present by virtue of the hope which his promise awakens. The promise awakens a prevenient understanding of the fulfilment. More than that: a promise of God’s is a pledge and a covenant which binds the one who promises, and makes it possible to claim his faithfulness to that promise. One must be able to depend on a promise, for promises must be kept, as every child knows. According to the biblical writings, all God’s words and everything God says when he speaks to a man or woman have the character