Galatians 6:11

11 See ye, what manner letters I have written to you with mine own hand.

Galatians 6:11 Meaning and Commentary

Galatians 6:11

Ye see how large a letter
Whether it be read as imperative, "see ye", observe, take notice; or as indicative, "ye see", ye do see, or you may see with your own eyes, it is of no great consequence: "how large a letter", or "with what letters"; which some understand of the largeness of the characters he wrote in; others of the deformity of them, he not writing a good hand, being an Hebrew, and not used to writing Greek; others of the grand and sublime matter which it contained; though neither of these seem to be the apostle's meaning; but he intends the length of the epistle, the prolixity of his writing; and which he mentions, as an instance and expression of his love to then, care of them, and concern for them: inasmuch as he took so much pains to write so long a letter to them, in order to set things right in their view, and recover them from error: not but that he had sent as long, or longer letters to other churches, as to the Romans, the Corinthians, and Hebrews: but then it is to be observed what follows,

I have written unto you with my own hand.
The epistle to the Romans was written by Tertius, though dictated by the apostle, ( Romans 16:22 ) as very likely the others were by Timothy, or some other amanuensis. The apostle only put his name, and wrote his salutation, which was his token, in all his epistles, of the truth and genuineness of them; ( 2 Thessalonians 3:17 ) , but this was not only dictated by him, but wrote with his hand, which very probably the Galatians knew; and since it was not usual for him to do so, it was the greater proof of his affection for them; that amidst so much work, and such labours as he was employed in, he should sit down and write so long an epistle to them with his own hand, in order to expose the errors of the false teachers, and reclaim them.

Galatians 6:11 In-Context

9 And doing good fail we not [Forsooth we doing good, fail not]; for in his time we shall reap, not failing.
10 Therefore while we have time, work we good to all men; but most to them that be the home of the faith [but most to the household members of the faith].
11 See ye, what manner letters I have written to you with mine own hand.
12 For whoever will please in the flesh, these constrain you to be circumcised, only that they suffer not the persecution of Christ's cross.
13 For neither they that be circumcised keep the law; but they will that ye be circumcised, that they have glory in your flesh [but they will you to be circumcised, that they glory in your flesh].
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.