The term "justify" in any good Bile dictionary, means "to declare righteous".
one being justified by Christ's righteousness, yes, but where does it say that you are righteous. the translators used the word righteous and righteousness where it applies and justify where it applies.
anyway a good English dictionary is what to use seeing the translators didn't use American religious views of terms.
the OED exhaustive version states on justify:
†1. trans. To administer justice to; to try as a judge, to judge; to have jurisdiction over, rule, control, keep in order; to do justice to, treat justly. b. absol. To administer justice, to judge. Obs.
†2. trans. To execute justice upon (a malefactor); to condemn to punishment; to punish, esp. (Sc.) to punish with death, execute. Obs.
3. To show (a person or action) to be just or in the right; to prove or maintain the righteousness or innocence of; to vindicate (†from a charge).
13+ E.E. Allit. P. A. 699 Non lyuyande to þe is Iustyfyet. 1382 Wyclif Ps. l. 6 [li. 4] That thou be iustefied in thi woordis, and ouercome whan thou art demed. c1450 tr. De Imitatione iii. xxix. 99 Þou+iustifiest me in all my disposicions. 1535 Coverdale Ecclus. vii. 5 Iustifie not thy self before God. 1600 E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 224 Some of his friendes, laboured to iustifie him. 1707 Curios. in Husb. & Gard. 119 Justifying them from any Objections that might be made against them. 1868 M. Pattison Acad. Org. v. 148 We have no longer the difficult task of justifying science in the eyes of the nation. 1647 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. xxxvi. (1739) 53 Neither Monk, Woman, nor Clerk was by Law to justify by Battle in their own person.
b. Of a state of things, circumstance, or motive: To afford a justification of. (Often in passive.)
4. To absolve, acquit, exculpate; spec. in Theol. to declare free from the penalty of sin on the ground of Christ's righteousness, or to make inherently righteous by the infusion of grace: see justification 4. Also absol.
1382 Wyclif Isa. v. 23 Wo+that iustefien the vnpitous for Šiftes. I Rom. iii. 26 That he be iust, and iustifyinge him that is of the feith of Ihesu Crist. Ibid. 28 Forsothe we demen a man for to be iustifyed by feith, withouten workis of lawe. 1526 Tindale Rom. iv. 25 Jesus+Which was delivered for oure synnes, and rose agayne forto iustifye vs. 1535 Coverdale Exod. xxiii. 7 The innocent and righteous shalt thou not sley, for I iustifie not ye vngodly. 1550 Veron Godly Sayings (1846) 15 For say they+if the Sacramente dothe not iustyfye, & brynge grace of itselfe, then it is but bare breade & wyne. a1620 Donne 2nd Serm. John xvi. 8 Only thy good life can assure thy conscience and the world, that thou art justified. a1740 Waterland Doctr. Justification iv, God+has made no promise or covenant to justify any one without the use of Baptism. 1859 J. Cumming Ruth viii. 138 It is the office of Jesus to pardon, to justify, to welcome.
5. To make good (an argument, statement, or opinion); to confirm or support by attestation or evidence; to corroborate, prove, verify.
†b. To maintain as true, affirm, aver. Obs.
1579–80 North Plutarch, Marius (1676) 353 The which would not be beleeved+for the uncredible force and Power of the Armies which was justified to come. 1658 Osborn Q. Eliz. (1673) 461 An Inquisition+which a Cursiter did about that time justifie he had inrolled. 1781 W. Blane Ess. Hunting (1788) 71 The Doctor+to this day relates and justifies the truth of every circumstance I have mentioned.
†c. To acknowledge as true or genuine. Obs.
1608 Shakes. Per. v. i. 219 She shall tell thee all; When thou shalt kneele, and justifie in knowledge, She is thy verie Princes. c1611 Chapman Iliad xv. 110 The great God had a son, Whom he himself yet justifies.
6. To show or maintain the justice or reasonableness of (an action, claim, etc.); to adduce adequate grounds for; to defend as right or proper.
1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 7 He aunswered, that he woulde iustifye that, that he had done, eyther in present disputation, or by writinge. 1641 Milton Ch. Govt. ii. iii, How can they justify to have turned their domestic privileges into the bar of a proud judicial court? 1667 I P.L. i. 26 That+I may assert th' eternal Providence, And justifie the wayes of God to men. 1704 Penn in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem. IX. 357, I justify not my son's folly. 1884 F. Temple Relat. Relig. & Sc. v. (1885) 155 All who thus claim super~natural authority must, of course, justify their claim.
b. To make right, proper, or reasonable; to furnish adequate grounds for, warrant.
1658 Bramhall Consecr. Bps. iii. 48 This very necessity had+iustified the Act. 1718 Prior Hans Carvel 67 The end must justifie the means; He only sins who ill intends. 1732 Arbuthnot Rules of Diet 419 Those Reasons seem to justify Bleeding. 1742 Young Nt. Th. iv. 309 'Tis guilt alone can justify his death. 1813 Scott Rokeby i. viii, Much in the stranger's mien appears, To justify suspicious fears. 1891 Speaker 2 May 526/2 The vast circle of his readers justified his complacency by their applause.
†c. To render lawful or legitimate. Obs.
1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxii. 117 Whatsoever is commanded by the Soveraign Power, is as to the Subject+justified by the Command. 1725 Pope Odyss. vi. 346 Till+public nuptials justify the bride.
7. Law. intr. and trans. a. To show or maintain sufficient reason in court for doing that which one is called upon to answer for; to show adequate grounds for (that with which one is charged).
1529 Act 21 Hen. VIII, c. 19 §2 The Lorde+may avowe or his Baylyffe or servaunt make conysaunce or justifye for takyng of the said dystresses upon the same landes+alegyng in the said avourie conysaunce and justificacyon the same Maners Landes and Tenementes to be holdin of hym. 1591 Child Marriages 150 The said Smith+did arreste the said Roger Dod+and beinge charged to be a wronge, and contrary to the liberties and charters of this citie, iustifieth to be lawfull. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. xiv, 429 A master like~wise may justify an assault in defence of his servant, and a servant in defence of his master. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 258 If a man be impeached for beating an~other, he may justify by showing it was done in his own necessary defence: if for false imprisonment, he may justify under the warrant of a lawful magistrate. 1893 Weekly Notes 67/2 The appellant could not justify his attempt to force an entrance, and was rightly convicted of an assault.
†8. To account just or reasonable; to approve of; to ratify. Obs.
1682 Grew Anat. Plants Pref., I was glad to see it [a book] so far justify'd by that Illustrious Society. 1729 Butler Serm., Love Neighbour Wks. 1874 II. 146 God him~self will in the end justify their taste, and support their cause.
9. To make exact; to fit or arrange exactly; to adjust to exact shape, size, or position. Now only in technical use; esp. (Type-founding), To adjust a ‘strike’ or ‘drive’ by making the sides level and square, and keeping the impression at the proper depth, so as to form a correct matrix; (Printing) To adjust types of smaller and larger bodies together, so that they will exactly fill up the forme; to space out the line of type in the composing stick properly; also intr. of type.
note #3 is a case to show justification or innocence hence righteous but even the Brits understand correctly and this would be the use of the term of justify in this case in #4 I quote "
to declare free from the penalty of sin on the ground of Christ's righteousness," not that you are righteous but that Christ is righteous.
so the OED is the authoritative on the English language as used in the time of translation and proper and accurate definitions. where as religious cogitations in bible dictionaries and American dictionaries defining according to American use of the adopted English language. note #4 has example of use that goes back to 1382 AD aprox. 200 yr's before the KJV.
anyway again, where does it say you are righteous?
sorry I couldn't post the examples of the other def's it was to large, but there was no ref. to righteousness in those anyway
