Why does judgement according to deeds produce no discernible theological tension for Paul, the apostle of justification by faith? For students of his writings, paradox, incoherence, or eschatological tension come more readily to mind. Paul felt no such theological tension because there was none - neither within his own soteriology, nor in that of the Judaism from which he learned to speak of judgement according to deeds. For both, salvation is wholly by God's grace and the saved will be repaid (saved or condemned) in accordance with what they have done. Thus, Paul can promise eternal life to those who do good, while threatening wrath upon the disobedient (Rom 2:6-11), and without undermining justification by faith. This examination of second temple and Pauline texts interacts with recent discussions of covenantal nomism, justification, and the perspective on Paul to explore the Jewishness of the apostle's theology.
