NOTES for Wis 1:15
The expression "righteousness is immortal" makes one think. There is no need to say much about the fact that unrighteousness leads to death, and first of all, of course, to spiritual death. But not everything is clear about the immortality of righteousness. What stands behind it? Does the immortality of righteousness mean the immortality of the righteous person? Or is the matter only the immutability of the commandments given by God? Or perhaps both? Of course, the firmness of any principle in itself by no means implies the immortality of the one who follows that principle. But can righteousness be considered only a principle? Formally yes, for the matter concerns the commandments given by God, a kind of moral code, as many suppose. But even if one reads the Decalogue itself attentively, putting the rest of the tradition aside for a time, it is not hard to notice that the question is not simply moral norms, but two paths, one of which leads to God and the other leads away from God. And in general righteousness can hardly be considered only a principle. In the end only God can be considered the source of all righteousness, and only He is righteous in the full sense of the word. And if so, every human righteousness by definition is inseparable from relations with God, from His providence, from His Kingdom. But is there any place for death in the Kingdom? If not, then everyone who has part in righteousness, and therefore has part in the Kingdom, sooner or later will also gain the fullness of life proper to the Kingdom. And will become a living embodiment of God's righteousness.
