A tribunal, in biblical terms, refers to a place or assembly where judgment is rendered. It is a setting for legal proceedings, where disputes are settled, and justice is administered. The concept of a tribunal is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, reflecting both divine and human justice systems.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of a tribunal is closely associated with the role of judges and leaders who were appointed to administer justice among the people of Israel. Moses, for instance, acted as a judge for the Israelites, settling disputes and making decisions based on God's laws. In Exodus 18:13-26, Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, advises him to appoint capable men as leaders over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens to serve as judges for the people, thus establishing a system of tribunals to handle minor cases while reserving the more difficult cases for Moses.

The elders of Israel also functioned as a tribunal, providing counsel and judgment. Deuteronomy 16:18-20 instructs the Israelites to appoint judges and officials in every town, emphasizing the importance of justice: "Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of a tribunal is evident in both Roman and Jewish legal systems. The Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, served as a tribunal for religious and civil matters. Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin, where He was falsely accused and condemned (Matthew 26:59-66). The Sanhedrin's role as a tribunal highlights the tension between human justice and divine truth, as they failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

The Roman legal system also plays a significant role in the New Testament narrative. The Apostle Paul frequently encountered Roman tribunals during his missionary journeys. In Acts 25:10-12, Paul appeals to Caesar's tribunal, asserting his rights as a Roman citizen: "Paul replied, 'I am now standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!'"

Divine Tribunal

Beyond human tribunals, the Bible speaks of a divine tribunal where God Himself is the ultimate judge. This is seen in the prophetic literature and apocalyptic visions, where God judges the nations and individuals according to His righteousness. Ecclesiastes 12:14 declares, "For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil."

The final judgment, as depicted in Revelation, is the ultimate divine tribunal where all humanity will stand before God. Revelation 20:11-12 describes this scene: "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened."

Conclusion

The concept of a tribunal in the Bible underscores the importance of justice, accountability, and the ultimate sovereignty of God as the righteous judge. Whether through human institutions or divine judgment, the biblical narrative consistently affirms the necessity of justice and the assurance that God will ultimately set all things right.1. (n.) The seat of a judge; the bench on which a judge and his associates sit for administering justice.

2. (n.) Hence, a court or forum; as, the House of Lords, in England, is the highest tribunal in the kingdom.

968. bema -- a step, raised place, by impl. a tribunal
... a tribunal. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: bema Phonetic Spelling:
(bay'-ma) Short Definition: the space covered by a step of the foot, a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/968.htm - 7k

2922. kriterion -- a law court
... a law court, tribunal. Neuter of a presumed derivative of krites; a rule of judging
("criterion"), ie (by implication) a tribunal -- to judge, judgment (seat). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2922.htm - 6k

375. anapempo -- to send up
... to send up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anapempo Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ap-em'-po) Short Definition: I send up to a higher tribunal, I send back ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/375.htm - 6k

4892. sunedrion -- a sitting together, hence a council, spec. the ...
... Neuter Transliteration: sunedrion Phonetic Spelling: (soon-ed'-ree-on) Short Definition:
a council, the Sanhedrin Definition: a council, tribunal; the Sanhedrin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4892.htm - 8k

2920. krisis -- a decision, judgment
... Decision (subjectively or objectively, for or against); by extension, a tribunal;
by implication, justice (especially, divine law) -- accusation, condemnation ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2920.htm - 7k

1042. Gabbatha -- stone pavement
... Gabbatha. Of Chaldee origin (compare gab); the knoll; gabbatha, a vernacular term
for the Roman tribunal in Jerusalem -- Gabbatha. see HEBREW gab. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1042.htm - 6k

3038. lithostrotos -- stone pavement, mosaic
... stone pavement. From lithos and a derivative of stronnumi; stone-strewed, ie A
tessellated mosaic on which the Roman tribunal was placed -- Pavement. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3038.htm - 6k

1779. din -- judgment
... cause, judgment, plea, strife. From diyn; judgement (the suit, justice, sentence
or tribunal); by impl. Also strife -- cause, judgement, plea, strife. ...
/hebrew/1779.htm - 6k

The Tribunal of Caiphas.
... CHAPTER VII. The Tribunal of Caiphas. To enter Caiphas's tribunal persons
had to pass through a large court, which may be called ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter vii the tribunal of.htm

The Great Tribunal. Rev 20:11,12
... FUNERAL HYMNS. Hymn 79 The great tribunal. Rev 20:11,12. John Newton 7,7,7,7.
The great tribunal. Rev 20:11,12. John in vision saw the day. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 79 the great tribunal.htm

And Pilate Seeing This, was Afraid, and Sought to Go Away from the ...
... Part I."The Acts of Pilate. First Greek Form. Chapter 2. And Pilate seeing
this, was afraid, and sought to go away from the tribunal? ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of nicodemus /chapter 2 and pilate seeing.htm

And Pilate Seeing, Fear Seized Him, and Immediately He Wished to ...
... Part I."The Acts of Pilate. Latin Form. Chapter 2. And Pilate seeing, fear seized
him, and immediately he wished to rise from the tribunal.? ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of nicodemus /chapter 2 and pilate seeing 2.htm

You Observe How New and Terrible a Form of Oath this is which He ...
... The Lord Jesus Christ sits on the tribunal as judge, the angels are assessors, and
plead for him; and there, in the intervals of scourgings and tortures, he ...
/.../7 you observe how new.htm

Argument. Perpetua, when Besieged by Her Father, Comforts Him when ...
... Perpetua, When Besieged by Her Father, Comforts Him When Led with Others to the
Tribunal, She Avows Herself a Christian, and is Condemned with the Rest to the ...
/.../chapter ii argument perpetua when besieged.htm

Whether Every Priest Can Excommunicate?
... Objection 2: Further, it is a greater thing to loose and bind in the tribunal
of penance than in the tribunal of judgment. But every ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether every priest can excommunicate.htm

The Martyrdom of Marinus at C??sarea.
... But when he was about to receive the honor, another person came before the tribunal
and claimed that it was not legal, according to the ancient laws, for him ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xv the martyrdom of marinus.htm

Whether a Penance Should be Published or Solemnized?
... Objection 2: Further, the judgment should follow the nature of the tribunal.
Now penance is a judgment pronounced in a secret tribunal. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a penance should be.htm

Whether, in the Absence of Inward Consent, a Marriage is Made by ...
... Reply to Objection 1: There are two things here, namely the lack of consent"-which
benefits him in the tribunal of his conscience so that he is not bound by ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether in the absence of.htm

Tribunal (11 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Hence, a court or forum; as, the House of Lords, in England, is the
highest tribunal in the kingdom. ...Tribunal (11 Occurrences). ...
/t/tribunal.htm - 10k

Sanhedrin (19 Occurrences)
... Talmudic transcription of the Greek sunedrion): 1. Name: The Sanhedrin was, at and
before the time of Christ, the name for the highest Jewish tribunal, of 71 ...
/s/sanhedrin.htm - 27k

Impeach (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To charge with a crime or misdemeanor; to accuse; especially to charge
(a public officer), before a competent tribunal, with misbehavior in office; to ...
/i/impeach.htm - 8k

Testify (110 Occurrences)
... under oath or affirmation, for the purpose of establishing, or making proof of,
some fact to a court; to give testimony in a cause depending before a tribunal. ...
/t/testify.htm - 36k

Trial (45 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) The formal examination of the matter in issue in a cause before a competent
tribunal; the mode of determining a question of fact in a court of law; the ...
/t/trial.htm - 52k

Praetorium (8 Occurrences)
... appraise (Wars, I, xxi, 1; V, iv, 4). It was in this palace that "Florus, the
procurator took up his quarters, and having placed his tribunal in front of it ...
/p/praetorium.htm - 14k

Accountability
... the influence of intoxication should be condoned; yet everyone must feel how different
this is from innocence, and that, before a higher tribunal, the culprit ...
/a/accountability.htm - 14k

Advocate (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) One who pleads the cause of another. Specifically: One who pleads the cause
of another before a tribunal or judicial court; a counselor. ...
/a/advocate.htm - 11k

Judgment (430 Occurrences)
... may be found of him in peace.". Judgment seat. (Matthew 27:19), a portable tribunal
(Gr. bema) which was placed according as the magistrate ...
/j/judgment.htm - 52k

Tribulations (11 Occurrences)

/t/tribulations.htm - 9k

What were the Inquisitions? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the seventy elders of Israel? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Vatican / Vatican City? | GotQuestions.org

Tribunal: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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