On "Righteousness"

      The word translated as "righteousness," "dikaiosune," in the New Testament is an interesting word, and much abused by theologians in my humble opinion. The root of this word is "dikaios," which can translate a few different ways, but the general meaning of the word means that what or who it is describing is doing what they're supposed to do. One dictionary definition is "observant of custom," and another is "dutiful towards gods and men." Another potential meaning is that something which was wrong has been set right, scales have been balanced, things are back on track the way they should be. The attached suffix, "-sune," means "a state of being _____." So, altogether, the word "dikaiosune" means "the state of doing what one is supposed to do, functioning as intended, or set right." In this respect, it is an opposing idea to both "adikia," meaning "intentionally doing what you're not supposed to do, unbalancing the scales, wrongdoing," and "hamartia," meaning, "unintentionally doing what you're not supposed to do, mistake, error, flaw, malfunctioning, missing the target."

     "Dikaiosune" is not something which can be "imputed," that is, overlaid over something or someone that is clearly malfunctioning. It is not merely a legal term, but a description of a state of being. Either something or someone is functioning correctly, or they're not. This is the mistake of certain theological circles when reading Paul. When Paul talks about a person possessing or acting with "dikaiosune" due to the Spirit of Christ, one's union with Christ, and Christ's death and resurrection, it is not a legally "imputed," but real dikaiosune as it is the Spirit of Christ acting through that person. It is in fact, God's own dikaiosune being expressed and having taken control of that person's words and actions. This misunderstanding comes from the emphasis put on one's "legal" culpability before God for actions committed by the malfunctioning flesh, and doesn't recognize what Jesus Himself said about "every sin and blasphemy" being let go except one. Something about which I've written profusely beforehand. God is a Parent with kids that have a neurological disorder which affects behavior, not a pagan tribal deity that demands blood in order to not destroy those who worship Him. Why would He only be concerned with the “legal” consequences of that disordered behavior, and not find a solution to the disordered behavior itself? Why would the legal consequences be more important than dealing with the root of the problem? But I digress.

     The dikaiosune rendered by one's union with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection being given to those submitting to and cooperating with the Spirit of Christ isn't a legal technicality meant to find a loophole in a courtroom, but is a practical reality manifested in behavior, words, and actions.