different between justification vs righteousness

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French justification, from Late Latin iustificationem, justificationem < iustificatio, from iustifico, from Latin iustus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?d??st?f??ke???n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

justification (countable and uncountable, plural justifications)

1. (countable) A reason, explanation, or excuse which provides convincing, morally acceptable support for behavior or for a belief or occurrence.
2. (Christianity, uncountable) The forgiveness of sin.
   • 1999, Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification:

     […] to articulate a common understanding of our justification by God’s grace through faith in Christ.

3. (typography, uncountable) The alignment of text to the left margin (left justification), the right margin (right justification), or both margins (full justification).

Antonyms

• conviction
• condemnation

Derived terms

• self-justification

Related terms

• justify
• acquittal
• exculpation

Translations

French

Etymology

From Old French, borrowed from Late Latin iustificationem, justificationem < iustificatio, from iustifico, from Latin iustus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ys.ti.fi.ka.sj??/

Noun

justification f (plural justifications)

1. justification (reason, excuse, etc.)

Related terms

• justifier

Further reading

• “justification” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Middle French

Etymology

From Old French, borrowed from Late Latin iustificationem, justificationem.

Noun

justification f (plural justifications)

1. justification (all senses)

Descendants

• ? English: justification
• French: justification

English

Etymology

From Middle English rightwisnes, from Old English rihtw?snes (“justice”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??a?t???sn?s/

Noun

righteousness (countable and uncountable, plural righteousnesses)

1. (uncountable) The quality or state of being righteous.
2. (uncountable, theology) Holiness; conformity of life to the divine law.

   Synonyms: rectitude, uprightness, holiness, godliness, equity, justice, rightfulness, integrity, honesty, faithfulness

3. (countable) A righteous act, or righteous quality.

   • All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.

4. The act or conduct of one who is righteous.

   • Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth rightness at all times.

5. (theology) The state of being right with God; justification; the work of Christ, which is the ground justification.
   • 1594-7, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, A Discourse, Section 21

     There are two kinds of Christian righteousness: the one without us, which we have by imputation; the other in us, which consisteth of faith, hope, and charity, and other Christian virtues.

   • 1646-7, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q.33

     Only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

Translations

Derived terms