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 The New Testament continues the Hebrew Bible’s tradition of the ethical (1 Thessalonians 2:10) and legal (1 Corinthians 4:4) aspects of righteousness, but adds the element that Jesus embodies righteousness, (Acts 3:14). According to the New Testament, Jesus came to the world to address the needs, not of “the righteous”, but of “sinners,” (Mark 2:17). Righteousness, like the Kingdom of Heaven, is God’s gift through grace, (Matthew 5:6, Matthew 6:33).

Paul of Tarsus speaks of two ways, at least in theory, to achieve righteousness: through the Torah, the law of Moses; and through faith in the atonement made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, (Romans 10:3-13). The New Testament speaks of a salvation founded on God’s righteousness, as exemplified throughout the history of salvation narrated in the Old Testament, (Romans 9-11).

The apostle James speaks of the relationship between works of righteousness and faith (james 2:14-26), saying that “faith without works is dead.” Righteous acts according to James include works of charity (James 2:15-16) as well as avoiding sins against the law of Moses (James 2:11-12). Righteousness means “right doing”.

Saint Peter describes Lot as a righteous man in 2 Peter 2:7-8.