Friday's Frenzy

RIGHTEOUSNESS --- Why is it so hard to find a solid meaning for this word, as I have searched not a lot of authors have written a lot on this word. In my life that's a word that means what I desire for myself and those I relate to every day. Most of you just probably live it without ever giving a thought but there are those of us or maybe I'm alone in the search and need for the meaning of this important word. If you can help me with this I would appreciate it a whole lot. God Bless each and every one of you.

1. The quality or state of being righteous; holiness; purity; uprightness; rectitude.

Note: Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it chiefly occurs, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law.

2. A righteous act, or righteous quality.

All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.

Isa. lxiv. 6.

3. The act or conduct of one who is righteous.

Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

Ps. cvi. 3.

4. (Theol.) The state of being right with God; justification; the work of Christ, which is the ground of justification.

There are two kinds of Christian righteousness: the one without us, which we have by imputation; the other in us, which consisteth of faith, hope, and charity, and other Christian virtues.

Purpose

Gaining the correct Definition of righteous or righteousness is crucial to living a godly life.

A godly man is a righteous man.

However, the word 'righteous' is not easily understood.

We are told that the scriptures are "profitable ... for instruction in righteousness," but if asked to define righteousness, we are not able to easily and comfortably do it.

"But flee from these things, you man of God;
and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance [and] gentleness."
(1 Timothy 6:11)

"Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness,
faith, love [and] peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22)

"All Scripture is inspired by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)

The reason for our unfamiliarity with righteousness is notbecause the Bible hasn't commonly used the word. The Bible uses the word righteous or righteousness more than 600 times! Then where is the confusion? Two sources:

1) Not a cool word

The word 'righteous' is not used because its meaning is not popular. A quick list of synonyms such as virtuous, pure, moral, chaste, ethical and pious reveal that there is not much affinity toward the concept of righteousness in our generation.

How many times do we meet up with these words in our newspapers and magazines? Even more revealing is to hear how many time one hears this word come up among Christians. Is it possible we don't speak it because we don't think it?

2) Translation difficulty

In one sense the translation of the word is easy. There is only one root word for righteousness used in the Bible. The Hebrew word sadak is used in the Old Testament, and one Greek word dikaisune for the New Testament. The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the OT, regularly used this Greek word for the Hebrew word sadak.

The problem is that it is simply not commonly used in our culture anymore. We will trace the three stages of the definition for righteous in the next page.