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Read Introduction to Galatians

 

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

 

Now we come to the conclusion of the book of Galatians (6:11-18). Paul now writes a personal postscript that emphasizes the main points of the book. He takes a parting shot at the legalists in this section.

See with what large letters

Usually, Paul dictated his epistles to a secretary to scribe his books. Tertius scribed the book of Romans for Paul (Romans 16:22). However, Paul wrote Galatians himself because of the urgency and importance of the letter.

The words “large letters” does not refer to the length of the book but the size of his handwriting in the conclusion. He wrote in inch high uncial letters. He may have written in large letters because he had poor eyesight.

I have written to you with my own hand

Paul did not use an amanuensis [secretary scribe] to write Galatians. To guarantee that the Galatians knew Paul wrote Galatians, he wrote the epistle in his own handwriting so that they would know it was Paul, who gave them the book of Galatians. Many people forged epistles in the first century.

“…not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:2-4).

“The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write” (2 Thessalonians 3:17).

Principle:

Handicaps should not hinder us from ministry.

Application:

No handicap should keep us from ministry. It did not keep Paul from ministry, so neither should it keep us from ministry. Paul was not a good orator. He had a poor speaking voice. Yet none of that kept him down.

Some people with handicaps take on a victim mentality. They feel sorry for themselves. They are filled with self-pity. They want everyone to wait on them. That is the worst thing they can do, for it limits their potential. Seeking the pity of other people will not help them. It will not fulfill them. The last thing in the world that they need is for people to feel sorry for them. When they take on this attitude, they will fail to serve the Lord. No one has an excuse for not serving the Lord. God expects us to serve Him with or without a handicap.

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