καταγινώσκω

From the study of 1 John 3:20

Range of meaning

Built from kata ('against') and ginōskō ('know'): to know something against someone, so to find fault, blame, accuse, or reach a verdict of guilt. It can be a formal legal judgment or an informal censure (BDAG: 'condemn, convict').

Against the English

'Condemn' is accurate, but to modern ears it can sound like a final sentence handed down. Here the heart is more like an accuser or a self-judge giving its own verdict. 'Accuse' or 'find us guilty' gives the sense well.

Used elsewhere in the period

Galatians 2:11: Peter 'stood condemned' (kategnōsmenos), shown to be in the wrong. Sirach 14:2 in the Greek Old Testament: 'Blessed is the one whose soul does not condemn him (ou katégnō hē psychē autou)', which is very close to John's idea of the inner self passing judgment. Deuteronomy 25:1 uses the related noun for a court verdict.

From the study of 1 John 3:21

Range of meaning

Literally "to know against": to notice a fault in someone, to blame, to find guilty, to give an unfavorable verdict. It can be fairly mild ("to find fault with") or formal ("to convict, condemn").

Against the English

"Condemn" in modern church use often suggests final damnation ("condemned to hell"). The Greek word is closer to "accuse" or "find guilty": the heart holding something against us. The NIV, ESV, KJV and BSB "condemn" is acceptable if that is kept in mind.

How it drifted

Partly. Theological use of "condemnation" (as in Romans 8:1, which uses a different word, katakrima) has made the English word sound like the final sentence, not an inner accusation.

Used elsewhere in the period

Galatians 2:11 uses it of Peter, who "stood condemned" or "was in the wrong" (kategnōsmenos ēn). In Sirach 14:2, "blessed is the one whose soul does not condemn him" (hou ou katégnō hē psychē autou) is a close Jewish parallel to this verse. Deuteronomy 25:1 in the Septuagint uses it in a courtroom setting.

From the study of Galatians 2:11

Range of meaning

In classical Greek: to notice something against someone, to find fault, to give a verdict against, to condemn or convict (the opposite of acquitting). It can be used of a court, of public judgment, or of a person's own conscience.

Against the English

'Stood condemned' (BSB, WEB, NIV, ESV, NASB) keeps the verdict language. KJV 'was to be blamed' and YLT 'was blameworthy' turn it into 'deserving blame'. That is a fair meaning, but it softens the Greek tense, which describes a verdict already reached.

How it drifted

Modern English often hears 'condemned' in church settings as 'damned', meaning eternally rejected by God. Here the word means 'shown to be in the wrong' or 'convicted'.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint at Deut 25:1, judges are to 'justify the righteous and condemn (kataginōskō) the wicked'. There it is the courtroom opposite of 'justify', the very verb Paul uses in 2:16. Sirach 14:2: 'blessed is the one whose soul does not condemn him'. 1 John 3:20–21: 'if our heart condemns us'. BDAG gives 'condemn, convict' for this verse.