Righteously (1346) (dikaíos from the adjective dίkaios which means being in accordance with what God requires) means manifesting right conduct, waking morally upright outwardly or in a right way which is in accordance with what God requires. It's a more general description of observable “rightness” in all aspects of life. It is conduct that cannot be condemned.
Dikaios pertains to what is just or right in a judicial sense as used in 1Pe 2:23-note describing God Who judges justly. In Luke 23:41 the adverb speaks of treatment of someone in a manner that is deserved by virtue of the way they live. Here in Titus (as well as 1Corinthians 15:34 and 1Th 2:10-note) dikaios pertains to the quality of one's ethical behavior which is with integrity, agreeably to the law of rectitude, uprightly.
Dikaios is used 5 times in NT:
Luke 23:41 "And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."
1Corinthians 15:34 Become sober-minded as you ought (better "as is right"), and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
1Thessalonians 2:10 (note) You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers (Comment: From this letter, we see that Paul was not asking Titus to do something he himself had not already done.)
Titus 2:13 (note) instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
1 Peter 2:23 (note) and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
There are 5 uses of dikaíos in the Septuagint (LXX) (Gen. 27:36; Deut. 1:16; 16:20; Prov. 28:18; 31:9)
The "dikaios" man is righteous not only in character but in conduct. This individual recognizes God has rights upon his life and he submits himself to be God’s rightful possession and, therefore, acquires God’s nature and performs his duty toward God. Whatever God says about how to live is "righteous".
Righteous denotes conduct that cannot be condemned. In simple terms, believers under the instruction of the grace of God, should just do right (live...righteously) no matter what others may do! Believers who honestly understand the grace of God will not want to live in sin. They will turn from ungodliness and worldly lusts; they will live serious, righteous, godly lives in this present world.
Adam Clarke says that living righteously is
"rendering to every man his due, injuring no person in his body, mind, reputation, or property; doing unto all as we would they should do to us; and filling up the duties of the particular stations in which it has pleased God to fix us, committing no sin, omitting no duty." (Clarke's Commentary)
AND GODLY: kai eusebos: (Ps 4:3; 2Cor 1:12; 2Pe 2:9) (see Torrey's Topic "Godly Fear")
As David writes we are to
know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself
Live...godly or with genuine piety which is instructed, initiated and empowered by the grace of God (not self effort), which seeks to please God not men.
Spurgeon explains godly as follows observing that...
Every man who has the grace of God in him indeed and of a truth, will think much of God, and will seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. God will enter into all his calculations, God’s presence will be his joy, God’s strength will be his confidence, God’s providence will be his inheritance, God’s glory will be the chief end of his being, God’s law the guide of his conversation. Now, if the grace of God, which has appeared so plainly to all men, has really come with its sacred discipline upon us, it is teaching us to live in this three-fold manner. (sensibly, righteously, godly) (From Spurgeon's sermon Two Appearings & the Discipline of Grace)
A W Pink says that godly...
is the attitude of our hearts towards God, ever seeking His glory. Godliness is made up of three ingredients, or more accurately, it issues from three springs—faith, fear, love.
(Grace Preparing for Glory)
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Greek Word Studies ( - )
Read freely Greek Word Studies from the Austin Precept text commentary of the Bible in text and pdf format. Precept Austin is an online free dynamic bible commentary similar to wikipedia with updated content and many links to excellent biblical resources around the world. You can browse the entire collection of Commentaries by Verse on the Precept Austin website.We have been "bought with a price" to be "ambassadors for Christ" and our "salvation is nearer to us than when we believed" so let us "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" "so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." (1Cor 6:20, 2Cor 5:20, Ro 13:11, 2Cor 7:1, 1Jn 2:28)