While thinking about the topic of justice, I went to the biblical literature to see if she could be found. The texts of the ” Old Testament” list her a few times but she was quite absent from the”New Testament”. I wondered why Justice was not given a place in the Gospels or in the texts of Paul among the virtues listed in the “Fruits of the Spirit”. Had this been mentioned from the first, and if Justice was pursued or made manifest in the “New Testament” teachings, quite possibly the many injustices committed by believers against their neighbors and each other might have been avoided.
I decided I should correct the issue and take in upon myself to give Justice mention in at least one chapter on the “New Testament”. Do not chide me for altering the sacred texts in such a way. For history proves it has been done for reasons far worse. To make mention of Justice, when so many of the great writers failed to, will only work towards improving the text. The reader should feel free to insert any other virtue here that may have been forgotten. They will find it works out quite nicely.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not Justice, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not Justice, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not Justice, it profiteth me nothing. Justice suffereth long, and is kind; Justice envieth not; Justice vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh her own, is easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Justice never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, Justice, these three; but the greatest of these is Justice.” *
*Edited by the author using 1 Corinthians 13, KJV translation.
ReligionThink 
First time here. Nice blog and super post. Well done.
By: Dot Tarbard on October 4, 2011
at 6:17 pm
Nice job Wayman ROFL. I have a YouTube channel as well as a blog here. They are both the same title as my name (If you wish to add me).
By: theblackphilosophy on December 13, 2011
at 1:51 am
With all due respect, I think you are reading a modern concept of justice back into Jesus and his mission. For 50 years I have seen Christians adopt a nice, new, trendy, secular concept and christianize it, year after year, often emptying it of kingdom power and kingdom truth. It’s being done with “justice,” and we are weaker for it, despite the noble intentions.
“Justice” as used in the legal system and in the Justice-Movement is an OT category. Jesus gives us a deeper and more profound explanation and model of justice. The Sermon on the mount is always, “You have heard it said…but I say unto you.” The new direction is love. There are almost no uses of DIKAI words by Jesus or the Gosples in the modern sense.
Here are the rare uses of justice in the modern sense.
Jesus’ acceptance of injustice done to him was to make us holy, and his motivation was not justice but overflowing, abundant gift and love.
A rare use of justice in the legal-justice movement sense is Matt 20, where the boss paid the workers who only worked a couple hours the same a those laboring the entire day. That was unjust in the modern sense. But Jesus moved beyond our limited category by being overly generous to the last ones in. That is love. Love is better than justice.
In the sheep and goat’s parable, clothing the naked is justice-righteous. But the man with the clothes did not “owe” the naked man a cloak. The cloak was given out of mercy, generosity, and love. Romans tells us to owe no one anything but love.
Pilate uses DIKAI in the modern sense, and does to not pardon Jesus. Pilate had no love, but wanted to not owe anything in terms of justice. He felt he was just.
“Your righteousness-just must be greater than the scribes.” Again, the scribes were concerned with righteous-justice, Jesus was concerned with manifesting the heart of God, “Love your enemies.” Enemies do not deserve my justice, but I owe them love, in all its necessary action and intentions.
By: Richard Lee Ludlow on February 29, 2024
at 8:36 pm