The ‘Thesis’ statement of Romans, part 1; the 11thand 12th occurrences of ‘Jesus/faith’ in this letter/book. “God’s saving justice was witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, but now it has been revealed altogether apart from law: God’s saving justice given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Romans 3:21-22 New Jerusalem Version.
It is a difficult thing for the modern mind to grip— this thing of Justice and Righteousness being one and the same. Most especially among the English speaking people of the earth. Again, it is the New Testament Theologian C. H. Dodd who reminds us, yea even calls it ’embarrassing’ that the English language has not given provision for a proper translation of this biblical word when it is used as ‘just’.
“This is faith: a renouncing of everything we are apt to call our own and relying wholly upon the blood, justice and intercession of Jesus” (Newton)
Look then, at the Philosophical writings of Plato where he discusses the character of a good city. Some recognize this as the very first citing of ‘4 Virtues’ when he states that “clearly this (good city) will be wise, brave, temperate and just.” Others who dig deeper find the non-canonized book ‘The Wisdom of Solomon’ where 8:7 reads: “(Wisdom) teaches temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life.”
“Man perfected by society is the best of all animals; he is the most terrible of all when he lives without law, and without justice.” (Aristotle)
It is no small thing, then, that the Church Fathers would institute as a very fundamental part of the teachings of Christianity these ‘Virtues’ as a means of transmitting life in faith. Among those early Christian scholars, Ambrose is seen as having first used ‘Cardinal’ as he too, named 4: “temperance, justice, prudence, fortitude”. Augustine offers a definition of each and all four using the word “Love”.
“Four things support the world: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave” (Muhammad)
My life’s attendance to Protest Movements were most often driven by ‘race’. I see it as a ‘call for justice’. This ‘call for justice’ was heard in Ferguson, MO; with a resonance across the planet as the crowds gathered across this nation— from New York City; to Atlanta’s MLK Jr. Federal Bldg; Los Angeles; Nashville; Philadelphia; New Orleans —I could see the call to ‘Justice’ and the ‘righteous’ indignation coming together to find it’s telos. … the call to ‘Justice’ and the ‘righteous’ indignation…
“What we have in us of the image of God is the love of truth and justice.” (Demosthenes)
When the US Attorney General Eric Holder from the Nation’s Department of Justice made an appearance in Nashville I looked at the faces of the local Pastors and Preachers who met with him. My more grave concern is now for the (Black) Church’s failure to transmit these “4 Cardinal Virtues” to a generation in dire need of ‘THIS Faith’. In the midst of an evil and sinful society “The JUST SHALL LIVE by FAITH”.
“So the law is slacked and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous, so justice goes forth perverted.” (Habakkuk)
“Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum major for peace; I was a drum major for righteousness. I want to leave a committed life behind.” (M. L. King, Jr.)
“Academic chairs are many, but wise and noble teachers are few; lecture-rooms are numerous and large, but the number of young people who genuinely thirst after truth and justice is small.” (Einstein)
“Do horses run upon rocks? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood” (Amos)
“In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?” (Augustine)
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