While this word can mean a standard or means of judging, in the New Testament it specifically refers to law courts or tribunals where disputes are adjudicated. Paul's usage is particularly striking: he challenges the Corinthian believers about taking their disputes before secular courts rather than resolving them within the Christian community. If believers will one day judge the world and even angels (1 Corinthians 6:2), surely they're competent to judge 'trivial cases' (6:4) among themselves. James 2:6 uses the plural form to describe how the rich drag the poor before the courts, highlighting economic oppression.