Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Etymology:The term "justify" in the biblical context refers to the act of God declaring a sinner to be righteous on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ. The Greek word often translated as "justify" is "δικαιόω" (dikaioō), which means to declare righteous or to acquit. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the equivalent term is "צָדַק" (tsadaq), which also carries the meaning of being made right or just.
Biblical Usage:Justification is a central theme in Christian theology, particularly in the writings of the Apostle Paul. It is a legal term that signifies a change in status from guilty to righteous before God. This change is not based on human merit but is a gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Key Biblical Passages:1.
Romans 3:23-24 : "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
· This passage highlights the universality of sin and the gratuitous nature of justification. It underscores that justification is a gift of grace, not earned by human effort.
2.
Romans 5:1 : "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
· Here, Paul emphasizes that justification results in peace with God, a restored relationship made possible through faith in Christ.
3.
Galatians 2:16 : "know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified."
· This verse contrasts justification by faith with the works of the law, affirming that adherence to the law cannot achieve righteousness.
4.
James 2:24 : "As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone."
· James provides a complementary perspective, emphasizing that genuine faith is evidenced by actions. This does not contradict Paul but rather highlights that true faith results in a transformed life.
Theological Significance:Justification is a foundational doctrine in Christian theology, particularly emphasized during the Reformation. It is seen as the act of God whereby He imputes the righteousness of Christ to the believer, thus declaring them righteous. This doctrine underscores the sufficiency of Christ's atoning work and the believer's reliance on faith rather than personal merit.
Relation to Sanctification:While justification is a one-time legal declaration, sanctification is the ongoing process of being made holy. Justification and sanctification are distinct yet inseparable; the former is the basis for the latter. A justified believer is called to live a life that reflects their righteous standing before God.
Historical Context:The doctrine of justification by faith alone (sola fide) was a central tenet of the Protestant Reformation, articulated by reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin. It was a response to the perceived abuses and theological errors of the medieval church, particularly the sale of indulgences and the emphasis on works-based righteousness.
Practical Implications:For believers, justification provides assurance of salvation and peace with God. It encourages a life of gratitude and obedience, motivated not by fear of judgment but by love and reverence for God. Understanding justification fosters humility, as it acknowledges human inability to achieve righteousness apart from divine grace.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v.) To prove or show to be just; to vindicate; to maintain or defend as conformable to law, right, justice, propriety, or duty.
2. (v.) To pronounce free from guilt or blame; to declare or prove to have done that which is just, right, proper, etc.; to absolve; to exonerate; to clear.
3. (v.) To treat as if righteous and just; to pardon; to exculpate; to absolve.
4. (v.) To prove; to ratify; to confirm.
5. (v.) To make even or true, as lines of type, by proper spacing; to adjust, as type. See Justification, 4.
6. (v. i.) To form an even surface or true line with something else; to fit exactly.
7. (v. i.) To take oath to the ownership of property sufficient to qualify one's self as bail or surety.
Greek
1344. dikaioo -- to show to be righteous, declare righteous... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: dikaioo Phonetic Spelling: (dik-ah-yo'-o)
Short Definition: I make righteous, defend the cause of,
justify Definition: I
...1347. dikaiosis -- the act of pronouncing righteous, acquittal
... Cognate: 1347 (a feminine noun derived from 1344 , "to approve,justify") --
justification (divine approval), emphasizing Christ's full payment of the debt for...
4275. proeido -- to foresee
... 8 The Scripture, (4275a) that God wouldjustify the Gentiles by (4102 ), preached
the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, " all the nations will be blessed...
Strong's Hebrew
6663. tsadeq -- to be just or righteous... Usage acquit (1), acquitted (1), declare you right (1), do justice (1), give him
justice (1), just (2), justified (5), justifies (1),
justify (5), justifying (2
...2135. zakah -- to be clear, clean or pure
... root Definition to be clear, clean or pure NASB Word Usage blameless (1), clean
(1), cleansed (1),justify (1), keep his pure (1), kept my pure (1), make...
3198. yakach -- to decide, adjudge, prove
... A primitive root; to be right (ie Correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to
decide,justify or convict -- appoint, argue, chasten, convince, correct(-ion...
Library
Faustus Seeks toJustify the Docetism of the Manich??ans. Augustin...
... Book XXIX. Faustus seeks tojustify the docetism of the Manich??ans. Augustin
insists that there is nothing disgraceful in being born....
How Does FaithJustify a Sinner in the Sight of God?
... Question 73: How does faithjustify a sinner in the sight of God? Answer:
Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not because...
The Marcionite Interpretation of God and Mammon Refuted the...
... Chapter XXXIII."The Marcionite Interpretation of God and Mammon Refuted The Prophets
Justify Christ's Admonition Against Covetousness and Pride....
The Idea of Communications through Angels Involves yet Wilder...
... Section 21. The idea of communications through angels involves yet wilder inconsistency,
nor does it, even if true,justify the worship of the image....
Faith
... There must be an acknowledgment, but that is not sufficient tojustify.... (3.)
In its being the grace which God honours tojustify and save....
Justification
... grace. God does notjustify us because we are worthy, but by justifying us
makes us worthy.... indivisa. God the Father is said tojustify....
Its Meaning
... Between Protestants and Romanists there is a wide difference of opinion as to the
meaning of the term "justify": they affirming that tojustify is to make...
Faith is not an Effect of Election, but is a Necessary Requisite...
... For it either signifies "the election by which God determines tojustify believers,
while those who are unbelievers or workers are rejected from righteousness...
Rationalism and Its Effects
... the religious revolution of the sixteenth century, and more especially the dangerous
principles formulated by Luther and his companions tojustify them in...
The Suffering Servant --V
... THE SUFFERING SERVANT"V. 'He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be
satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous servantjustify many; and He...
Thesaurus
Justify (19 Occurrences)...Justify (19 Occurrences). Luke 10:29 But he, desiring to
justify himself, asked
Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV).
...Justifying (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofJustify. Multi-Version Concordance
Justifying (9 Occurrences). Luke 10:29 But he, desirous...
Hebrews (24 Occurrences)
... model. And the presence of long, abstract arguments does notjustify the
excision or explaining away of undoubted personal passages....
Vindicate (18 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) Tojustify; to clear from accusation;
prove to be real or true. 2. (vt) To maintain or defend...
Excuse (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To free from accusation, or the imputation of fault or blame; to clear from
guilt; to release from a charge; tojustify by extenuating a fault; to...
Principle (32 Occurrences)
... (WEY RSV NIV). Romans 3:30 since indeed it is one God who shalljustify the
circumcision on the principle of faith, and uncircumcision by faith. (DBY)....
Jael (6 Occurrences)
... It is really impossible tojustify Jael's act, though it is not impossible to
understand it or properly to appreciate Deborah's approval of the act as found in...
Innocent (97 Occurrences)
... NAS). Exodus 23:7 "Keep far from a false charge, and don't kill the innocent
and righteous: for I will notjustify the wicked. (WEB...
Justification (6 Occurrences)
... jus-ti-fi-ka'-shun (tsedheq, verb tsadheq; Septuagint and New Testament dikaioma,
dikaiosis, verb dikaioo, "justification" "tojustify," in a legal sense, the...
Magus
... he gives of the Simonians shows that by the time when Irenaeus lived, their system
had developed into Gnosticism; but this fact does notjustify Irenaeus in...
Resources
Do the ends justify the means? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the works of the law (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16)? | GotQuestions.orgIs there misogyny in the Bible? What is a misogynist? | GotQuestions.orgJustify: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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