercise right or law against anyone;" hence, "to pronounce judgment, to condemn" (kata, "down, or against," dike, "justice"), Matthew 12:7,37; Luke 6:37; James 5:6 .

"to distinguish, choose, give an opinion upon, judge," sometimes denotes "to condemn," e.g., Acts 13:27; Romans 2:27; James 5:9 (in the best mss.). Cp. No. 1, below. See CALL (No. 13), CONCLUDE, DECREE, DETERMINE, ESTEEM, JUDGE, LAW (go to), ORDAIN, SUE, THINK.

a strengthened form of No. 3, signifies "to give judgment against, pass sentence upon;" hence, "to condemn," implying (a) the fact of a crime, e.g., Romans 2:1; 14:23; 2 Peter 2:6; some mss. have it in James 5:9; (b) the imputation of a crime, as in the "condemnation" of Christ by the Jews, Matthew 20:18; Mark 14:64 . It is used metaphorically of "condemning" by a good example, Matthew 12:41,42; Luke 11:31,32; Hebrews 11:7 .

In Romans 8:3 , God's "condemnation" of sin is set forth in that Christ, His own Son, sent by Him to partake of human nature (sin apart) and to become an offering for sin, died under the judgment due to our sin.

denotes (a) "the sentence pronounced, a verdict, a condemnation, the decision resulting from an investigation," e.g., Mark 12:40; Luke 23:40; 1 Timothy 3:6; Jude 1:4; (b) "the process of judgment leading to a decision," 1 Peter 4:17 ("judgment"), where krisis (see No. 3, below) might be expected. In Luke 24:20 , "to be condemned" translates the phrase eis krima, "unto condemnation" (i.e., unto the pronouncement of the sentence of "condemnation"). For the rendering "judgment," see, e.g., Romans 11:33; 1 Corinthians 11:34; Galatians 5:10; James 3:1 . In these (a) the process leading to a decision and (b) the pronouncement of the decision, the verdict, are to be distinguished. In 1 Corinthians 6:7 the word means a matter for judgment, a lawsuit. See JUDGMENT.

cp. No. 4, above, is "the sentence pronounced, the condemnation" with a suggestion of the punishment following; it is found in Romans 5:16,18; 8:1 .

(a) denotes "the process of investigation, the act of distinguishing and separating" (as distinct from krima, see No. 1 above); hence "a judging, a passing of judgment upon a person or thing;" it has a variety of meanings, such as judicial authority, John 5:22,27; justice, Acts 8:33; James 2:13; a tribunal, Matthew 5:21,22; a trial, John 5:24; 2 Peter 2:4; a judgment, 2 Peter 2:11; Jude 1:9; by metonymy, the standard of judgment, just dealing, Matthew 12:18,20; 23:23; Luke 11:42; Divine judgment executed, 2 Thessalonians 1:5; Revelation 16:7; (b) sometimes it has the meaning "condemnation," and is virtually equivalent to krima (a); see Matthew 23:33; John 3:19; James 5:12 , hupo krisin, "under judgment." See ACCUSATION , A (Note), DAMNATION , JUDGMENT.

Note: In John 9:39 , "For judgment (krima) came I into this world," the meaning would appear to be, "for being judged" (as a touch-stone for proving men's thoughts and characters), in contrast to John 5:22 , "hath given all judging (krisis) to the Son;" in Luke 24:20 , "delivered Him up to be condemned to death," the latter phrase is, lit., "to a verdict (krima) of death" (which they themselves could not carry out); in Mark 12:40 , "these shall receive greater condemnation" (krima), the phrase signifies a heavier verdict (against themselves).

a strengthened form of No. 3, denotes "a judgment against, condemnation," with the suggestion of the process leading to it, as of "the ministration of condemnation," 2 Corinthians 3:9; in 2 Corinthians 7:3 , "to condemn," more lit., "with a view to condemnation."

"self-condemned" (auto, "self," katakrino, "to condemn"), i.e., on account of doing himself what he condemns in others, is used in Titus 3:11 .

akin to A, No. 1, with negative prefix, a, "not to be condemned," is said of sound speech, in Titus 2:8 .