Old Perspective on Paul

Ambrosiaster writes, “Iustitia est Dei, quia quod promisit dedit, ideo credens hoc esse se consecutum quod promiserat Deus per prophetas suos, iustum Deum probat et testis est iustitiae eius” (PL, 17.56b).

McGrath explains: “God, having promised to give salvation, subsequently gives it, and as a result is deemed to be ‘righteous’ – faithful to what has been promised. The ‘righteousness of God’ is therefore demonstrated in God’s faithfulness to the divine promises of salvation. The gospel is thus understood to manifest the divine righteousness in that God is shown to have fulfilled the Old Testament promises, made in the prophets and elsewhere, of the salvation of God’s people.”