κατάκριμα (katakrima)
katakrima
condemnation
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun katakrima refers to a formal sentence of condemnation or the resulting penalty imposed by a judge. Derived from the verb meaning "to condemn," it describes the legal verdict itself rather than just the feeling of guilt. In the New Testament, this term appears only three times, all within Paul’s letter to the Romans, where it carries significant theological weight regarding humanity’s standing before God.
Paul uses katakrima to describe the universal condition resulting from Adam’s disobedience. In Romans 5:16 and 5:18, he contrasts this sentence of condemnation with the gift of justification. The sources indicate that while one act brought a definitive penalty upon many, Christ’s righteous act offers a way out of that legal status. It is not merely punishment in the abstract sense, but the specific judicial ruling that stands against sinners.
In Romans 8:1, Paul declares that there is no katakrima for those who are in Christ Jesus. This usage highlights the finality of the verdict. The word underscores that salvation involves a change in legal standing; the sentence of condemnation is removed entirely for believers. Translators typically render it as "condemnation," capturing the serious, binding nature of the judgment from which Christians are freed.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word katakrima carries the weight of a final legal verdict. It is not just a feeling of guilt or a vague sense of failure, but a formal sentence passed by a Judge. In the ancient world, such a ruling was binding and difficult to overturn. Paul uses this term in Romans to describe the heavy burden humanity inherited through Adam’s disobedience—a status of being declared guilty before God.
Yet the good news is that this verdict can be changed. When you place your trust in Christ Jesus, the law no longer holds a sentence against you. Romans 8:1 declares that there is now no katakrima for those who walk by the Spirit. This means your standing before God has shifted from condemned to justified. You are free from the fear of judgment because Christ has already borne the penalty.
This freedom offers deep peace. You do not need to earn a clean record or live in constant anxiety about what you have done wrong. Your identity is secure in Him. If you feel weighed down by past mistakes, remember that the legal case against you has been closed. Rest in the truth that you are accepted, not because of your performance, but because of His grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- condemnation,2×
- condemnation1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατάκριμα,2×
- κατάκριμα1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
This verse delivers the ultimate relief by declaring the total absence of katakrima for believers, shifting the focus from legal guilt to spiritual freedom in Christ.
-
Romans 5:16
The gift is not as through one who sinned; for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift followed many trespasses to justification.
Here the word highlights the contrast between the automatic penalty of sin and the superior power of God's free gift, showing that grace outweighs judgment.
-
Romans 5:18
So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.
This occurrence ties the universal experience of condemnation directly to Adam’s single act, establishing the baseline from which Christ’s righteousness offers deliverance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does katakrima mean in the Bible?
Why does Paul use this word in Romans 5 and 8?
Is there any condemnation left for Christians?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Romans 3 verses
The gift is not as through one who sinned; for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift followed…
Romans 5:18So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were…
Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but…