Paul appeared before Gallio, a Roman proconsul, at a bema in Corinth (Acts 18:12-16). Herod Agrippa I was surely sitting on a bema in Caesarea as the people of Tyre and Sidon appeared before him and he gave a public oratory, after which God struck him down to his death (Acts 12:19-24). Pontius Pilate was sitting on a Roman bema in Jerusalem when He judged Jesus (Matthew 27:15-26, John 19:13). The original bema was in Athens, Greece, at Pnyx Hill.īecause the Romans held the Greek way of life in high esteem, they incorporated many of its elements into Roman society. In the Greek court system, each of the two parties in a dispute would be granted a bema upon which to stand as they presented their arguments. Over time, bemas also became places where orators addressed not only the citizens but the courts of law. In the Greek way of life, a bema was a raised, throne-like platform upon which the judges stood at athletic games and gave out rewards at the end of the games.
The term “the judgment seat of Christ” in these passages translates the Greek word bema. The second passage is 2 Corinthians 5:10, where Paul writes to the Christians of Corinth:įor we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. The first one is Romans 14:10-12, where the apostle Paul writes to the Christians of Rome:īut why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. There are two Bible passages that mention the judgment seat of Christ by name. After that moment, though, there is a Christian life to be lived, and one day the Christian will give account for how that life is lived. At the moment of salvation, the believer is forgiven of all trespasses (Colossians 2:13), guaranteed no condemnation (Romans 8:1), and saved from God’s wrath (Romans 5:9). Salvation comes by way of God’s grace through faith (belief) in Christ and has nothing to do with works (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is about heavenly rewards gained or lost. Please understand that the judgment seat of Christ is not about salvation gained or lost. The judgment seat of Christ is the place in heaven where each Christian will stand to receive the rewards of how he or she lived the Christian life on earth. This raises the question, “How does God give His rewards?” The answer is: The judgment seat of Christ. It has been said that Satan gives his rewards up front, while God gives His on the back end.
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