Cicero says, justice is rendering to each man his due, and Pelagius agrees. Paul says, justice is God's giving ungodly sinners eternal life, and Augustine follows Paul.
Remigius of Auxerre noted the contrast: "Mea iustitia est malum pro malo reddere. Tu solus iustus, quam circa nos ostendisti, reddens bonum pro malo, qua de impio facis bonum."
Yet, by the twelfth century, theologians were quoting the Ciceronian definition and attributing it to Augustine, and Biel inserts a Ciceronian justice in his divine pactum.
Give Augustine and Anselm their due: Yet, we may ask if the church yet grasped just how radically justice is transformed by the gospel.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Thursday, April 20, 2006 at 01:19 PM
Permission is given to use material on this site, provided the source is cited, blog entries are republished in full, and the author is notified in advance.

1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary

The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter

A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons

Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature

Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen

The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism

A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel

From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution

Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy

Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper

A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament

Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature

Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays

Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life

The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church