The Apostle appears to accept the mystery of his people’s widespread rejection of the Gospel. He cannot understand it. It is a secret, known only to God, and he, Paul, now feels like a guardian of it, even though he can only speculate. None of the debates and theories seem to fit anymore. The secret, which calls for humility and hope, is the future conversion of the Jews, connected to the inclusion of the pagans (25). He does not specify when or how, but Paul expects this to happen soon, since he believed the Lord would return in a few years and even considered the possibility of meeting the Lord himself while still alive (cf. 1 Cor 15:51).