Editing Righteousness (section)

===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]]).