JUDGMENT-SEAT.—The usual word employed for this in the NT is bçma (Mat 27:19, Joh 19:13, Act 18:12; Act 18:16 f., Act 25:6; Act 25:10; Act 25:17, Rom 14:10, 2Co 5:10), properly a ‘tribune.’ In the NT the word is used of the official seat (tribunal) of the Roman judge. The word kritçrion used in Jas 2:5 occurs also in 1Co 6:2; 1Co 6:4, where it is translated in RVm
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The judge invariably sat on a special ‘seat’ or throne. Thus Jerusalem and the smaller cities alike had their ‘thrones for judgement’ (Jdg_4:5, 1Ki_7:7, Psa_122:5, etc.). In Rome magistrate and jury were seated together on the raised tribunal, or ‘bench,’ the magistrate oh his sella curulis, or ‘chariot seat,’ specially associated with the Roman imperium. The custom extended also to the Provinces. In the NT êñéôÞñéá (‘tribunals’) is used of law-courts generally (in 1Co_6:2; 1Co_6:4 and Jam_2:6), while âῆìá, lit. [Note: literally, literature.] ‘step,’ ‘seat’ (for parties in a law-suit), is applied to the ‘judgment-seat’ not only of the Emperor (Act_25:10), but also of the governors Pilate (Mat_27:19, Joh_19:13), Gallio (Act_18:12; Act_18:16 f.) and Festus (Act_25:6; Act_25:17), and even metaphorically of God (Rom_14:10) and Christ (2Co_5:10). See, further, Trial-at-Law.
A. R. Gordon.
The place before which people will give an account of their lives to God.
In the Old Testament
The concept of divine judgment in the New Testament comes from the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, God is seen as the Judge of the whole world, especially of his own people.
When Abraham asked God to spare the city of Sodom, he spoke of God as "Judge of all the earth" (Genesis 18:25). Moses's role as a judge over the Israelites was based on the belief that God was giving judgments through him. A similar relationship existed between God and the judges who led Israel after the conquest of the promised land. This understanding of God as Judge is clearly seen in Jephthah’s message to the king of Ammon: “May the LORD, the Judge, decide today between the Israelites and the Ammonites” (Judges 11:27). When God called Samuel, he told him that he (God) would judge Eli’s household.
The idea of God as the Judge of his people is common in the Psalms and Prophets. In Psalm 9:4, David said of God, “For You have upheld my just cause; You sit on Your throne judging righteously.” He continued, “But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment. He judges the world with justice; He governs the people with equity” (Psalm 9:7–8). Isaiah described a future time when God will judge the nations (Isaiah 2:4). Joel also spoke of God as the Judge of the nations (Joel 3:12).
In the New Testament
These Old Testament statements form the background for the New Testament understanding of the judgment seat of God or Christ. The image of a judgment seat came from the Roman practice where judgment took place on a platform (in Greek, bema) or tribunal, from which a judge would hear and decide cases. This is why most New Testament references to a judgment seat occur when Jesus or the apostle Paul was brought before a ruling authority. For example, Pilate sat on his judgment seat when he tried Jesus (Matthew 27:19; compare John 19:13; Acts 18:12, 16–17; 25:6, 10, 17).
Two New Testament passages speak directly of the judgment seat of God or Christ: Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10. In Romans 14:10, Paul addressed the urgent issue of unity within the church—unity based on loving acceptance of those with different views on how faith affects daily life. Paul urged both Jewish and gentile Christians to accept one another despite differences about eating certain foods and observing certain days. He reminded them that all must eventually stand before the judgment seat of God to account for how they have lived. Since God is the ultimate Judge, Christians should not judge one another. Similarly, in 2 Corinthians 5, Paul explained why Christians strive to please the Lord: all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to be rewarded for their deeds. The judgment seat of Christ or God, therefore, represents the ultimate accountability of the Christian.
See also Bema; Judgment; Last Judgment; Second Coming of Christ.
Aquifer Open Bible Dictionary © 2026 Mission Mutual, an adaptation of the Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The platform or throne from which kings and officials administer justice. God presently exercises judgment from his heavenly throne, symbolised in the OT by the ark of the covenant, and will one day bring all peoples before his judgment seat to give account of their lives and to receive their due reward.
Examples of earthly seats of judgment
PRO 20:8; JHN 19:13 parallel MAT 27:19 See also EXO 18:13–18:14; 1KI 7:7; PSA 122:5; PRO 31:23; ACT 12:21, ACT 23:3, ACT 25:23; JAS 2:6
God's judgment seat
God judges from his throne
PSA 9:4–9:5 See also PSA 9:7–9:8, PSA 11:4–11:7, PSA 45:6, PSA 97:2
The ark as a symbol of God's throne
2SA 6:2 parallel 1CH 13:6 See also EXO 25:22; 1SA 4:4; 2KI 19:15 parallel ISA 37:16; PSA 80:1, PSA 99:1
God's future judgment
2CO 5:10 God's future judgment is exercised through Jesus Christ; REV 20:11–20:13 See also DAN 7:9–7:10; JOL 3:12; MAT 25:31–25:32; ROM 14:10
Believers will share Jesus Christ's judgment throne
MAT 19:28 See also LUK 22:30; REV 20:4
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin H. Manser. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.