Uprightness is a defining characteristic of those who are considered saints in the biblical narrative. It denotes a life lived in accordance with God's standards, reflecting integrity, righteousness, and moral rectitude. The concept of uprightness is deeply rooted in the Scriptures, where it is often associated with the favor and blessing of God.

Biblical Foundation

The term "upright" is frequently used in the Bible to describe individuals who live in a manner pleasing to God. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word "yashar" is often translated as "upright," conveying the idea of being straight or level, both in a physical and moral sense. In the New Testament, the Greek word "euthys" carries a similar connotation.

Old Testament Examples

The patriarch Job is a quintessential example of uprightness. In Job 1:1 , it is written, "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil." Job's uprightness is highlighted as a key aspect of his character, setting the stage for the trials he would endure and his steadfast faithfulness to God.

Another notable figure is King David, who, despite his failings, is often described as upright in heart. In Psalm 25:21 , David prays, "May integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for You." Here, uprightness is linked with integrity and a reliance on God, underscoring the relational aspect of living uprightly.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, uprightness is closely associated with the transformative work of Christ in the believer's life. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, encourages believers to live upright lives as a testimony to the world. Philippians 2:15 states, "so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world."

The call to uprightness is also evident in the pastoral epistles. In Titus 2:11-12 , Paul writes, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age." Here, uprightness is presented as a natural outflow of God's grace, shaping the believer's conduct.

Characteristics of Uprightness

Uprightness involves several key characteristics that are consistently highlighted throughout Scripture:

1. Integrity: Upright individuals are marked by honesty and moral consistency. Proverbs 11:3 states, "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them."

2. Righteousness: Uprightness is closely linked with righteousness, a state of being in right standing with God. Psalm 37:37 encourages, "Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for a posterity awaits the man of peace."

3. Fear of the Lord: A reverent fear of God is foundational to uprightness. Proverbs 14:2 declares, "He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the devious in his ways despises Him."

4. Faithfulness: Uprightness is demonstrated through faithfulness to God's commands and a steadfast commitment to His ways. Psalm 112:4 describes the upright as gracious, compassionate, and righteous.

The Role of Uprightness in the Life of Saints

For the saints, uprightness is not merely an external adherence to rules but a reflection of an inner transformation brought about by the Holy Spirit. It is both a gift and a responsibility, as believers are called to live in a manner that honors God and serves as a witness to others. The pursuit of uprightness is a lifelong journey, marked by growth in holiness and a deepening relationship with the Lord.

Uprightness, therefore, is a hallmark of the saints, a testament to their devotion to God and their commitment to living out His truth in every aspect of life.Psalm 111:1
Praise you the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 26:7
The way of the just is uprightness: you, most upright, do weigh the path of the just.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians
... Epistle, we have some of those characteristic passages in ... He, the least of all saints,
has been ... life must be found in truthfulness, uprightness, and kindliness ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xv the epistle of.htm

Attributes of Love.
... consists in willing exact equivalents, and uprightness in business ... and righteous
are thy ways, thou King of saints!". ... to do so, must be a characteristic of a ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xiv attributes of love.htm

The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, Commonly Called the Didache
... who are ignorant of the reward of uprightness, who do ... The Lord will come and all
his saints with him. ... It was characteristic of the Biblical prophets to drive ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the teaching of the twelve.htm

Ananias and Sapphira.
... representations of spiritual things, and as characteristic of a ... hypocrites will be
found intermixed with the saints. ... "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture vi ananias and sapphira.htm

The Great Awakening.
... and the number of true saints multiplied, soon ... rules of honesty, justice, and
uprightness; not to ... sermon flagrantly illustrated the worst characteristic of the ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter xi the great awakening.htm

The Book of Enoch
... of the final victory of the saints at the ... will He give truth in the habitation of
uprightness. ... Now in all these writings occurs this marked characteristic. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of enoch.htm

The Bible and the French Revolution.
... France presented also the characteristic which especially distinguished ... century the
blood of the saints had been ... done in truth and uprightness."(429) Whatever ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /15 the bible and the.htm

Covenanting Provided for in the Everlasting Covenant.
... upon him; and the title of the saints who had ... thousand, to show unto man his uprightness;
then he ... to itself the performance of their characteristic observances ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter vi covenanting provided for.htm

The Bible and the French Revolution
... sin was also to be a pre-eminent characteristic of the ... Century after century the
blood of the saints had been ... and are done in truth and uprightness." Isaiah 40 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 15 the bible and.htm

Book viii. The Blessed Apostle Paul in Laying Down the Form for ...
... this world by precepts of honesty and uprightness, nor on ... teachers; for the perfecting
of the saints, for the ... and that to be One is characteristic and peculiar ...
/.../book viii the blessed apostle.htm

What does the Bible say about integrity? | GotQuestions.org

What is righteousness? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to believe in God? | GotQuestions.org

Uprightness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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