從伯多和雅各的話語中，我們找到了一個根本性的答案，即如何將因耶穌的恩典而得的救恩與對耶穌傳統的尊重結合起來

（因為耶穌的傳統和文化是祂降生成人的一部分）。

伯多強調了因耶穌的恩典而得救的新穎性。

雅各則指出，這條新道路與先知的預言一脈相承。

在此基礎上，雅各提出了一個具體的方法，使新的團體能夠忠於其起源。

他建議所有信徒都接受一些基本規則。

第一條規則很清楚：信耶穌的人不能繼續崇拜其他偶像。

第二條規則（關於哪些婚姻合法）與猶太傳統聯繫更為緊密，並顯示了猶太傳統在意思到新約倫理方面的重要性。

第三條和第四條規則出自《創世記紀》。洪水過後，天主設立了聖經中的第一個盟約。

這個盟約是與諾厄，也就是第二個亞當所立的；

因此，這是一項普世的盟約，適用於所有民族。天主吩咐諾厄不可吃血（包括被噎住的動物身上的血），因為血就是生命，而生命屬於天主（這又回到了第一條規則）。

雅各的論述表明，對耶穌的信仰成全了這第一項普世的盟約，這盟約涵蓋了所有民族，甚至早於以色列的揀選。

如此，無論是猶太人或外邦信徒，只要信耶穌，都能感受到他們同屬天主的計劃，並在其中找到新的認同。

In the words of Peter and James we find a founding answer to the problem of how to keep together salvation by the grace of Jesus and respect for the tradition from which Jesus comes, since his tradition and culture is part of his incarnation.

Peter highlights the novelty of salvation because of the grace of Jesus. James shows the continuity of this new road with the words of the prophets.

Based on this, he proposes a concrete way through which the new community can be faithful to its origin.

He proposes that all believers accept some basic rules.

The first rule is clear: those who believe in Jesus cannot continue to adore other idols.

The second rule (concerning which marriages are lawful) is more connected with the Jewish tradition and shows the importance of such tradition in view of identifying the ethics of the New Covenant.

The third and the fourth rule come from the book of Genesis. After the Flood, God established the first covenant of the Bible. The covenant was with Noah, the second Adam; therefore, it was a universal covenant, meant for all peoples. He gave Noah the order of not eating blood (and the blood present in choked animals), because blood is life and life belongs to God (we return to the first commandment).

What James proposes suggests that the faith in Jesus fulfils the first and universal covenant, which included all peoples, even before the choice of Israel.

In this way, both Jewish and pagan believers in Jesus can feel that they belong together to God’s plan and find their new identity in it.