of studied understatement. All that Paul will ever need flows from the unmerited favour of the Lord Jesus Christ, a gentle, loving graciousness that will most certainly be conveyed to him. A number of points present themselves. ‘Said’ is couched in the perfect tense (Greek, eirēken), meaning that the word of Christ has permanent application. Having made a declaration to Paul, the Lord will never repeat himself: he has placed himself on record once and for all; his promise will abide. Second, the