What is the Greek word for 'judgment' in 2 Corinthians 5:10, and why did the King James translators use 'judgment' instead?
The Greek word is bema, a raised platform or judge’s seat. The King James translators used “judgment,” but the context does not explain their reason beyond noting that the word scares people. The bema is not for judging believers’ sin; it is likened to an Olympic judge’s seat.
Les explains that the Greek word behind the King James rendering “judgment” is bema, and he wishes the translators had not used “judgment” because it scares people. He notes that the bema was usually just a raised platform, like the ruins at ancient Corinth, not much higher than the platform he was using. The party to be judged would stand before the judges on the bema seat. It was also used in the Olympic games for judges who determined first, second, and third places. Les thinks Paul more likely had the Olympic analogy in mind than the political bema seat of government. He stresses that we must all appear before the bema seat, but not to be judged for sin. He asks whether a person is a believer, a child of God, and if so, where they get the idea they still have sin on their back.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.