本文對保羅書信中「律法之功」一詞提出新的解讀。本文認為律法之功應解作「律法的功用」。本文分作兩部分，第一部解讀ἔργον一詞在古典希羅文獻中的意義，強調ἔργον常有「功能」之意。第二部重新檢視保羅如何理解律法及其「功用」。

This paper argues that the phrase “works of the law” found in Paul’s letters is best interpreted as “functions of the law” or the “characteristic activities of the law.” This paper is divided into two parts: First, this paper will show that in the Greco-Roman philosophical tradition ἔργον often takes the meaning of “function.” Second, this paper will examine how “works of the law” interpreted as “functions of the law” might cohere with the overall argument of Paul’s letters.