Bible Dictionaries
Right, Rightly

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

"authority, power," is translated "right" in the RV, for AV, "power," in John 1:12; Romans 9:21; 1 Corinthians 9:4,5,6,12 (twice),18; 2 Thessalonians 3:9 , where the "right" is that of being maintained by those among whom the ministers of the gospel had labored, a "right" possessed in virtue of the "authority" given them by Christ, Hebrews 13:10; Revelation 22:14 .

Exousia first denotes "freedom to act" and then "authority for the action." This is first true of God, Acts 1:7 . It was exercised by the Son of God, as from, and in conjunction with, the Father when the Lord was upon earth, in the days of His flesh, Matthew 9:6; John 10:18 , as well as in resurrection, Matthew 28:18; John 17:2 . All others hold their freedom to act from God (though some of them have abused it), whether angels, Ephesians 1:21 , or human potentates, Romans 13:1 . Satan offered to delegate his authority over earthly kingdoms to Christ, Luke 4:6 , who, though conscious of His "right" to it, refused, awaiting the Divinely appointed time. See AUTHORITY , No. 1, and for various synonyms see DOMINION , No. 1, Note.

"just, righteous, that which is in accordance with" dike, "rule, right, justice," is translated "right" in Matthew 20:4; Matthew 20:7 , AV only (RV omits, according to the most authentic mss. the clause having been inserted from ver. 4, to the detriment of the narrative); Luke 12:57; Acts 4:19; Ephesians 6:1; Philippians 1:7 , RV (AV, "meet"); 2 Peter 1:13 (AV, "meet"). See JUST , RIGHTEOUS.

"straight," hence, metaphorically, "right," is so rendered in Acts 8:21 , of the heart; Acts 13:10 , of the ways of the Lord; 2 Peter 2:15 . See STRAIGHT.

"rightly" (akin to orthos, "straight, direct"), is translated "plain" in Mark 7:35; in Luke 7:43; 20:21 , "rightly;" in Luke 10:28 , "right."

Notes: (1) For "right mind" see MIND , B, No. 5. (2) For the AV, "rightly" in 2 Timothy 2:15 , see DIVIDE , A, No. 8.