The centrality of Christ in Paul's thought

God’s calling of Jews and Gentiles is certainly the realization of his promise ([Rom] 9:8), but the line of direction in Pau1’s theological reasoning is not from the eternal past to the present, but from the present backwards to its anticipation — and forwards to its completion. Rom 9:30-10:21, like the earlier chapters of the letter indicates that, for Paul, the present defining moment is the Christ—event, specifically the death and resurrection of Christ together with their proclamation throughout the world.—J. M. G. Barclay, Paul and the Gift, 325–26