The Judgment Seat of Christ and how scholars keep getting it wrong

[KUWN]

You have probably heard that the Judgment seat of Christ takes its meaning from the Olympic Games. The scholars say that the Judges would sit on a raised platform and hand out rewards for the winners of the contests. I checked 30 commentaries by noted and not so noted scholars to find out just exactly where the idea of the raised platform and the judge who hands out rewards to the winners in the Olympics. In all 30 commentaries not one cited an original Greek usage of this. They all said it refers to the Olympic games, but not one scholar was able to cite such a usage.

Each scholar cited another scholar to support such a view. So, I decided I was going to get to the bottom of this. I finally traced its first usage (I think) by a guy named L. Sale-Harrison in 1938. His book is called The Judgment Seat of Christ. I was so excited because I was finally going to see where this Olympic game usage was located in earlier Greek history. Well, unfortunately, Sale-Harrison does not cite any work that supports the idea that the Judgment Seat of Christ was used in relation to the Olympic games. He just simply states it without any support!!

This is why I take commentaries as helpful tools but may not be at all correct. Watch how many times scholars cite other scholars without demonstrating where the original source is from. This is just lazy scholarship.

So, if you are going to teach on the Judgment Seat of Christ as related to the Olympic games, be careful with citing another author.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

there are two judgments mentioned in scripture

The judgment seat (BEMA)

And the great white throne judgment (Krino)

the BEMA seat is a raise step or seat in whi8ch the judge sits. It could be a trbunal. An awards ceremony (hence the olympic typology)

where as the Krino judgment is a judgment at a court of law. where the judge passes guilt or innocence. And imposes the sentence

 

[marks]

Matthew 27:19 KJV
19) When he (Pilate) was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

Judgment seat here is translated from bema.

Much love!

 

[KUWN]

An awards ceremony (hence the olympic typology)

Can you provide me with the source from which you got this? I am looking for an original source in some ancient Greek usage.

 

[KUWN]

Judgment seat here is translated from bema.

what I am looking for is the original source of where BEMA is used of the Olympic games.

 

[marks]

what I am looking for is the original source of where BEMA is used of the Olympic games.

I understand. I was posting this to show to others the usage of "bema" included Pilate condemning Jesus Christ.

Much love!

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Can you provide me with the source from which you got this? I am looking for an original source in some ancient Greek usage.

BDAG - A step forrward, made by a foot or step.
A very limited space
A dias or platform that requires steps to attend, In rome, the judge that would hand out the awars. used a raised plateform

Anyway, if your looking for somewhere were it originates, I doubt you will find it.

of note. When Pilot went to his judgment seat. he did not go their to pronounce guilt. Jesus did nto stand before him. He went to confir. he even spoke with his wife. .

He later went in from of jesus and pronounced guilt. Just like he will at the great white throne (krinos)

 

[KUWN]

A dias or platform that requires steps to attend, In rome, the judge that would hand out the awars.

Did you just add awars?? I assume you meant awards. I don't see that in BDAG

 

[Rockerduck]

I got rid of all my commentaries because they were just opinions. I rely on the Holy Spirit to get my answers.

 

[marks]

I got rid of all my commentaries because they were just opinions. I rely on the Holy Spirit to get my answers.

I have also. Actually, just last week, I cleaned out some drawers of books, including the last of them. Except I kept Barnehouse on Romans, there are a couple of things I want to look up what he says. And I have a full set of Spurgeon's sermons, but let's be real, I keep it because it looks so good between those marble book ends. Green and white marble, the books are green cloth and gold foil. Very attractive!

Much love!