turns instead to the Old Testament and to the promise of God to Abraham: ‘And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles [= the nations] by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” … if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.’ (Gal. 3:8, 29) The promise to Abraham of blessing to the nations is Paul’s mandate for mission (see also Rom. 1:1-6; 9:24-29; 16:25-27; Eph. 3:1-6).
