You asked

how does the old testament concept of 'hesed' (steadfast love/mercy) relate to paul's 'grace' here?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.”

Paul wrote this letter to Christians in Ephesus, a significant city in Asia Minor, likely in the early to mid-60s CE while he was imprisoned. He is articulating the core of their new identity in Christ, emphasizing that their salvation is entirely God's initiative and not something earned.

What does it mean for your life today that grace is a gift, rather than something you can earn or deserve?

Then — the setting

Paul's letter to the Ephesians was likely written around 60-62 CE from Rome while he was under house arrest. Ephesus was a diverse city, home to a prominent temple of Artemis and various mystery cults, alongside a significant Jewish community. The Ephesian believers would have come from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds, bringing with them a range of understandings about divine favor and human merit. Paul's emphasis on 'grace' (charis) here directly addresses the challenge of uniting these diverse groups by pointing to a salvation that transcends ethnic, social, and religious distinctions based on human effort, offering a common ground in God's unearned gift.

Across the Testaments

The Old Testament concept of 'hesed' (often translated 'steadfast love,' 'mercy,' or 'loving-kindness') describes God's covenantal faithfulness and loyal love, particularly towards Israel. It is an active, persistent love demonstrated through deliverance, provision, and forgiveness, even when undeserved. While 'hesed' highlights God's unwavering commitment to his covenant partner, Paul's 'grace' (charis) in the New Testament broadens this to an unmerited favor extended universally through Jesus Christ, leading to salvation. Paul understands this 'grace' as the fulfillment and ultimate expression of God's 'hesed,' making salvation available to all, Jew and Gentile, not based on lineage or law, but solely on God's initiative. Both concepts emphasize God's character as one who gives generously and mercifully, rather than requiring perfect human performance first.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Jeremiah 31:3
Describes God's enduring love (hesed) that draws people to himself.
Romans 3:23-24
Paul's teaching that all have sinned and are justified freely by God's grace through Christ's redemption.
Titus 3:4-5
Another Pauline passage affirming salvation not by works, but by God's mercy and the washing of regeneration.

Ask your own follow-up