Richard

In the sermon last Sunday evening, I presented an overview of the New Testament. Of the 27 books contained within it, 13 were authored by the inspired apostle, Paul (with the possibility of 14 if Paul wrote the book of Hebrews). It was Paul’s custom to dictate a letter to another person who would actually write the words. For example, Romans 1:1 clearly indicates that Paul was the author of the letter to the church at Rome. However, Romans 16:22 says, “I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.” Clearly, Paul dictated the letter to Tertius who then penned the words. Even when another person inscribed the letter, Paul normally wrote the salutation with his own hand. 2^nd Thessalonians 3:17 verifies that this was Paul’s normal practice. The English Standard Version translates that verse as: “I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write.” Since the closing was in Paul’s own handwriting, the recipients of the letter were assured that it was from Paul. This would also prove helpful to the Christians in distinguishing a letter that might be a fraud - one sent as if it was from the apostle when in truth it was not. For instance, Paul warned the brethren at Thessalonica not to be “...shaken in mind, or...troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand” (2 Thess 2:2, emp. add.)

With these things being said, I want to draw your attention to a statement that Paul made in one of his letters. I want you to try to find which letter I’m referring to. In it Paul wrote the following, “...I have written unto you with mine own hand.” The word “written” is in a tense equivalent to the English past tense. So, it seems that Paul wasn’t just referring to the words he was writing at that moment (i.e. the closing/salutation), but what he had already written up to that point. Therefore, this seems to indicate that Paul had written the entire letter himself. Again, which letter is it?

Also, in the KJV, Paul’s closing comments include “Ye see how large a letter I have written...” The NASB uses the phrase, “See with what large letters I am writing...” The latter seems to be the more accurate rendition of the verse with which most other translations agree. So, here’s another question: Why would Paul write with large letters? There is some information contained in this same letter that might possibly give us a hint. See if you can find it.

Last week’s Bible quiz asked you to find the book in which the above referenced verse is found. It then directed your attention to the opening words of that verse, “Ye see how large a letter I have written...” As indicated last week, most other translations contain a more accurate rendition with a reference to “large letters.” The question was then asked, “Why would Paul write with large letters?” Within the book of Galatians, there might be a clue. So, let’s give these things some consideration.

Within this letter, we find Paul agonizing over the fact that some of the Galatian Christians were departing from the Gospel and returning to the ways of the Law of Moses. In Galatians 4:16, he asks, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” However, notice that immediately prior to this verse, Paul made reference to the kindness that the Galatians had once shown to him. In doing so, Paul made reference to an “infirmity of the flesh” (vs 13). [We know that Paul wrote to the Corinthians regarding a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor 12:7).] Paul then makes an interesting statement regarding the Galatians, “...I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me” (4:15). Did Paul have an ailment or injury involving his eyes? In Galatians 6:17, Paul stated, “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Gal 6:17). Paul had suffered physical persecution for the cause of Christ. It was at Lystra (located in the Southern region of Galatia) that

Paul was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19). Undoubtedly, some of his “marks” may have been received at that time. Perhaps something happened to his eye(s) on that occasion. If so, poor eyesight may have caused Paul to write with “large letters.”