NT The NT uses the words of this group in many different ways. The adj. dikaios occurs in almost all NT books, most often in Matt. and Paul (17 times each), while its related words are predominantly Pauline, occurring with particular frequency in Rom. It will make for greater clarity if the usage of each writer is examined, the more straightforward passages being left on one side. 1. Matthew. The adj. dikaios is applied to Christ (Matt. 27:19, 24 v. l.), to righteous men (Matt. 1:19; 5:45; 9:13;