By Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

Galatians 6:11-18

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

By Rev. Ron Purkey

It was the Apostle Paul’s custom, after dictating a letter, to take the pen and write his own farewell. His standard signature was, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:17-18). But so concerned is Paul that the Galatians get the message of this letter, he takes the pen and writes an entire concluding paragraph with his own hand. “Look at the large letters I write with my own hand!”

Why did Paul write this paragraph, and why did he use such large letters? The Holy Spirit inspired him to add these closing words to give one more contrast between the legalists and the spirit-led Christians, to show that the Spirit-led believer lives for the glory of God, not the praise of man.

Some Bible students believe Paul’s thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Galatians 4:14-15) was some kind of eye trouble. This would mean he would have to write in large letters so he himself would be able to read what he had written. Whether or not that is true, Paul is making it clear he has something important to write in conclusion so he is not simply going to end the letter in some conventional manner. If he did have eye trouble, his willingness to write this closing paragraph with his own hand would certainly appeal to the hearts of the readers.

He has shown them that the believer living under law and the believer living under grace are diametrically opposed to each other. It is not just a matter of “different doctrine,” but a matter of two different ways of life. They had to choose between bondage or liberty (Galatians 5:1-12), the flesh or the Spirit (Galatians 5:13-26), and living for self or living for others (Galatians 6:1-10).

Now he presents a fourth contrast: living for the praise of men or the glory of God (Galatians 6:11-18). He is dealing with motive, and there is no greater need in our churches today than for an examination of the motives for our ministries. We know what we are doing, but do we know why we are doing it? A good work is spoiled by a bad motive.

With one sweep of the pen, Paul brushes away these legalistic troublemakers. He writes, “I have on my body the marks (brands) of Christ.” (Galatians 6:17). This does not mean Paul had five wounds on his body similar to Christ’s wounds; it means rather that he had scars on his body to prove he bore reproach for the cross of Christ. In Paul’s day, men branded soldiers, slaves and people who dedicated themselves to a god. Paul was Jesus Christ’s soldier, slave and devoted follower. Are you?

Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines at rcpbibleoutlines.com free on the website. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.