Righteousness, Volume 1: Volume 1: History of Interpretation

The first volume of this three-volume work reviews the history of efforts to define biblical righteousness. Modern views are engaged and critiqued, from the seminal article (1860) by Ludwig Diestel (God's righteousness as the agreement of his will and purpose) to others in the theological stream known as the "New Perspective." Scholars discussed include Walther Eichrodt, Gerhard von Rad, Elizabeth Achtemeier, James D. G. Dunn and N. T. Wright. Other perspectives are also engaged, including H. H. Schmid's definition of righteousness as conformity to the created order (Weltordnung), John Piper's view that God's righteousness is God's concern for his own glory, and the traditional view, championed by C. L. Irons, that God's righteousness is his iustitia distributiva. The author examines these views, all of which have been supported by inductive studies, in light of a proposed alternative: that righteousness is conformity to God's Being and doing. That definition will be explored further in Volumes II (OT) and III (NT). Unlike previous studies, the present work proceeds deductively and experimentally, and thereby seeks to avoid the pitfalls of a dogmatic approach. Extra-biblical, patristic, medieval, and reformation views of righteousness are also considered as background to the modern study of righteousness.

About the Author :
Jeffrey J. Niehaus is senior professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Review :
"Jeffrey Niehaus has provided a lucid and thoroughgoing account of 'righteousness' in Scripture against its historical background. Vol. 1 provides a helpful overview of the history of interpretation; his attention to the German language tradition will be especially useful to English-speaking readers. No student of this crucial topic can afford to miss Niehaus' valuable contribution." --Sean M. McDonough, professor of New Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary "Jeffrey Niehaus has produced the most comprehensive and careful study of the biblical concept of righteousness yet written. Many prior studies of the topic were theologically but not exegetically generated, and many followed the old notion that righteousness was conformity to the created order. Tracking and inductively analyzing--in exemplary detail--all the assertions about righteousness in both Testaments, he demonstrates convincingly that righteousness is conformity to God's being and doing. This book not only achieves its purpose, but serves as an example of how biblical theology can and should be done." --Douglas Stuart, senior professor of Old Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary "This book a meticulous and comprehensive study of the righteousness which is central to God's character and which defines all his actions. It is what makes redemption necessary, and it issues in the great summons to the church to be righteous as God is. Jeffrey Niehaus is a sure-footed guide through the complexities of some of the scholarly discussion because he never loses sight of what is really important. This is a study that will richly reward a careful reading." --David F. Wells, author of No Place for Truth