time-factor: he came on the scene too late to qualify as one of the original apostles, but God overrode that handicap as well. It is not surprising, in the light of Paul’s background, that he regarded himself as the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle (9). Only the grace of God could overcome such demerits: but because his grace had been lavished on such an unworthy person, Paul was not going to let anyone take either his position or his vocation away from him. To let that happen