material (which wrong application makes many turn their back on Paul’s argument; cf. New Testament commentator C.H. Dodd). Rather, Paul’s analogy stresses the right of God, like a potter, to make whatever He wishes of that which is His own, according to His own purposes. God does not have to answer to anyone else for doing so (cf. Job 33:13). Should God have created all men for no other purpose than to consign them to an eternity in hell (which, of course, He didn’t—not because man was so precious