pvj-06: Word Studies

G1344 — dikaioo (justify)

Definition: To render (show or regard as) just or innocent; to free, justify. Part of Speech: Verb BLB Count: 40 occurrences

Key Distribution: - Romans: 2:13; 3:4,20,24,26,28,30; 4:2,5; 5:1,9; 6:7; 8:30,33 - Galatians: 2:16(x2),17; 3:8,11,24; 5:4 - Other Paul: 1 Cor 4:4; 6:11; 1 Tim 3:16; Tit 3:7 - Gospels: Mat 11:19; 12:37; Luk 7:29,35; 10:29; 16:15; 18:14 - James: 2:21,24

Observation: Paul uses dikaioo 27 times (67.5% of NT occurrences). Romans alone accounts for 15 uses. The word appears in forensic/legal contexts in Paul — "declared righteous before God." In the Gospels, it appears in various senses including "vindicated" (Mat 11:19, Luk 7:35) and "declared righteous" (Luk 18:14).

G4102 — pistis (faith)

Definition: Persuasion, credence; moral conviction of religious truth. Part of Speech: Feminine noun BLB Count: 244 occurrences

Key Distribution in Romans 3-4: - Rom 3:22,25,26,27,28,30,31; 4:5,9,11,12,13,14,16,19 - Heavy cluster in the justification argument

Observation: In Romans 3-4, pistis appears 15+ times. Paul uses it as the instrument or means of justification, contrasted with erga nomou. The "faith of Jesus Christ" (pistis Iesou Christou, Rom 3:22, Gal 2:16) is debated: objective genitive ("faith in Christ") or subjective genitive ("Christ's faithfulness").

G2041 — ergon (work)

Definition: Toil (as effort or occupation); an act, deed, doing, labor, work. Part of Speech: Neuter noun BLB Count: 176 occurrences

Key Distribution: - Paul's negative usage (justification context): Rom 3:20,27,28; 4:2,6; 9:12,32; 11:6; Gal 2:16; 3:2,5,10; Eph 2:9; 2 Tim 1:9; Tit 3:5 - Paul's positive usage (ethical/fruit context): Rom 2:6,7,15; 13:3,12; Eph 2:10; 4:12; Col 1:10; 1 Tim 5:10; 6:18; 2 Tim 3:17; Tit 2:7; 3:1,8,14

Observation: Paul uses ergon in two distinct ways: (1) negatively when paired with nomos in justification contexts ("works of the law" cannot justify), and (2) positively when describing the expected fruit of salvation ("good works" believers are created to do). This dual usage within a single author is significant for pvj-06's central question.

G3551 — nomos (law)

Definition: To parcel out, especially food or grazing; anything established, a law; specifically the Mosaic law. Part of Speech: Masculine noun BLB Count: 197 occurrences

Key Distribution in Romans: - Rom 2:12-15,17-18,20,23,25-27; 3:19-21,27,28,31; 4:13-16; 5:13-14,20; 6:14-15; 7:1-25; 8:2-4,7; 9:31; 10:4-5; 13:8,10 - Romans has the highest density of nomos in the NT

Observation: Paul uses nomos ~75 times in Romans alone — more than any other book. The semantic range includes: 1. The Mosaic Torah (Rom 2:12-27; 7:7-12) 2. A principle/rule (Rom 3:27 "law of faith"; 7:21 "a law"; 8:2 "law of the Spirit") 3. The OT Scriptures broadly (Rom 3:19,21) 4. The moral/ethical standard (Rom 8:4 "righteousness of the law")

The phrase "works of the law" (erga nomou) appears in Rom 3:20,28; 9:32 and Gal 2:16; 3:2,5,10.

Concept Context Summary

Rom 3:28 — Author Scope

Key parallels by Paul: Gal 2:16 (exact same formula); Gal 3:11,24 (justified by faith); Rom 10:4 (Christ the end/goal of law for righteousness); Rom 4:13 (promise through righteousness of faith, not through law).

Rom 2:13 — Author Scope

Key parallels: Rom 10:4-5 (righteousness of law vs. righteousness of faith); Rom 3:20,28 (no flesh justified by deeds of law); Rom 8:4 (righteousness of law fulfilled in us); Gal 2:16 (not justified by works of law).

Rom 3:31 — Author Scope

Key parallels: Rom 4:13-14,16 (faith vs. law as heirs); Rom 9:32 (works of law); Gal 2:16; 3:11-12,23-24.

Rom 6:1 — Author Scope

Key parallels: Rom 5:15-17,20-21 (grace abounding where sin abounded); Rom 6:14-15 (not under law, under grace); Eph 1:7; 2:5 (grace and sin).

Eph 2:10 — Author Scope

Concept context identified MESSIAH as primary concept (Christ Jesus). The verse's significance is its relationship to Eph 2:8-9 — within three verses Paul moves from "not of works" to "created unto good works."

Gal 3:24 — Author Scope

Key parallels: Rom 10:4 (all 4 concepts: faith, law, Messiah, righteousness); Gal 2:16,21; 3:11,21; 5:4 (law-righteousness nexus); Rom 3:28; 5:1.