Bible Dictionaries
Just, Justly

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

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., John 17:25; Romans 3:26; 1 John 1:9; 2:29; 3:7; (b) of Christ, e.g., Acts 3:14; 7:52; 22:14; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1; (c) of men, Matthew 1:19; Luke 1:6; Romans 1:17; 2:13; 5:7 . (2) of things; blood (metaphorical), Matthew 23:35; Christ's judgment, John 5:30; any circumstance, fact or deed, Matthew 20:4 (ver. 7, in some mss.); Luke 12:57; Acts 4:19; Ephesians 6:1; Philippians 1:7; 4:8; Colossians 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:6; "the commandment" (the Law), Romans 7:12; works, 1 John 3:12; the ways of God, Revelation 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," Romans 3:8; of the recompense of reward of transgressions under the Law, Hebrews 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, 1 Peter 2:23; (b) of men, Luke 23:41 , "justly;" 1 Corinthians 15:34 , RV, "rithteously" (AV, "to righteousness"); 1 Thessalonians 2:10 , RV, "righteously;" Titus 2:12 .