sphere, but, paradoxically, is itself only discerned by the eye of faith. Even if we consider matters of fact, Althaus argues, the true significance of those facts remains hidden or obscure to unbelief, and is only recognized from the particular perspective of faith. Thus, to pick an example at the heart of the gospel tradition, the miracles of Jesus are signs of his identity as Messiah; but they function as such only when God grants the faith which enables people to grasp this true significance.