Righteous

Concept

Righteousness (Hebrew tsaddiq; Greek dikaios) in Scripture denotes conformity to the divine moral standard — both an attribute of God and a status declared of those who stand rightly before him. God is described throughout the OT as the righteous judge (Ps. 7:9; 9:8; 96:13) whose every act is consistent with his perfect character. Human righteousness in the OT is expressed through obedience to the covenant stipulations (Deut. 6:25) and through ethical conduct toward others (Ezek. 18:5–9). The NT introduces the doctrine of imputed righteousness: God justifies the ungodly not by requiring their own righteousness but by crediting to them the righteousness of Christ (Rom. 3:21–26; 4:5–8; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9). Those declared righteous through faith are then called to live righteous lives in the power of the Spirit (Rom. 6:18; Tit. 2:12). The eschatological future is described as "a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Pet. 3:13), and the righteous will "shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matt. 13:43; Dan. 12:3).