### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term ἀπόκριμα (apókrima), Strong's number `{{G610}}`, is derived from the verb ἀποκρίνομαι (apokrinomai), which primarily means "to answer" or "to reply." However, the specific nuance of ἀπόκριμα draws upon the *original* or specialized sense of its root, implying a definitive pronouncement that arises from a process of judgment. Thus, its core meaning is a "judicial decision" or a "sentence." It signifies a final, authoritative verdict or decree, one that carries the weight of a conclusive judgment rather than a mere response. This word points to the gravity and finality of a decision, particularly one rendered in a legal or quasi-legal context, or one that feels as definitive as such a verdict.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ἀπόκριμα (apókrima) appears only once in the New Testament, in the Apostle Paul's second letter to the Corinthians:
* **[[2 Corinthians 1:9]]**: "Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead."
In this passage, Paul is recounting the severe afflictions and trials he and his companions endured in Asia. The phrase "the sentence of death" (τὸ ἀπόκριμα τοῦ θανάτου) is a powerful metaphor. It does not refer to an actual legal condemnation by a human court, but rather to the overwhelming and life-threatening nature of their suffering. The trials were so intense and seemingly inescapable that they felt as if a death verdict had been pronounced upon them, leaving no hope for survival through their own efforts. The use of ἀπόκριμα here emphasizes the perceived finality and gravity of their predicament, as if an ultimate, inescapable decree had been issued against them. This profound experience of helplessness served a specific divine purpose, as Paul immediately clarifies: to compel them to abandon self-reliance and place their complete trust in God, who alone possesses the power to resurrect the dead. The "sentence" paradoxically became an instrument for deeper faith.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of ἀπόκριμα (apókrima) is closely related to terms dealing with judgment, decision, and judicial outcomes:
* **ἀποκρίνομαι (apokrinomai)** `{{G611}}`: The verbal root, meaning "to answer," but with an underlying sense of making a decision or distinguishing, leading to a response.
* **κρίμα (krima)** `{{G2917}}`: A general term for "judgment," "decision," or "condemnation." It often refers to a judicial sentence or the outcome of a judgment.
* **κρίσις (krisis)** `{{G2920}}`: Refers to the "act of judging," "decision," or the "process of judgment," often with an eschatological connotation.
* **κατάκριμα (katakrima)** `{{G2631}}`: Specifically denotes "condemnation" or "a sentence of condemnation," carrying a negative judicial verdict.
* **θάνατος (thanatos)** `{{G2288}}`: "Death," which is directly linked to ἀπόκριμα in its sole biblical occurrence, forming the phrase "sentence of death."
Conceptually, ἀπόκριμα relates to divine providence, the experience of extreme suffering, the stripping away of human self-sufficiency, and the cultivation of radical dependence on God's power, particularly His resurrection power.
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of ἀπόκριμα (apókrima) in [[2 Corinthians 1:9]] carries profound theological weight. It reveals a critical aspect of Paul's theology of suffering and divine purpose. The "sentence of death" was not a divine condemnation for sin, but rather an experience of overwhelming tribulation that brought Paul and his companions to the very brink of despair and physical demise. The theological significance lies in the *purpose* of this experience: it was divinely orchestrated or permitted to teach them a deeper lesson about trust. By facing a situation that felt as final and inescapable as a death sentence, they were forced to abandon any reliance on their own strength, wisdom, or resources.
This "sentence" thus becomes a crucible for faith, driving the believer to an absolute dependence on God alone, particularly "God who raises the dead." It transforms a seemingly negative, life-threatening experience into a powerful catalyst for spiritual growth and a deeper apprehension of God's resurrection power at work in human weakness. It underscores the paradoxical nature of Christian suffering, where the experience of death's shadow ultimately leads to a greater revelation of divine life and faithfulness, demonstrating that God's power is perfected in weakness.
### Summary
The Greek word ἀπόκριμα (apókrima, `{{G610}}`) signifies a "judicial decision" or "sentence," derived from the sense of judging inherent in its root. Its sole appearance in the New Testament is in [[2 Corinthians 1:9]], where Paul speaks of having received "the sentence of death" (τὸ ἀπόκριμα τοῦ θανάτου). This phrase metaphorically describes the extreme, life-threatening trials Paul and his companions endured, which felt as conclusive and inescapable as a death verdict. The profound theological significance of this "sentence" lies in its divine purpose: it served to strip them of all self-reliance and compel them to place their absolute trust in God, "who raises the dead." Thus, ἀπόκριμα, though rare, powerfully illustrates how God uses overwhelming circumstances to cultivate a deeper, more radical dependence on His resurrection power in the lives of His servants.
TRV