The American Journal of Biblical Theology
Vol 24(41). Oct. 8, 2023
The Righteousness of God and its Implications for Understanding Romans 1:17 Within the Context of the Church Dr. Dustin Sims
Abstract The purpose of this article is to examine the concept of the righteousness of God throughout Scripture. In Romans 1:17, Paul points to the gospel as revealing the righteousness of God. This article surveys several Old Testament passages that mention the righteousness of God with the desire to understand what Paul meant when he stated that the gospel reveals the righteousness of God. The goal of this examination is to bring application to the church. Eight Old Testament passages are reviewed, providing discussion of the implications of each one for understanding the righteousness of God. Then, discussion of these implications for Romans 1:17 is completed before finishing with an application for the church. Key Words: righteousness, theology, church The righteousness of God is a phrase often recognized but is the subject of great debate. Does the righteousness of God demonstrate an attribute of God? Is it a forensic term which speaks of God’s impartation of righteousness to a believer? Does it describe an activity of God which is displayed? There is ample evidence in support of each question. However, if one is to truly grasp the enormity of this phrase, he must trace this phrase throughout the Scriptures. There is much stated concerning the righteousness of God in both Testaments. It is important to ensure that one takes time to survey the places where this term righteousness is used in relation to God. The 1