• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!"

Text: Galatians 6:11

LARGE LETTERS

The epistle to the Galatians must have been painstakingly written. This is intimated in the following text.

See with what large letters I have written to you
with my own hand!

Galatians 6:11

1. Two main ways to write in the ancient days

a) Cursives

i) Usually adopted by professionals.

ii) A professional writer is sometimes called “an amanuensis”.

iii) He takes dictation.

iv) The writer reads the manuscript and if it is correctly written he adds his signature to it.

b) Uncials

i) This is a style of writing where the writer uses “large letters”.

ii) This is in contrast to the “cursive” style of writing.

iii) The entire epistle to the Galatians was thus written in block letters.

2. Large letters

a) Paul may have suffered from failing eyesight.

b) He would then have written using “large letters” to see what he has written.

3. “With my own hand”

a) Paul personally hand-wrote this epistle to the Galatians.

b) It must have been painstakingly done.

c) He testifies that this epistle was not done with the aid of an amanuensis.

EXPRESSIONS OF A DEEP PERSONAL COMMITMENT

The apostle Paul sought to maintain a very personal and close relationship with the Galatians notwithstanding the fact that they had been adversely affected by false teachers. The following are expressions of a deep sense of concern for the Galatian Churches.

1. Strong words expressed against the false teachers (Galatians 1:7-9).

2. Deep emotional outburst against the folly of the Galatians (Galatians 3:1).

3. Moving nostalgic recollection of the initial years of friendship (Galatians 4:14-16).

4. Reference to the large letters Paul used to write this epistle (Galatians 6:11).