Theme · theological
Righteousness
Righteousness in the Old Testament describes both God's faithful character and the conduct he requires: doing justice, loving mercy, walking humbly. The Psalms cry out for God to act in his righteousness — to vindicate the oppressed and punish the wicked. The prophets look for a 'righteous Branch' from David who will reign with justice. Paul's great contribution is the doctrine of imputed righteousness: believers are declared righteous not by their own works but through faith in Christ, who became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God.
Related doctrines
Passages expressing this theme
- 1Chr 29:17 — I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy t
- 1Cor 4:2 — Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
- 1Cor 6:2 — Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
- 1Cor 9:24 — Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
- 1Cor 9:25 — And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
- 1Cor 15:34 — Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
- 1John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- 1John 2:1 — My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
- 1John 2:5 — But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
- 1John 2:29 — If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
- 1John 3:7 — Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
- 1John 3:9 — Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
- 1John 3:10 — In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
- 1John 3:12 — Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
- 1John 5:18 — We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
- 1Kgs 9:4 — And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:
- 1Pet 2:20 — For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
- 1Pet 3:10 — For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
- 1Pet 3:11 — Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
- 1Pet 3:12 — For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
- 1Pet 3:14 — But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
- 1Pet 3:16 — Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
- 1Sam 2:30 — Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I
- 1Sam 12:3 — Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have
- 1Sam 12:23 — Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
The Church Fathers on Righteousness
"Righteousness" instead of every virtue.
By "righteousness" here he means either a manner of life that is entirely upright, speaking as if to say that the "unskilled" person is not experienced in heavenly wisdom and cannot lead a higher life; Christ also demanded this, saying: "unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and…
The righteousness of God is revealed in … the believer. Paul says that the revelation of righteousness is the approbation of those who do right. Thus he is able to say likewise that wrath is revealed toward those who do the opposite. The Jew has been brought from the faith of the appointed law to the faith which is…
This righteousness is the grace of the New Testament, by which the faithful are just as long as they live by faith, until by the perfection of righteousness they are brought to the face-to-face vision, as they are also brought to the immortality of the body itself, by the perfection of salvation.
This is complete righteousness in man, not to impute any virtue that he can attain to himself but rather to the Lord, the giver.
For it was a work of righteousness not only for the Jews but also for the other nations to be called to the knowledge of God. So who is raising up this righteousness from the dawn of the light? Who is calling all to follow him? Who is the one offering this to all the peoples so as to shock the kings of the nations…