Condemning or liberating the twelve tribes of Israel?: Judging the meaning of κρίνοντες in Q 22:28, 30

Abstract

At the turn of the second millennium AD, Tuckett dubbed Q 22:28–30 an ‘exegetical stepchild’,given that it has traditionally and commonly received very little attention in Q research. Thisarticle addresses this shortcoming. Specific attention is devoted to the refutation of Horsley’sinfluential claim that, in Q 22:28–30, the verb κρίνοντες actually means ‘liberate’ and not‘judge’. The discoveries made along the way have significant implications not only for ourunderstanding of this specific Q text, but also for our understanding of the Sayings GospelQ and its people in general. The latter pertains especially to their particular view of the finaljudgement, as well as their relationship to greater Israel.

Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article refutes the popularclaim that κρίνοντες in Q 22:28–30 actually means ‘liberate’ and not ‘judge’. The latter hasimplications not only for the interpretation of Q 22:28–30, but also for our understanding ofthe Sayings Gospel Q, its people, the historical Jesus, and the ancient concept of ‘judgement’.