Strong’s G4299: A compound noun combining “pro” (before) and “krima” (judgment), meaning prejudgment or prejudice. In biblical context, it refers to forming judgments before fully understanding a matter, particularly in the context of church leadership and decision-making.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πρόκριμα represents the concept of pre-judgment or prejudice, carrying significant implications for fairness and justice in the church community. As a compound word, it combines the idea of “before” with “judgment,” highlighting the problematic nature of making decisions before having all the facts. In 1 Timothy 5:21, Paul uses this term to warn against hasty judgments in matters of church discipline and leadership selection. The early church recognized this term as crucial for maintaining fairness and impartiality in ecclesiastical matters. Today, it remains remarkably relevant in addressing issues of bias, discrimination, and the need for careful, fair judgment in church leadership and community life.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πρόκριμα, prokrima, PRO-kree-ma
• Pronunciation Guide: PRO (as in “pro-fessional”) + kree (as in “creek”) + ma (as in “ma”)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• πρό (pro-) – prefix meaning “before”
• κρίμα (krima) – root noun meaning “judgment”
• -μα (-ma) – noun suffix indicating result of action

D – Defining Meanings

• Prejudgment
• Bias or prejudice
• Premature judgment

For compound words:
The prefix πρό (pro-) adds the temporal aspect of “before,” while κρίμα (krima) provides the concept of judgment or decision, creating the idea of judgment formed before proper examination.

Translation Options:

• “prejudice” – emphasizes the biased nature
• “prejudgment” – highlights the premature timing
• “preconception” – stresses the formation of opinion before evidence

E – Exploring Similar Words

• κρίμα (krima, KREE-ma) – See G2917: judgment without the “before” aspect
• προκρίνω (prokrinō, pro-KREE-nō) – See G4300: the verbal form meaning “to judge beforehand”
• διάκρισις (diakrisis, dee-A-kree-sis) – See G1253: discernment or proper judgment

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a noun, πρόκριμα exhibits:

• Case: Nominative/Accusative/Genitive/Dative
• Number: Singular/Plural
• Gender: Neuter
• Declension: Third

Case forms:

• Nominative: τὸ πρόκριμα (subject)
• Accusative: τὸ πρόκριμα (direct object)
• Genitive: τοῦ προκρίματος (possession)
• Dative: τῷ προκρίματι (indirect object)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes the word’s use in legal and ecclesiastical contexts. Thayer’s highlights its warning against hasty judgment. LSJ notes its use in judicial proceedings. Vine’s connects it to fairness in church discipline. Strong’s emphasizes the compound nature suggesting premature judgment. Moulton and Milligan cite examples from papyri showing its use in legal documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
1 Timothy 5:21: “I charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to keep these rules without prejudgment [προκρίματος], doing nothing from partiality.”

Additional References:
As a hapax legomenon, πρόκριμα appears only once in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πρόκριμα powerfully reminds us of God’s call to fair and impartial judgment. This word proclaims the good news by showing that in Christ’s church, we are called to judge righteously, without bias or prejudice, reflecting God’s own character of perfect justice. It challenges us to examine our hearts and remove preconceptions that might hinder us from seeing others as God sees them.

D – Did You Know?

• Πρόκριμα was a technical term in ancient legal proceedings
• The word appears in early church canons regarding fair treatment in church discipline
• Its use in 1 Timothy influenced the development of church judicial procedures

Strong’s G4299: A compound noun meaning prejudgment or prejudice, used specifically in the context of church leadership and discipline. It warns against forming judgments before proper examination and emphasizes the importance of fairness and impartiality in ecclesiastical matters.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: judgment, prejudice, bias, fairness, church-leadership, discipline, impartiality, timothy, justice, decision-making, discrimination, church-governance​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​