The Bema at Corinth
The judgment platform in the forum where Paul stood before Gallio
Found 1935 — American School of Classical Studies at Athens (Oscar Broneer)
Where Roman forum, Ancient Corinth (Greece)
Dates from mid-1st century CE (rostra built c. 44–50 CE) · Early Roman Imperial · Paul's second journey (Acts 18)
Now at In situ at Ancient Corinth, Greece
How The Bema at Corinth was found
Uncovered during the school's forum excavations; a Latin inscription found nearby identifies the structure as the rostra (public speaking platform).
What it is
A raised stone platform (about 2.3 metres high) faced with marble, standing in the middle of the south side of the Roman forum, with benches on each side. It was later built over by a Byzantine church.
Why it matters for the Bible
Acts 18:12 says the Jews dragged Shaul (Paul) to the bema, the judgment seat, where Gallio refused to hear the case. The forum bema is exactly the kind of public platform Luke describes, in the city and roughly the decade of the events. It also gives a picture for Paul's own phrase, 'we must all appear before the judgment seat (bema) of Messiah' (2 Cor 5:10), written to the Corinthians who passed this platform daily.
The Hebrew word: bee-MAH
בֵּימָה
בֵּימָה is pronounced bee-MAH and means raised platform, judgment seat (Greek bema) (Strong's G968).
People this discovery connects to
- Paul — שָׁאוּל (Shah-OOL) — asked for (Greek Paulos)
- Gallio — גַּלִּיוֹ (gah-lee-OH) — Greek Gallion
- Sosthenes — סוֹסְתֵּנִיס (sos-TEH-nes) — Greek Sosthenes, 'safe in strength'
Places
- Corinth — קוֹרִינְתּוֹס (ko-REEN-tos) — Greek Korinthos
Events
Paul brought before Gallio · Beating of Sosthenes in front of the bema
The Bema at Corinth in Scripture
Matthew 27:19 First mention of Judgment seat (bema) in Scripture.
Acts 18:12-17 The scene at the judgment seat in Corinth took place on a platform like this one in the forum.
2 Corinthians 5:10 Paul tells the Corinthians all will stand before the bema of Messiah — a word picture from their own forum.
Questions people ask
What is The Bema at Corinth?
A raised stone platform (about 2.3 metres high) faced with marble, standing in the middle of the south side of the Roman forum, with benches on each side. It was later built over by a Byzantine church.
When was The Bema at Corinth discovered?
It was found in 1935 by American School of Classical Studies at Athens (Oscar Broneer), at Roman forum, Ancient Corinth.
Where is The Bema at Corinth today?
In situ at Ancient Corinth, Greece.
Which Bible verses does The Bema at Corinth relate to?
Matthew 27:19, Acts 18:12-17, 2 Corinthians 5:10.
Related discoveries
- בֵּימָהGallio Inscription (Delphi)Letter of Emperor Claudius naming Gallio proconsul of Achaia — the anchor date for Paul's ministry
- בֵּית הָאֲסוּרִיםMamertine Prison (Carcer Tullianum), RomeThe Forum dungeon where tradition holds Peter and Paul were held before death
- שׁוּקCorinth Meat Market (Macellum) InscriptionLatin stone naming the market where meat 'sold in the shambles' came from
- שׁוּקThessalonica: The Roman Forum and the Arch of GaleriusThe city centre where 'the world was turned upside down', found by accident in 1962
- סוֹכֵןErastus Inscription (Corinth)Pavement laid by an aedile named Erastus — possibly Paul's friend the city treasurer
- תֵּאַטְרוֹןTheater of CorinthRoman theater beside the Erastus pavement, seat of the city's public life
Sources
- O. Broneer, 'Corinth: Center of St. Paul's Missionary Work in Greece', Biblical Archaeologist 14 (1951)
- American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Corinth Excavations
- Historical marker, "The Rostra (Bema) of the Roman Forum", Ephorate of Antiquities (mid-1st-century date, in situ)