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[Docx]

Is there a connection between righteousness and love?

Has anyone found a way in which these two are connected? In any way?

My question stems from this verse...

Roman 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

And this verse...

1 Cor. 13:13

But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

It seems there might be a connection between righteousness and love.

[jimwalton]

Just because Paul doesn't specifically mention love in Romans 14.17 doesn't mean it's not included. What Paul is talking about is that the kingdom of God is not found in the externals of life, but in spiritual qualities and character traits, like the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5.22-23). The kingdom of God is the reign of God in the heart, which is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, etc. The whole chapter is about the mutual relations of Christians, which definitely include love, rather than a Christian's relation to God.

In chapter 12, Christians are to love each other with non-hypocritical spiritual love. In chapter 13 we show love even when we submit to (even evil) authorities. At the end of chapter 13 Paul tells us that we owe a debt of love to others and how love fulfills the law. Now in chapter 14 (and all the way to Rom. 15.14) Paul shows us many examples of practical expressions of love. This text falls into this segment. Love is the governing attribute.

It is our love that mandates how we treat the weaker brother (Rom. 14.15), the verse right before the one you mentioned.

In other words, love is the ground of righteousness. Think about it: how can one be morally good (righteous) without love? Since love is self-sacrifice for the welfare and ultimate good of another, love must be righteous and righteousness has to include love.