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Lawsuit
Lawsuits • Litigation
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Dictionaries
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised
Lawsuit
Lawsuit[Gk kríma] (1 Cor. 6:7); AV, NEB, “go to law”; SUE [krínomai] (Mt. 5:40); AV “sue … at law.” These terms refer to the process of bringing suit against another person in a court of law. The references in Mt. 5:40 (cf. Lk. 6:29) and 1 Cor. 6:1–8 indicate that the topic was a concern several times
Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible
Lawsuit
LawsuitHistorians of ancient law warn that the modern concept of “lawsuit” may not exactly correspond to any of the available judicial or extrajudicial means ancients had for settling their disputes. Still, one is able to find biblical examples where two disputing parties bring their claim before a
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary
Lawsuit
Lawsuit (Heb. rîḇ “controversy, dispute”).† A literary form couched in language and forms stereotypical of legal proceedings (e.g., Gen. 13:7–9; 31:25–42; Deut. 25:1–3; Prov. 25:7b–9; cf. Judg. 11:12–28), particularly prevalent in the preexilic prophetic writings, wherein Yahweh contends with
Dictionary of Paul and His Letters
Lawsuit
LawsuitIn 1 Corinthians 6 Paul addresses abuses in the Christian community at Corinth. The powerful were using their position and affluence to manipulate cases of civil litigation. Worse, the litigations were contests between believers in front of unbelievers. According to Paul, such behavior and display
A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers
Lawsuits
LAWSUITSIf anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. Matt. 5:40.Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?… If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint
The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Volumes 1–5
LAWSUIT
LAWSUIT [דָּבָר‎ davar, דִּין‎ din, מִשְׁפָּט‎ mishpat, רִיב‎ riv; κρίμα krima, κριτήριον kritērion, πρᾶγμα pragma]. Legal disputes that are formally tried occur in the OT over blasphemy (Lev 24:10–12), Sabbath-breaking (Num 15:32–36), apostasy (Deut 17:2–7), kidnapping (1 Kgs 3:16–28), and false prophecy
Key passages
Dt 25:1–3

“When a legal dispute takes place between men and they come near to the court, and the judges judge with respect to them, then they shall declare the righteous to be in the right and they shall condemn the wicked, then it will happen if the guilty one deserves beating, then the judge shall …

Mt 5:40

And the one who wants to go to court with you and take your tunic, let him have your outer garment also.

Lk 6:29

To the one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from the one who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic also.

1 Co 6:1–8

Does anyone among you, if he has a matter against someone else, dare to go to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if by you the world is judged, are you unworthy of the most insignificant …

See also
Topics & Themes
Law