In continuing my research on justification I've been reading a bit of the history of the topic and stumbled upon an interesting find. I think I have found the earliest reference to dikaiosyne theou ("righteousness of God") being understood as "God's faithfulness" in the writings of the little known English reformer George Joye (d. 1553), who wrote:
“The righteousness which is allowed before God that cometh of faith is sometimes in scripture called His mercy or favour towards us and in us, whereby He is moved for Christ’s blood sake to promise us forgiveness and sometimes is taken for His truth and faithfulness in the performing of His promise and of this He is called just, righteous, faithful and true.”
Cited in D.B. Knox, The Doctrine of Faith in the reign of Henry VIII [London: James Clark & Co., 1961], 56.
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This post calls my attention to Habbakuk 2:4, might be a reference to "God's faithfulness" although the text states that "The just shall live by faith". I take it to me that God will be faithful to his covenant people; thus the just shall hope in his (Yahweh's)faithfulness or the just will be preserved through his (own) faithfulness to God or the
just will be preserved through God's faithfulness to them?
I'm probably wrong on that one. Again, my intention here is not to undermine "obedience" required by the terms of the covenant (Yahweh's covenant with his people). Any suggestions?
One more comment about Joye's statement. It is powerfully stated and expressed a central truth of Scripture ; that is "union with Christ" (because of his sacrificial work) is the backdrop of our (right) standing before God.
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