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

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. This article addresses this shortcoming. Specific attention is devoted to the refutation of Horsley’s influential claim that, in Q 22:28-30, the verb κρΐνοντες actually means ‘liberate’ and not ‘judge’. The discoveries made along the way have significant implications not only for our understanding of this specific Q text, but also for our understanding of the Sayings Gospel Q and its people in general. The latter pertains especially to their particular view of the final judgement, as well as their relationship to greater Israel. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article refutes the popular claim that κρΐνοντες in Q 22:28-30 actually means ‘liberate’ and not ‘judge’. The latter has implications not only for the interpretation of Q 22:28-30, but also for our understanding of the Sayings Gospel Q, its people, the historical Jesus, and the ancient concept of ‘judgement’.