20160819 Friday, August 19 2016
Galatians 06: The Apostle Paul's Gramma

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand"

The earliest Holy Scriptures were written mostly in Hebrew because a line of Hebrews were cultivated to produce the Messiah (see A Biography Of Abraham: The Genealogy Of Abram).

After the Messiah's Sacrifice, the Holy Scriptures were written mostly in Greek because it was the "world language" of that day (see Why Were They Called Deacons? and The Gospel By The Greek and The Baptism Of The Ethiopian) - it would be the first to take the true Gospel (see What Gospel Did Jesus Preach?) to all nations. Paul's epistles were originally written in Greek (see Paul, The Apostle To The World and The Intercontinental Church Of God).

Consider the rendering of Galatians 6:11 into the English language - in a sampling of various Bible translations:

"6:11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand." (New American Standard)

"6:11 See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand." (World English Bible)

"6:11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand." (Revised Standard Version)

"6:11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!" (New International Version)

"6:11 Look at the large letters I use as I close in my own handwriting." (The Complete Jewish Bible)

By far, most English-language translations give the same interpretation - that Paul was writing the epistle in large letters, in effect, a "large print" Bible epistle. From that, many have speculated that Paul's eyesight was such that he had difficulty with "small print" - reading or writing.

Did Paul need glasses? Some people think so.

But wait, notice how the King James Version renders the same verse:

"6:11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand." (Galatians 6:11 KJV)

That's a very different statement. It says that Paul was referring to the length of the letter, not the size of the letters that were used to write it.

If it were left to a vote, the King James Version would be greatly outnumbered by what most other translations say. How could the "old" King James Version of 1611 be right, if so many others now say that it's wrong? Is Truth determined by a vote? Or is Truth truth - regardless of how many people recognize it?

How can we know for sure which of them is accurate?

The sure answer is to simply go to the actual Greek word that Paul wrote. What did it mean?

Paul used the Greek word, pronounced gramma (from which the English-language word grammar originated), which means a full-length letter, an epistle, a book, or a teaching lesson. It does not mean mere alphabetical letters or the act of writing. The King James Version of 1611 is accurate and correct.

Amazingly however, the present-day New King James Version abandoned the accuracy that its original edition had and now joins the incorrect majority.

"6:11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!" (New King James Version)

Paul's closing of his epistle to the Galatians ironically included the famous "for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (see the Fact Finder question below to understand the origin of that statement).

"6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

6:11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 6:13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 6:14 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. 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. To the Galatians written from Rome." (Galatians 6:1-18 KJV)

Fact Finder: When and where did the term "reap what you sow" originate?
See Reap What You Sow