• Judges, Theology of

Judgment [N]

The Hebrew term mispat [f'P.vim] is an important Old Testament concept and one
closely linked with God. It may denote the process whereby a verdict is reached or
the verdict itself; it is bound up with the notions of justice (modern translations often
have"justice" for mispat) and righteousness and it is of fundamental importance for
biblical religion. Thus Abraham could ask, "Will not the Judge of all the earth
do mispat[f'P.vim]?"( Ge 18:25 ); it is fundamental that God engages in judgment.
Indeed, God is the God of mispat [f'P.vim].Judgment is essentially his own activity.
Nobody taught him ( Isa 40:14 ), and"all his ways are just" ( Deut 32:4 ). Judgment
is linked with righteousness as the foundation of his throne ( Psalm
97:2 ).Judgment is as natural to God as the movements of the birds are to them
( Jer 8:7 ).
We should be clear that judgment is of great importance for biblical religion. The
gods of the heathen were capricious and unpredictable; their worshipers could
never know what they would do next, nor whether what they themselves did would
be pleasing to their deities or not. The Hebrews knew that God is righteous and
that he demands righteousness of his people.
Sometimes God's judgments are seen in the present life, but often it is the future
judgment that is in mind. "For he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge
the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth" ( Psalm 96:13 ). This tells
us something important about God. All people, and not only Israel, will answer to
him. And it tells us something important about the way people live. Somewhere
among the many gods he acknowledged the polytheist would come across a deity
who was not too demanding and he could live his life accordingly. But the pious
Hebrew knew that in the end every human work would be judged by the all-holy
and all-powerful God. There was no escape. And while he had opportunity it was
important that the Hebrew should right wrongs, overthrow the oppressor, and
deliver the oppressed.
In the New Testament the Old Testament thoughts about judgment, both present
and future, are continued. But there is a striking new thought, namely, that
judgment is connected with the cross of Christ. As he drew near to his death Jesus
said, "Now is the time for judgment on this world, now the prince of this world will
be driven out"( John 12:31 ).And in the upper room as he spoke of the coming of
the Holy Spirit, he said that the Spirit would convict the world of judgment,
"because the prince of this world now stands condemned (lit. is judged)" ( John
16:11 ). The use of the judgment terminology in connection with the defeat of
Satan is important, for it shows that this was no arbitrary happening. Nor did it
mean simply that God is stronger than Satan. That is true, but the manner in which
Satan was defeated was righteous.
God's present judgment of people is forcefully brought out in Romans 1 with its
threefold "God gave them over" (vv. 24, 26, 28). God is hostile to every evil and
this is made manifest in his judgments here and now. An interesting aspect of
present judgment is brought out in the words of Jesus: "This is the verdict
(krisis [krivsi"]):Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of
light because their deeds were evil" ( John3:19 ). The love of darkness is itself
judgment (cf. the words of a poet, "For thirty pieces Judas sold himself, not
Christ"). Paul sees a present judgment in the punishment of the Corinthian church
( 1 Cor 11:29-32 ).
That there will be a final judgment is regarded as axiomatic ( Rom 3:5-6 )."Eternal
judgment" is one of the "elementary teachings about Christ" ( Heb 6:1-2 ), and all
face it ( Heb12:23 ). It is as inescapable as death ( Heb 9:27 ). Even"the family of
God" is included and indeed judgment begins with them ( 1 Peter 4:17 ).Sinners
may not trust that somehow their worst failings may be hid for God will judge our
secrets ( Rom 2:16 ).All evil will be reckoned with for on the day of judgment "every
careless word"will be called to account ( Matt 12:36 ).Judgment will be on the basis
of works ( Matt 16:27 ). An important passage is that in which Paul makes it clear
that salvation is on the basis of Christ's saving work and that alone, but what we
build on that foundation will be tested"with fire" ( 1 Cor 3:10-15 ).Believers will be
saved by Christ, but their work will be judged on judgment day.
Leon Morris
See als
o Judgment, Day of; Judgment Seat of Christ.
Bibliography. H. Butterfield, Christianity and History; L. Morris, The Biblical
Doctrine of Judgment.