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    ABC:1 Corinthians 2

    From BibleStrength

    Verse 15

    Jim Meritt of Infidels.org claims a contradiction exists here concerning judging.[1]

    Word Count

    The Bible was not originally authored in English, the KJV translators picked 16th century English words (which by the way is different from today's English) that they thought correctly produced the word's meanings. In some cases, however, that creates confusion, as it does here. There are actually six different Greek words translated 'judge' by the King James Version's New Testament, but for purposes of this alleged contradiction only two of them will be examined here. The following is a table showing the Greek words translated 'judge' in the New Testament by the KJV, what their Strong's reference numbers are, how many times they are translated 'judge', and how many times they are used in the New Testament overall.

    Greek Word Strong's Number Transl. Judge Total Usage
    krino[2] 2919 88 114
    krites[3] 2923 17 17
    anakrino[4] 350 6 16
    diakrino[5] 1252 3 19
    dikastes[6] 2923 3 3
    kriterion[7] 2922 1 3

    Different Words

    There are actually TWO Greek words translated "judge" here. Whereas 1 Corinthians 2:15 uses the Greek word anakrino 4:15 uses the word krino; there are actually two different words being translated 'judge' just as today we use the word judge with different meanings. The following is the Interlinear showing the original Greek overlaying the KJV text:

    So what do these two different words translated judge mean? The following are definitions for anakrino, the Greek word seen in 1 Corinthians 4:5:

    The following are definitions for the Greek word krino seen in 1 Corinthians 2:15:

    Anakrino is a rarely used word found just 16 times, but clearly appears to mean scrutinize or examine as seen from its usage in Luke 23:14; Acts 4:9, 12:19, 17:11, 24:11, and 28:18. Christians are frequently said to examine or scrutinize using this word, and no commandment against doing so is given. As seen from 1 Corinthians 10:27 it can be used as "examining (anakrinos) no examination (anakrinos)." For whatever reason the KJV translators who had been translating it examined before 1 Corinthians once in the book of 1 Corinthians translated it as judged instead. The following is the Interlinear for all places where it is found:

    Whereas anakrinos was a casual term meaning examination or scrutiny, krinos is a legal term referring to judicial judgment and punishment. It is frequently used throughout the New Testament to refer to legal rulings. The following are a few of the verses where it is used:

    Summary

    In conclusion, the Greek word anakrinos used in 1 Corinthians 2:15 simply means judgment in the sense of scrutinizing or examining. Christians are shown to use this kind of judgment and there is nothing wrong with doing so according to the Bible.

    However, the Greek word krinos used in 1 Corinthians 4:5 is a legal term referring to judging, sentencing, or condemning with punishments to (often negatively) affect another person. Christians are repeatedly told not to use this kind of judgment:

    However, Christians are told of the word krino to "judge in yourselves". On rare occasions it is used to refer to a self-judgment or judgment of what is right, rather than another person, and in such cases we are told to judge with it. Whereas Christians are commanded not to judge OTHERS, they are commanded to judge RIGHT AND WRONG, i.e. determine for themselves what is right without condemning others. In essence, Christians are commanded to judge concepts, not people.

    There also appears to be cases where internal judgment within churches is considered right, even though such judgment outside is wrong. This appears to be because as 1 Corinthians 5:13 shows, God judges those outside the church, but Christians are called to judge themselves, i.e. "them that are within."

    In summary, the confusion is caused in part because several different words are actually being translated as 'judge' from the original Greek text that have different meanings. Even when the same word 'krino' is used, it can be used in different ways and contexts. In reference to judging others it is often said to be wrong for purposes of condemning or punishing, since God is the only Judge. However, the word is also used sometimes to speak of internal judgment or deciding, the way we would say "judge for yourselves whether it's okay to harm others," and such judgment is alright in that context.

    There also is a kind of internal church judgment seen from 1 Corinthians 5-6 which is Biblical and necessary that Christianity is not infiltrated with Satan's tares. (Matthew 13:25-40) Although Christians are commanded not to go to courts of law before the unbelievers (1 Corinthians 6:6) they are told to "have no fellowship with" those doing evil (Ephesians 5:7-11; 2 Thessalonians 3:14) and remove them from the church. (1 Corinthians 5:13) Such punishment is not done to condemn or punish those removed but keep the church and its reputation pure, and they are to be restored if turning from their wickedness, while being "admonished as a brother." (Galatians 6:1, 2 Thessalonians 3:15)

    Sources

    1. ↑ Meritt, Jim (1992). A list of Biblical contradictions. Retrieved from http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.html.
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Strong, James (1979). Strong's Exhaustive Concordance with Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries. 2919: Krino. Retrieved from http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Lexicon.show/ID/G2919/krino.htm.
    3. ↑ Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Krites. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon. Retrieved from http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/krites.html.
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Anakrino. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon. Retrieved from http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/anakrino.html.
    5. ↑ Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Diakrino. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon. Retrieved from http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/diakrino.html.
    6. ↑ Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Dikastes. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon. Retrieved from http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/dikastes.html.
    7. ↑ Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Kriterion. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon. Retrieved from http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/kriterion.html.
    8. ↑ Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Anakrino. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon. Retrieved from http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/anakrino.html.
    9. ↑ Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Krino. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon. Retrieved from http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/krino.html.
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