The way of righteousness
The early followers of Yeshua were described as followers of "the Way." The term "Christian" came later. The following article is largely a collection of scriptures speaking of "the Way."
Note: Indented and italicized verses seem to be possible references to the “Way”
Matthew 3:3, For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Yeshayahu (Isaiah), saying, “A voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of Yehovah, make His paths straight.’
Matthew 7:13-14, Enter in through the narrow gate! Because the gate is wide – and the way is broad – that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in through it. Because the gate is narrow and the way is hard pressed which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 11:10, For this is he of whom it was written, ‘See, I send My messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You.
Matthew 21:32, for Yoḥanan (John) came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but tax collectors and whores believed him. And when you saw it, you did not repent afterwards, to believe him
Matthew 22:16, And they sent to Him their taught ones with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of Elohim in truth, and it does not concern You about anyone, for You are not partial to any man.
Mark 1:2-3, As it has been written in the Prophets, “See, I send My messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You, a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of Yehovah, make His paths straight.’
Mark 12:14, And when they came, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and it does not concern You about anyone, for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of Elohim in truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
Luke 1:76-79, “And you, child, shall be called prophet of the Most High, for you shall go before the face of Yehovah to prepare His ways* to give knowledge of deliverance to His people, by the forgiveness of their sins, through the tender compassion of our Elohim, with which the daybreak from on high has looked upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
(*The Aramaic is singular; "His way")
Luke 3:4, as it has been written in the book of the words of Yeshayahu (Isaiah) the prophet, saying, “A voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of Yehovah, make His paths straight.
Luke 7:27, This is he concerning whom it has been written, ‘See, I send My messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You.’
Luke 20:21, So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of Elohim truly,
John 1:23, He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of Yehovah,’ as the prophet Yeshayahu (Isaiah) said.
John 14:5-6, T’oma (Thomas) said to Him, “Master, we do not know where You are going, and how are we able to know the way?” Yeshua said to him, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Acts 2:28, ‘You have made known to me the ways* of life, You shall fill me with joy in Your presence.’
(The Aramaic is singular; "way of life")
Acts 9:2, asked from him letters to the congregations of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, to bring them bound to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem).
Acts 13:9-10, Then Sha’ul, filled with the Set-apart Spirit, looked intently at him, and said, “O son of the devil, filled with all deceit and all recklessness, you enemy of all righteousness, shall you not cease perverting the straight ways of Yehovah?
Acts 16:17, Having followed Sha’ul and us, she cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High Elohim, who proclaim to us the way of deliverance.”
Acts 18:24-26, And a certain Yehuḏite (Jew) named Apollos, born at Alexandria, a learned man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesos. This one had been instructed in the way of the Master. And being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching the matters about the Master exactly, though he knew only the immersion of Yohanan (John). And he began to speak boldly in the congregation. And when Aqulas and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of Elohim more exactly.
Acts 19:8-9, And having gone into the congregation he spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the reign of Elohim. But when some were hardened and did not believe, speaking evil of the Way before the crowd, he withdrew from them and separated the taught ones, reasoning daily in the school of Turannos.
Acts 19:23, And about that time there came to be a great commotion about the Way.
Acts 22:4, who persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering up into prisons both men and women,
Acts 24:14, And this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all that has been written in the Torah and in the Prophets,
Acts 24:21-22, other than for this one declaration which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you today.’ ” And having heard this, having known more exactly about the Way, Felix put them off, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I shall decide your case.”
James 5:19-20, Brothers, if anyone among you goes astray from the* truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the straying of his way shall save a life from death and cover a great number of sins.
(The Aramaic says: “from the way of truth”)
Hebrews 3:10, “Therefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’
Hebrews 10:19-20, So, brothers, having boldness to enter into the Set-apart Place by the blood of Yeshua, by a new and living way which He instituted for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
Romans 3:10-18, As it has been written, “There is none righteous, no, not one! There is no one who is understanding, there is none who is seeking Elohim. They all have turned aside, they have together become worthless. There is none who does good, no, not one.” “Their throat is an open tomb, with their tongues they have deceived,” “The poison of adders is under their lips,” “Whose mouth is filled with cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood, ruin and wretchedness are in their ways, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of Elohim before their eyes.”
2 Peter 2:2, And many shall follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of,
2 Peter 2:15, having left the right way they went astray, having followed the way of Bilʽam the son of Beʽor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,
2 Peter 2:20-21, For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Saviour Yeshua Messiah, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the set-apart command delivered unto them.
Ways of Man Contrasted
Acts 14:16, who in past generations allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways,
James 5:19-20, Brothers, if anyone among you goes astray from the* truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the straying of his way shall save a life from death and cover a great number of sins. (The Aramaic says: “from the way of truth”)
Romans 3:10-18, As it has been written, “There is none righteous, no, not one! There is no one who is understanding, there is none who is seeking Elohim. They all have turned aside, they have together become worthless. There is none who does good, no, not one.” “Their throat is an open tomb, with their tongues they have deceived,” “The poison of adders is under their lips,” “Whose mouth is filled with cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood, ruin and wretchedness are in their ways, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of Elohim before their eyes.”
2 Peter 2:2, And many shall follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of,
2 Peter 2:15, having left the right way they went astray, having followed the way of Bilʽam the son of Beʽor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,