Bible Dictionaries
Lawful, Lawfully

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

A — 1: ἔξεστι

(Strong's #1832 — Verb — exesti — ex'-es-tee )

an impersonal verb, signifying "it is permitted, it is lawful" (or interrogatively, "is it lawful?"), occurs most frequently in the synoptic Gospels and the Acts; elsewhere in John 5:10; 18:31; 1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23; 2 Corinthians 12:4; in Acts 2:29 , it is rendered "let me (speak)," lit., "it being permitted;" in the AV of Acts 8:37 , "thou mayest," lit., "it is permitted;" Acts 16:21; in Acts 21:37 , "may I," lit., "is it permitted?" See LET , MAY.

Note: For ennomos, see C, No. 2, (under LAW).

B — 1: νομίμως

(Strong's #3545 — Noun Masculine — nomimos — nom-im'-oce )

"lawfully," is used in 1 Timothy 1:8 , "the Law is good, if a man use it lawfully," i.e., agreeably to its design; the meaning here is that, while no one can be justified or obtain eternal life through its instrumentality, the believer is to have it in his heart and to fulfill its requirements; walking "not after the flesh but after the spirit," Romans 8:4 , he will "use it lawfully." In 2 Timothy 2:5 it is used of contending in the games and adhering to the rules.

Bibliography Information
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Lawful, Lawfully'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ved/​l/lawful-lawfully.html. 1940.