the goal to which the revelation of the mystery looked. Consequently faith and the obedience of faith assume a distinctively eschatological character. Seen in this light, “the obedience of faith” is to be regarded as a phrase of some significance for the understanding of Paul. It is, in other words, his own articulation of the design and purpose of his missionary labors: God is now bringing his purposes to pass in salvation history through Paul’s gospel, i.e., the preaching of Jesus Christ (v. 25).