How does the Bible define righteousness?

Understanding how the Bible defines righteousness is a profound journey that takes us through the core of biblical theology, touching on the nature of God, human sinfulness, and the means of our redemption. Righteousness, as defined by the Bible, is rooted deeply in the character of God and His relationship with humanity.

First and foremost, in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for righteousness is "tsedeq" or "tsedaqah," which primarily conveys the idea of being in right standing or right relationship. This concept is multifaceted, encompassing legal, ethical, and covenantal dimensions. For instance, in Deuteronomy 6:25, Moses declares, "And it will be righteousness for us if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us." Here, righteousness is connected to obedience to God's commandments, reflecting God's standards and moral law.

The Psalms and the Prophets frequently speak of God's righteousness as an intrinsic attribute of His character. Psalm 11:7 states, "For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face." God's righteousness is His perfect justice, faithfulness, and truthfulness. It is who He is, and it is also what He does. Isaiah 45:21-22 further emphasizes this by declaring, "And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other."

When we turn to the New Testament, the Greek word for righteousness is "dikaiosyne." The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, especially delves into the concept of righteousness and its implications for believers. Romans 3:21-26 is a pivotal passage that encapsulates the New Testament understanding of righteousness: "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith."

Here, Paul introduces the idea that righteousness is not merely a human achievement through adherence to the law but is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus Christ. This righteousness is "apart from the law" in the sense that it is not based on human effort but on God's grace. The sacrificial death of Jesus is the means by which God's righteousness is both demonstrated and imparted to believers. This is often referred to as "imputed righteousness," where the righteousness of Christ is credited to the believer's account.

Paul further elaborates on this in Philippians 3:9, where he contrasts his former self-righteousness based on the law with the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ: "and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith." This righteousness is transformative, leading to a new way of living that reflects the character of Christ.

James, in his epistle, adds another dimension by emphasizing that true righteousness is demonstrated through actions. James 2:17-18 states, "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." This does not contradict Paul's teaching but complements it by showing that genuine faith, which receives God's righteousness, will naturally produce righteous deeds.

Theologically, righteousness in the Bible is both a status and a process. It is a status in the sense that believers are declared righteous before God through faith in Christ (justification). It is also a process in that believers are being made righteous in their daily lives through the work of the Holy Spirit (sanctification). This dual aspect is beautifully summarized in 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Moreover, the Bible's definition of righteousness is not limited to individual morality but extends to social justice and community well-being. The prophets frequently called Israel to practice righteousness by caring for the poor, the widow, and the orphan. Micah 6:8 encapsulates this holistic view: "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Righteousness, therefore, involves right relationships with God, with others, and with the broader society.

In Christian literature, this biblical understanding of righteousness has been expounded by numerous theologians. Augustine, in his "Confessions," speaks of the restlessness of the human heart until it finds rest in God, pointing to the necessity of divine grace for true righteousness. Martin Luther, in his writings on justification by faith, emphasized that righteousness is a gift from God, received by faith, which liberates believers from the bondage of self-righteousness and legalism.

In summary, the Bible defines righteousness as an attribute of God, a gift received through faith in Christ, and a way of life that reflects God's character. It is a relational concept that encompasses right standing with God, ethical living, and social justice. It is both a declared status and an ongoing transformation, rooted in God's grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This comprehensive view of righteousness calls believers to a deep and dynamic relationship with God, characterized by faith, love, and justice.