Editing Righteousness (section)

==Abrahamic and Abrahamic-inspired religions==

===Christianity===
{{Attributes of God}}
{{Primary sources|section|date=February 2019}}

In the New Testament, the word ''righteousness'', a translation for the Greek word {{transliteration|grc|dikaiosunē}}, is used in the sense of 'being righteous before others' (e.g. [[Matthew 5:20]]) or 'being righteous before God' (e.g. [[Romans 1:17]]). [[William Lane Craig]] argues that we should think of [[God in Christianity|God]] as the "paradigm, the locus, the source of all moral value and standards".<ref>{{cite web|last=Craig|first=William Lane|title=Doctrine of God (part 19)|url=https://www.reasonablefaith.org/podcasts/defenders-podcast-series-2/doctrine-of-god-part-19/doctrine-of-god-part-19|publisher=Reasonable Faith|access-date=27 May 2014}}</ref> In Matthew's account of the [[Baptism of Jesus]], Jesus tells the prophet "it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" as Jesus requests that John perform the rite for him. The [[Sermon on the Mount]] contains the memorable commandment "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness".

A secondary meaning of the Greek word is 'justice',<ref>{{cite book | last=Young | first=Robert | title=Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible | publisher=Hendrickson Academic | year=1998 | isbn=978-1-56563-810-5 | page=819}}</ref> which is used to render it in a few places by a few Bible translations, e.g. in [[Matthew 6:33]] in the [[New English Bible]].

[[Jesus]] asserts the importance of righteousness by saying in [[Matthew 5:20]], "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven".

However, [[Paul the Apostle]] speaks of [[dual-covenant theology|two ways]], at least in theory, to achieve righteousness: through the [[Law of Moses]] (or [[Torah]]), and through [[faith]] in the [[Atonement in Christianity|atonement]] made possible through the death and [[resurrection of Jesus]] Christ ({{bibleref2|Romans|10:3–13}}). However, he repeatedly emphasizes that faith is the effective way.<ref>{{bibleverse|Romans|4:5}}, {{bibleverse|Romans|3:21–24}}</ref> For example, just a few verses earlier, he states the Jews did not attain the law of righteousness because they sought it not by faith, but by works.<ref>{{bibleref2|Romans|9:30–33}}</ref> The New Testament speaks of a salvation founded on God's righteousness, as exemplified throughout the history of salvation narrated in the [[Old Testament]] ({{bibleverse||Romans|9–11}}). Paul writes to the Romans that righteousness comes by faith: "... a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith'" ({{bibleverse||Romans|1:17}}).

In {{bibleref2|2 Corinthians|9:9|NRSV}} the New Revised Standard Version has a footnote that the original word has the meaning of 'benevolence', and the Messianic Jewish commentary of David Stern affirms the Jewish practice of 'doing {{transliteration|he|tzedakah}}' as a charity, in referring to the {{bibleverse|Matthew|6:33}} and {{bibleverse|2 Corinthians|9:9}} passages.<ref>Stern, David H. (1992) Jewish New Testament Commentary: A companion volume to the 'Jewish New Testament'. pp. 30, 512. {{ISBN|9653590081}}</ref>

{{bibleverse|James|2:14–26}} speaks of the relationship between works of righteousness and faith, saying that "faith without works is dead". Righteous acts according to James include [[Good works|works of charity]] ({{bibleverse|James|2:15–16}}) as well as avoiding [[Christian views on sin|sins]] against the Law of Moses ({{bibleverse|James|2:11–12}}).

{{bibleverse|2|Peter|2:7–8}} describes [[Lot (biblical person)|Lot]] as a righteous man.

====Type of saints====
In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], "Righteous" is a [[List of Eastern Orthodox saint titles|type of saint]] who is regarded as a holy person under the [[Old Covenant]] (Old Testament Israel). The word is also sometimes used for married saints of the [[New Covenant]] (the Church). According to Orthodox theology, the Righteous saints of the Old Covenant were not able to enter into heaven until after the [[death of Jesus]] on the [[Crucifixion of Jesus|cross]] ({{bibleverse|Hebrews|11:40}}), but had to await salvation in the [[Bosom of Abraham]] (see: [[Harrowing of Hell]]).

===Islam===
{{Primary sources|section|date=September 2023}}

Righteousness is mentioned several times in the [[Quran]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Mababaya|first=Norlain Dindang|url=http://www.wefound.org/texts/Islam_files/IslamRighteousness.htm |title=Islam Teaches Righteousness And Forbids Evil Deeds |website=www.wefound.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010311204856/http://www.wefound.org/texts/Islam_files/IslamRighteousness.htm |archive-date=2001-03-11}}</ref> The Quran says that a life of righteousness is the only way to go to Heaven.
{{Blockquote|We will give the home of the Hereafter to those who do not want arrogance or mischief on earth; and the end is best for the righteous.|[[Quran 28:83]]}}

{{Blockquote|O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).| [[Quran 49:13]]}}

{{Blockquote|Righteousness is not that you turn your faces to the east and the west [in prayer]. But righteous is the one who believes in God, the Last Day, the Angels, the Scripture and the Prophets; who gives his wealth in spite of love for it to kinsfolk, orphans, the poor, the wayfarer, to those who ask and to set slaves free. And (righteous are) those who pray, pay alms, honor their agreements, and are patient in (times of) poverty, ailment and during conflict. Such are the people of truth. And they are the God-Fearing.| [[Quran 2:177]]}}

===Judaism===
{{Main|Tzadik}}
{{Primary sources|section|date=September 2023}}
Righteousness is one of the chief [[God#Specific attributes|attributes of God]] as portrayed in the [[Hebrew Bible]]. Its chief meaning concerns [[ethics|ethical]] conduct (for example, {{bibleverse|Leviticus|19:36}}; {{Bibleverse|Deuteronomy|25:1}}; {{Bibleverse|Psalms|1:6}}; {{Bibleverse|Proverbs|8:20}}). In the [[Book of Job]], the [[Job (biblical figure)|title character]] is introduced as "a good and righteous man".<ref>{{bibleverse||Job|1:1|NCB}} in the New Catholic Bible</ref> The [[Book of Wisdom]] calls on rulers of the world to embrace righteousness.<ref>{{bibleverse||Wisdom|1:1|NRSV}}: [[New Revised Standard Version]]</ref>

===Mandaeism===
{{Main|Mandaeans#Origin|Zidqa}}

An early self-appellation for [[Mandaeans]] is {{transliteration|myz|bhiri zidqa}} meaning 'elect of righteousness' or 'the chosen righteous', a term found in the [[Book of Enoch]] and [[Genesis Apocryphon]] II, 4.<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite journal|last=Rudolph|first=Kurt|title=War Der Verfasser Der Oden Salomos Ein "Qumran-Christ"? Ein Beitrag zur Diskussion um die Anfänge der Gnosis|journal=Revue de Qumrân|date=April 1964|volume=4|number=16|pages=552–553|publisher=Peeters}}
|2={{cite journal|last=Coughenour|first=Robert A.|title=The Wisdom Stance of Enoch's Redactor|publisher=Brill|page=52|journal=Journal for the Study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman Period|volume=13|number=1–2|date=December 1982|doi=10.1163/157006382X00035 }}
|3={{cite web|last=Rudolph|first=Kurt|url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/mandaeans-2-religion |title=Mandeans ii. The Mandean Religion |access-date=3 January 2022|website=Encyclopaedia Iranica|date=7 April 2008}}
|4={{cite thesis|url=https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1444088/|last=Aldihisi|first=Sabah|year=2008|title=The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba|type=PhD|publisher=University College London|page=18}}
}}</ref> In addition to righteousness, {{transliteration|myz|[[zidqa]]}} also refers to [[alms]] or [[almsgiving]].<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite book |last1=Gelbert |first1=Carlos |title=Ginza Rba |year=2011 |publisher=Living Water Books |location=Sydney |isbn=978-0958034630}}
|2={{cite book|last=Drower|first=Ethel Stefana|year=1937|title=The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran|location=Oxford|publisher=The Clarendon Press}}
}}</ref>