The term "legitimately" refers to actions or behaviors that are in accordance with established laws, rules, or standards. In a biblical context, it often pertains to actions that align with God's laws and commandments as revealed in Scripture. The concept of legitimacy is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where God's law serves as the ultimate standard for righteous living.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible frequently addresses the importance of living in accordance with God's commandments. In Deuteronomy 6:17, the Israelites are instructed, "You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His testimonies and statutes that He has commanded you." This verse underscores the necessity of adhering to God's laws as the legitimate path for His people.

Legitimacy in Leadership

The Bible also speaks to the legitimacy of leadership, emphasizing that true authority is established by God. Romans 13:1 states, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God." This passage highlights the divine origin of legitimate authority and the believer's responsibility to respect and obey it, provided it does not conflict with God's higher law.

Legitimacy in Worship

Worship is another area where legitimacy is crucial. In John 4:24, Jesus declares, "God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." Legitimate worship, therefore, is characterized by sincerity and adherence to the truth of God's Word. The Bible condemns idolatry and false worship, as seen in Exodus 20:3-5, where God commands, "You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol."

Legitimacy in Relationships

The Bible provides guidance on legitimate relationships, particularly in the context of marriage and family. Hebrews 13:4 affirms, "Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers." This verse emphasizes the sanctity and legitimacy of the marital relationship as ordained by God.

Legitimacy in Conduct

Christian conduct is expected to reflect legitimacy by aligning with biblical principles. In 1 Peter 2:12, believers are exhorted, "Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us." Legitimate conduct serves as a testimony to the transformative power of the Gospel.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not use the term "legitimately" explicitly, the concept is woven throughout its teachings. Legitimate actions, leadership, worship, relationships, and conduct are all defined by adherence to God's revealed will and commandments. The believer's life is to be marked by a commitment to living in a manner that is pleasing to God, reflecting His holiness and righteousness in all aspects.(adv.) In a legitimate manner; lawfully; genuinely.3545. nomimos -- rightly, lawfully
... lawfully. Adverb from a derivative of nomos; legitimately (specially, agreeably
to the rules of the lists) -- lawfully. see GREEK nomos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3545.htm - 6k

1104. gnesios -- sincerely, truly
... Cognate: 1104 (an adverb) -- legitimately (sincerely). See 1103 (). Word Origin
adverb from gnesios Definition sincerely, truly NASB Word Usage genuinely (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1104.htm - 6k

1861. epaggellomai -- to proclaim, to promise
... Cognate: 1861 (from 1909 , ", fitting" intensifying , "announce") -- properly,
to declare a promise that is (), ie legitimately applies. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1861.htm - 7k

The General Service to a Monk-Martyr.
... Legitimately hast thou kept fasts, legitimately suffered and legitimately wast thou
crowned, being fortified by God's word and preserving thyself unhurt, O ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter xviii the general service.htm

The Lost Sheep.
... nine that remained on the pasture, points directly and immediately to two distinct
classes of human kind; but it brings up as legitimately, although more ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/xxii the lost sheep.htm

Of the Reasons for Administering Correction to Bad and Good ...
... them because they fear to give offence, lest they should injure their interests
in those things which good men may innocently and legitimately use,"though ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 9 of the reasons for.htm

The Holy See and the Wandering of the Nations.
... Leo as exercising this Primacy by annulling the acts of an Ecumenical Council, the
second of Ephesus, legitimately called and attended by his own legates ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter i the holy see.htm

Synopsis. --The Cardinal Point in the Present Discussion
... Miracles, legitimately viewed as the natural product of extraordinary psychical
power, or, to phrase it otherwise, of an exceptional vital endowment, belong ...
/.../miracles and supernatural religion/viii synopsis the cardinal point in.htm

From Examples Tertullian Passes to Direct Dogmatic Teachings He ...
... [654] A divorced woman cannot even marry legitimately; and if she commit any such
act without the name of marriage, does it not fall under the category of ...
/.../tertullian/on monogamy/chapter ix from examples tertullian passes.htm

Examples from among the Heathen, as Well as from the Church, to ...
... In short, monogamy among the heathen is so held in highest honour, that even virgins,
when legitimately marrying, have a woman never married but once appointed ...
/.../tertullian/on exhortation to chastity/chapter xiii examples from among the.htm

Preface.
... To give up faith in Christ is to give up faith in humanity. Such skepticism
legitimately ends at last in the nihilism of despair. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the person of christ/preface.htm

Christ and his Table-Companions "And when the Hour was Come, He ...
... this make them? Then, secondly, what did this imply? And, thirdly, what
further may we legitimately infer from it? I. First, then ...
/.../spurgeon/till he come/christ and his table-companions and.htm

It is the Ultimate Standard for Regulating Conduct.
... And again the answer is"What teaches the Word of God? No one who possesses a copy
of the Bible can legitimately plead ignorance of God's will. ...
/.../pink/the divine inspiration of the bible/iii it is the ultimate.htm

Legitimately (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a legitimate manner; lawfully; genuinely.
Multi-Version Concordance Legitimately (1 Occurrence). ...
/l/legitimately.htm - 6k

Legislation

/l/legislation.htm - 7k

Leg-muscles (4 Occurrences)
Leg-muscles. Legitimately, Leg-muscles. Legs . Multi-Version Concordance
Leg-muscles (4 Occurrences). ... (BBE). Legitimately, Leg-muscles. Legs . Reference ...
/l/leg-muscles.htm - 7k

Illegitimate (4 Occurrences)
... authorized; unlawful; improper. 3. (a.) Not legitimately deduced or inferred;
illogical; as, an illegitimate inference. 4. (a.) Not ...
/i/illegitimate.htm - 8k

Truly (468 Occurrences)
... 4. (adv.) Conformably to law; legally; legitimately. 5. (adv.) In fact; in deed;
in reality; in truth. Multi-Version Concordance Truly (468 Occurrences). ...
/t/truly.htm - 36k

Tidal (2 Occurrences)
... 4. Doubts as to His Identity: Though we have here the long-sought name of Tidal,
it may legitimately be doubted whether this personage was the ruler of that ...
/t/tidal.htm - 11k

Tribute (67 Occurrences)
... people. It may, however, be legitimately regarded as denoting any tax whatever
imposed by a foreign power on the people of Israel. ...
/t/tribute.htm - 32k

Covet (14 Occurrences)
... kuv'-et ('awah; zeloo, "to desire earnestly," "to set the heart and mind upon
anything"): Used in two senses: good, simply to desire earnestly but legitimately...
/c/covet.htm - 12k

Subject (99 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 9:21 to those without law, as without law, (not as without law to
God, but as legitimately subject to Christ,) in order that I might gain those ...
/s/subject.htm - 37k

Pastoral
... Paul did not survive the year 64, and as these Pastoral Epistles were recognized
as Pauline in the immediately succeeding age, we may legitimately accept them ...
/p/pastoral.htm - 39k

What is toxic masculinity? | GotQuestions.org

How should a Christian view Planned Parenthood? | GotQuestions.org

Is there evidence for the existence of God? | GotQuestions.org

Legitimately: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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