This phrase is found only once in Paul's writing and a few more times in the New Testament. However, it does occur more than fifty times in the Septuagint, and is also found in other ancient Greek literature. The most important possibilities for its meaning are in the end, finally,
until the end,
forever,
and completely.
1 The last two meanings are unlikely in view of the fact that the final judgment had not yet come, and Paul did entertain the hope that many Jews would escape that judgment (Romans 11:25–32); the wrath which had fallen was therefore not eternal or complete. In view of these considerations, Wanamaker opts for the second meaning (until the end
), and interprets God’s wrath as a hardening of heart which kept those Jews from believing the gospel. This implies that the wrath (expressed in hardening of the heart) would be lifted at the end of the age.2 This interpretation seems unlikely considering that God’s wrath will become even more severe at the end of the age, notwithstanding the possibility of some (many?) unbelieving Jews turning to Christ.
There is one remaining possibility for the meaning of ἐις τέλος (eis telos), namely finally.
This meaning is consistent with verse 16b, which speaks about a process that carries on for a long time, but which also carries the expectation of being completed at some point. It is precisely in such a context that the adverb finally
is used. The overall sense, therefore, is that the Jews have been heaping up their sins for a long period of time, and now at last
(finally) the sins have reached their limit and God has intervened in judgment.3,4
16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!