Theological glossary · FaithLogic

Righteousness (of God)

God's own covenant faithfulness and justice; also the right standing he gives to those who trust Christ.

Greek dikaiosynē; Hebrew tsedaqah / tsedeq — often relational ('faithfulness to the covenant') as much as it is legal ('conformity to a norm').

Romans 1:16–17; 3:21–26; 10:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; Isaiah 46:13; 51:5–8.

The meaning of 'the righteousness of God' in Romans is one of the most debated phrases in NT scholarship: God's attribute, God's saving activity, or the status God confers — or all three in different verses.

In justification, the believer's righteousness is 'from God' and 'through faith', not self-generated.

Lutheran (status conferred), 'apocalyptic' (God's rectifying power), and New Perspective (covenant membership) readings differ.

Open in the glossary for related terms and the doctrines this concept appears in.