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''By [[Graham Grove]], May 2008''
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''By Graham Grove, May 2008 (prepared as a practice theology exam answer asking about righteousness in Romans)''
==Introduction==
The word dikaiosune dikaisune (righteousness- [[δικαιοσυνη]]) is used many times in the [[Epistle to the Romans|letter of Romans]]. It is one of the key words of the letter. It is used 8 times in the phrase dikaiosune theou (righteousness of God). Paul only uses this exact phrase once in his other writings (in 2 Corinthians) and in Romans he uses it in passages that are generally considered key passage within the letter. The word righteousness is related to other words with the same root dik-. These words include righteous or just (dikaios) and the verb to justify (dikaioo). These 3 words occur over 50 times in Romans.
==Righteousness==
==Righteouesness of God==
The righteousness of God (dikaiosune tou theou) is a more specific phrase that occurs 8 times in Romans, occurring at key passages in the book. When using this term, Paul was likely drawing from Old Testament images of the righteousness of God. In the LXX the phrase dikaiosune theou is used especially in the prophets and Psalms. It is used in a number of ways. The most frequent way it is used is to describe God's saving action of his covenant people Israel. At other times it is used to describe the inherent qualities of God of both justice and faithfulness. It is also sometimes used to describe the righteous status of God being declared on his people. In Romans there is some debate about how Paul is using the term, and all 3 uses are proposed by various scholars. Many understand Paul to be using the term in 2 or 3 ways simultaneously.
The term may be understand in the simple possessive genitive sense to mean the righteousness that belongs to God. This has been especially a common view through Church history with Augustine and others taking this as their view. This has often been taken in the judgemental sense of God's right justice; this was the common understanding in the early church and this reflects Hellenestic ideas. More recently though it has increasingly been understood in terms of God's faithfulness, which reflects Old Testament ideas. For example, Romans 3:5 is often understood in this way.
