Self-righteousness is reliance on one’s own moral performance as a basis for acceptance with God, often accompanied by contempt for others. Scripture contrasts it with the righteousness God gives through faith in Jesus Christ.
Definition
Self-righteousness is treating one’s moral performance as a way of salvation or as grounds for neglecting the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It includes confidence in formal conformity and contempt for those regarded as sinners.
Biblical Usage
Jesus addressed those who considered themselves righteous, particularly in the parable directed against such confidence. The Pharisees resisted the truth that all needed repentance. Paul contrasts righteousness of the law and of the flesh with the righteousness God gives to those who believe in Jesus Christ, while still affirming genuine righteous living as the result of salvation.
Historical Background
The supplied material describes self-righteousness as reliance on unregenerate human strength for legal conformity and contrasts it with God’s gift of the capacity to realize righteousness progressively in life.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>self-ri'-chus-nes: A term that has come to designate moral living as a way of salvation; or as a ground for neglecting the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The thought is present in the teaching of Jesus, who spoke one parable particularly to such as reckoned themselves to be righteous (Lu 18:9). The Pharisees quite generally resented the idea of Jesus that all men needed repentance and they most of all. They regarded themselves as righteous and looked with contempt on "sinners." Paul in all his writings, especially Ro 3; Ga 3; Eph 2; Php 3, contrasts the righteousness that is God's gift to men of faith in Jesus Christ, with righteousness that is "of the law" and "in the flesh." By this latter he means formal conformity to legal requirements in the strength of unregenerate human nature. He is careful to maintain (compare Ro 7) that the Law is never really kept by one's own power. On the other hand, in full agreement with Jesus, Paul looks to genuine righteousness in living as the demand and achievement of salvation based on faith. God's gift here consists in the capacity progressively to realize righteousness in life (compare Ro 8:1 ff).</p><p>See also SANCTIFICATION.</p><p>William Owen Carver</p>
