'For Paul, the author of great swathes of the New Testament and arguably the most influential figure in Christianity after the Lord Jesus Christ, the future was characterised by hope. A confident expectation of future good. A hope of glory, he said to the Colossians. A hope that neither disappoints nor puts us to shame. Bob Marley and the Wailers once sang, “everything’s gonna be alright.” Paul tells the Christian that, because of our hope in God, it will be.'