Judgment
Category
Future, Judgment, & Kingdom
Biblical Definition
God's righteous evaluation and verdict concerning all people and all things, culminating in the final judgment at the end of the age.
Origin(s)
Hebrew: מִשְׁפָּט; Greek: κρίσις
Transliteration
mišpāṭ; krisis
Literal meaning
judgment, justice, decision; judgment, verdict
Key Scripture(s)
Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:22-29; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:5-8; Revelation 20:11-15
Theological Significance
Judgment reveals that history is morally governed by God and moving toward a just consummation. It vindicates God's holiness, exposes evil, and demonstrates the necessity of the gospel.
Common Misunderstanding(s)
Judgment is not impersonal karma, random fate, or merely temporal consequence. Scripture presents it as the personal and righteous verdict of the living God.
Practical Application
The certainty of judgment calls sinners to repentance, comforts those longing for justice, and urges believers to live soberly before God.