natural that the term hope is placed in a climactic position; just as it is natural that in 1 Cor. 13 love is stressed. Paul thanks God for the work accomplished by these recent converts to the Christian religion. He does not immediately reveal what is meant by this work. It is probably best not to restrict the meaning too rigidly. Caring for the sick, comforting the dying, instructing the ignorant, all this and much more occurs to the mind. Yet, in view of verses 6–10 of this chapter, it would seem