Just, Justly
Just, Justly
was first used of persons observant of dike, “custom, rule, right,” especially in the fulfillment of duties towards gods and men, and of things that were in accordance with right. The Eng. word “righteous” was formerly spelt “rightwise,” i.e., (in a) straight way. In the NT it denotes “righteous,” a state of being right, or right conduct, judged whether by the Divine standard, or according to human standards, of what is right. Said of God, it designates the perfect agreement between His nature and His acts (in which He is the standard for all men). See RIGHTEOUSNESS. It is used (1) in the broad sense, of persons: (a) of God, e.g., Joh 17:25; Rom 3:26; 1Jo 1:9; 1Jo 2:29; 1Jo 3:7; (b) of Christ, e.g., Act 3:14; Act 7:52; Act 22:14; 2Ti 4:8; 1Pe 3:18; 1Jo 2:1; (c) of men, Mat 1:19; Luk 1:6; Rom 1:17; Rom 2:13; Rom 5:7. (2) of things; blood (metaphorical), Mat 23:35; Christ’s judgment, Joh 5:30; any circumstance, fact or deed, Mat 20:4 (Mat 20:7, in some mss.); Luk 12:57; Act 4:19; Eph 6:1; Phi 1:7; Phi 4:8; Col 4:1; 2Th 1:6; “the commandment” (the Law), Rom 7:12; works, 1Jo 3:12; the ways of God, Rev 15:3. See RIGHTEOUS.
“just, righteous” (en, “in,” dike, “right”), is said of the condemnation of those who say “Let us do evil, that good may come,” Rom 3:8; of the recompense of reward of transgressions under the Law, Heb 2:2.
Note: As to the distinction between No. 1 and No. 2, “dikaios characterizes the subject so far as he or it (so to speak) one with dike, right; endikos, so far as he occupies a due relation to dike; … in Rom 3:8 endikos presuposes that which has been decided righteously, which leads to the just sentence” (Cremer).
“justly, righteously, in accordance with what is right,” is said (a) of God’s judgment, 1Pe 2:23; (b) of men, Luk 23:41, “justly;” 1Co 15:34, RV, “rithteously” (AV, “to righteousness”); 1Th 2:10, RV, “righteously;” Tit 2:12.