38. Cf. Rom 4.5. 39. Cf. Rom 1.17, citing Hab 2.4.
TRACTATE 3 83 had promised through the Prophets; and so when he came to give what he had promised, he gave not only grace but also truth. How was truth exhibited? Because what was promised was done. g. What then is "grace for grace"? By faith we first win God's favor; and we who were not worthy to have our sins forgiven, from the very fact that, though unworthy, we received so great a gift, it is called grace. What is grace? That which is given gratuitously. What is "given gratuitously"? That which is bestowed, not paid back. If it was owed, recompense was paid, not grace bestowed; but if it was in truth owed, you were a good man. If, however, as is true, you were evil but you believed in him who justifies the ungodly (What is "who justifies the ungodly"? He makes a godly man out of an ungodly one), consider what was bound to threaten you through the Law and what you acquired through grace.
(2) But having acquired this grace of faith, you will be just by faith. "For the just man lives by faith. "^^ And you will first win God's favor from living by faith. When you have won God's favor from living by faith, you will receive as a reward immortality and eternal life. And that is grace. Now for what merit do you receive eternal life? For grace. For if faith is grace, and if eternal life is, as it were, a recompense for faith, God, indeed, seems to pay back eternal life as if it were owed (Owed to whom? To the man of faith because he won it by faith), but because faith itself is grace, and eternal life is a grace for grace.
10. Hear Paul the Apostle acknowledging grace, and afterwards seeking what was owed. What is the acknowledgment of grace in Paul? "Who before was a blasphemer and a persecutor, and contumelious," he says, "but I obtained mercy."'*** He said that he was unworthy to obtain it, but that he obtained it not by his own merits, but by the mercy of God. Hear him now demanding what is owed, he who had first accepted
38. Cf. Rom 4.5. 40. Cf. 1 Tm 1.13. 39. Cf. Rom 1.17, citing Hab 2.4.