[Greek] κατηγορία (katēgoria), [Latin] accusare, [Latin] accusatio, [French] incriminer: accusation, criminal charge, complaint; Lk.6:7, Jn.18:29, 1Tim.5:19, Tit.1:6
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means accusation, charge, and complaint. The agora was the central public space in ancient Greece. This is where one can be accused of some criminal activity. The kategoros is the one who accuses. The Greek verb kategoreo means to accuse. The person accused is labeled or categorized by that crime.
Thucydides’ The Peloponnesian War 1.69: “For all this you are responsible. Accusations we reserve for enemis who have wronged us.”
Antiphon’s On the Choreutes 6.10: “The prosecuter who refuses to confine himself to the charge before the court does not so much deserve to be believed as to be disbelieved.”
Xenophon’s Hellenica 2.1.31: “Many charges began to be urged against the Athenians for the outrage they committed and what they had voted to do if they were victorious in the battle.”
Isocrates’ To Phillip 5.147: “All these things had been the source of many complaints against her.”
Andocides’ On the Mysteries 1.7: “Serious charges have often before now been disproved at once, and so decisively that you would rather have punished the accusers than the accused.”
Plato’s Apology 18a: “It is right for me to defend myself against the first false accusation against me, and the first accusers, and then against the later accusations and the later accusers.”
Old Testament custom of supporting a serious accusation against someone (Deut.17:6): If someone is told or has heard of this, this matter must be seriously investigated. If the truth of the matter is established, you shall bring this person out to your gates. Only on the testimony of two or three witnesses shall a person be put to death. No one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
New Testament: This term means accusation and charge. The scribes and Pharisees closely watched if Jesus would heal on the sabbath. Pilate asks the Jews what charges shall be brought against Jesus. One must not accept an accusation against a presbyter without testimony from two or three witnesses. Presbyters not accused of licentiousness or rebelliousness must be appointed.
Scripture:
“The scribes and the Pharisees watched Him closely to see if He would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse Him.” Lk.6:7
Jesus enrages the scribes and the Pharisees when He healed the man on the sabbath. They would see if Jesus would perform this unlawful act on the sabbath.
“So Pilate came out to them and said, ‘What charge do you bring against this man?’” Jn.18:29
Pilate could not find Jesus guilty of any crime. The Jews accused Jesus of blasphemy, claiming to be the Son of God. The Jews handed Jesus over to the Romans to be answerable to this crime of blasphemy.
“Do not accept an accusation against a presbyter unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.” 1Tim.5:19
Presbyters were often subject to adverse criticism. Witnesses were needed to support the alleged accusations against presbyters.
Conclusion:
Accuse, accusation, accuser, incriminate, incrimination
The agora was the central public square for commercial, social, religious, political, and judicial activity. This term can be applicable to any time of history.
Update: President Biden have accused MAGA (Trump) supporters as ‘semi-fascists’ and enemies of the state.
Democrats and Progressive falsely accused Trump of being a Russian collaborator.
Many Americans accuse the media of censorship and content moderation.
The American people are constantly demonized for accusing the FBI and Dept. of Justice of partisanship, incompetence, and malfeasance. (How dare you say this!)
Many Americans are accusing the FBI of sitting on the investigation of Hunter Biden.
Many Catholics and Christians are now being accused of being hateful and extreme.
President Biden is constantly accused of deflecting (unwilling to talk about his failed policies).
Many Americans who have voiced real concerns about election results are called “election deniers”.
Whistleblowers accused FBI agent Thibault of shutting down the Hunter Biden investigation. This agent has just recently resigned.
Whether one is rightly or wrongly accused, circumstances will quite often reveal that person’s character. You will also get no complaint from me that it is often sometimes difficult to understand what God is making known to us. Even our choices and actions reveal how will God judge us and how we act toward others. This often results from accusations and labels thrown back and forth. Yet it is comforting to know that despite our struggles and difficulties, God discloses that a greater eternal glory awaits for us.
Next post: to reveal