The Power of Justification

There are few words in any language that can equal dikaiosis for theological depth and resonance. It has been at the center of scholarly debate for centuries. Known largely as “justification,” it is still a key word in ecumenical discussion. Yet we have great difficulty in translating it into English. We need to absorb the teaching of Austin Farrer, who wrote, “God has no attitudes which are not actions; the two things are one.”

When a reader of the Bible discovers that the verb translated “justify” and the nouns “justification,” “righteousness,” and “justice” are the same word, the…