Righteousness

Righteousness refers to the quality of being morally right and just before God — conformity with God's law and will. In the Old Testament it describes both God's own justice and the human response of faithful covenant living. In the New Testament it becomes central to the doctrine of justification (CCC 1991).

God's Righteousness

God is perfectly righteous — his judgments are always just, his actions always ordered to the good. His righteousness is not merely legal fairness but the active power of his goodness setting things right. When Paul speaks of the "righteousness of God" being revealed in the Gospel (Romans 1:17), he means God's own saving justice — his active intervention to make things right (CCC 1950).

Human Righteousness in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, a righteous person is one who keeps covenant with God — living faithfully according to the Law. Noah, Abraham, and Job are described as righteous. This righteousness was never a matter of perfect sinlessness but of faithful orientation toward God and his commands (CCC 1961).

Righteousness and Justification

The New Testament teaching on righteousness focuses on how sinners become righteous before God — through justification. Paul argues that righteousness cannot be earned through works of the Law but is received as God's gift through faith in Christ. Catholics and Lutherans signed a Joint Declaration in 1999 agreeing on this basic truth, while maintaining different emphases (CCC 1987–1995).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is righteousness the same as holiness? They overlap but are distinct. Righteousness emphasizes the moral/relational dimension — being right with God. Holiness emphasizes the sacred dimension — being set apart for God, sharing in his nature. Both are aspects of the transformed life in Christ (CCC 2013).