Today’s Text …

“Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.” This is Paul, Galatians 6:11, and certainly a personal note!

The verb “to see” means to see “mentally, intellectually, with understanding or perception.” It is “eido,” not “blepo” in Greek.

And the adjective “large” is a word generally denoting geometrical magnitude, not numerical plentitude. BIG LETTERS IN SIZE, but not necessary a lot of letters. In fact, the Epistle of Galatians is not all that voluminous. It’s one of Paul’s shorter works. (Nothing like Romans or the Corinthian Correspondence!)

“Letter” in Greek is “gramma.” (Note: it is plural in the Greek, though singular in the King James Version.) It can refer to a whole body of literature or the alphabet that comprises that body of literature. Paul’s Greek characters (his ABC’s, we’d say) here are rather BIG, in size.

Of course, if Paul wrote the whole Epistle by his own hand … the thing would look huge, that is if he penned it in GREAT BIG ALPHABET LETTERS! 

Paul is saying (“with mine own hand”) that he used no secretary! No amanuensis! He did not simply dictate Galatians to a stenographer, as he did some of the other Epistles.

(Romans 16:22 proves Paul used a secretary in writing that great Book, Romans. “I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.” Wow, “Tertius,” apparently a professional scribe!)

So … I have called this lesson, based on Galatians 6:11, a “personal” touch. 

This might be a hint that Paul had some kind of eye trouble, too. Not able to see clearly, thus demanding that he wrote large letters! Look back at Galatians 4:15 … “For I (Paul) bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye (the Galatians Christians) would have plucked out YOUR OWN EYES, and have given them to me.” Eye trouble, seems to me a distinct possibility.

Alternately, the verse could indicate that Paul’s hands, so swollen and calloused form working hard as a tent-maker, were no longer easily controlled. His writing ability hampered. Thus … the big letters!

Wow!

Then again, one scholar thinks that Paul is just writing BIG WORDS now at the end of the Book, the Epistle, to emphasize certain encapsulating truths!

This is a possibility, too.

No matter how one views this phenomenon … it is intensely interesting. Again, a “personal” touch from the life of the great Apostle Paul!

I love it, the Bible. What a Book, incomparable!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell