What is more, throughout this history, past, present and future, Paul traced a pattern in God’s dealings with humanity that was Christ-shaped in its emphasis on God’s unconditioned grace. It was common in Judaism to celebrate the grace or mercy of God, but it was not so common to figure this mercy as given without regard to worth, since it would appear arbitrary or unfair for God to distribute the greatest benefits without some reference to the fittingness of their recipients.
