Vanhurskautta

Vanhurskautta, often translated as justification, is a central concept in Christian soteriology. It refers to God’s act of declaring a person righteous, not on the basis of the individual’s own merits, but on the basis of Christ’s righteousness received by faith. In Protestant theology, particularly Lutheran and Reformed traditions, justification is forensic: a legal declaration that reconciles the sinner with God. A common distinction is between imputed righteousness—Christ’s righteousness credited to the believer—and infused righteousness—the believer’s own righteousness developed through sanctification; the emphasis on this distinction varies among traditions. The Finnish term vanhurskautus (and its related form vanhurskauttaminen) centers on the forensic aspect and is often discussed in relation to sanctification, the lifelong process of becoming more like Christ.

Historical development: The doctrine rose to prominence in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, with Martin Luther arguing that salvation rests on faith apart from works. The Augsburg Confession and its Apology articulate justification by faith, while Catholic debates of the period emphasized the role of grace combined with works. Later Reformers, including John Calvin, helped shape the articulation of justification by faith as central to salvation. In modern theology, discussions continue about the balance between imputation and impartation of righteousness and how justification relates to Christian ethics and sanctification.

Usage in Finnish church life: In Finland, vanhurskautta is used in Bible translations, catechesis, and theological writing to articulate the gospel’s claim that believers are declared righteous by God’s grace through faith in Christ.