The present article deals with a strand of ancient Jewish theological notions (in rabbinic literature, Fourth Ezra, and elsewhere) and Pauline ones. In these Jewish passages—sharing similar religious sensitivities and using similar terminology—human works stand vis-à-vis God’s mercy and his benevolence (צדקה). In some passages these categories turn out to be in tension in view of human sinfulness, since no human being can comply with the rigid standards of observing God’s commandments, resulting in the emphasis of divine mercy. Paul’s view, according to which “works (of the law)” and “grace” are mutually exclusive, is a radical intensification of this tension. Paul’s distinct ideas display the inherent dynamics of contemporary Jewish notions and reveal the inner tension within Jewish thought of the late Second Temple period, a tension that continued in Jewish writings (including rabbinic literature) after the Second Temple’s destruction.

本文涉及一系列古代犹太神学概念（在拉比文学、第四以斯拉记和其他地方）和保罗的。在这些具有相似宗教敏感性并使用相似术语的犹太经文中，人类的作品与上帝的怜悯和仁慈相对立（צדקה）。在某些段落中，这些类别因人的罪性而变得紧张，因为没有人能够遵守遵守上帝诫命的严格标准，从而强调上帝的怜悯。根据保罗的观点，“（律法的）行为”和“恩典”是相互排斥的，是这种紧张关系的根本强化。保罗独特的思想展示了当代犹太人观念的内在动力，并揭示了第二圣殿时期晚期犹太人思想中的内在张力，这种张力在第二圣殿被毁后继续存在于犹太著作（包括拉比文学）中。