Promise and fulfilment in the light of Pauline theology - The Apostle Paul's maturing theology of justification from 'Galatians' through 'Romans'

Paul is the first author of the New Testament who stresses the central bibl ical-theological theme of "promise and fulfilment". He is doing so as apost le of the righteousness of god: the One God remains true to himself as the "God of Hope" (Romans 15.13); sending his son to save the world of sinners he says his "yes" to all he has given in his grace to his people (2 Corinth ians 2,20), and he creates the eschatological act of redemption which is ra dically new in opening the Kingdom of God (Romans 14,17). On the horizon of his theology of justification, Paul discovers what god has promised to Abr aham; in the horizon of his theology of promise, he discovers what god fulf ils in justifying Jews and Gentiles by their faith. Paul's theology, maturi ng from Galatians to Romans, gives a good measure for Christian talk of pro mise and fulfilment in dialogue with the Jews.