volume 15, issue 2, 2023, pages 187-216

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64438/sbsBKUX1971
Published online: 2023-12-01
Published in print: 2023-12-30

Abstract: The apostle Paul concludes his letter to the Galatians, one of his most famous letters from the beginning and one that has had a tremendous impact on the history of Christianity, with a direct and personal appeal. As in his other letters (cf. 1 Cor 16:21; Phil 19; cf. Col 4:18; 2 Thes 3:17), he writes the conclusion of the letter in his own hand, but nowhere is this more strongly emphasized than in Galatians, “See what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.” (Gal 6:11). Throughout the history of exegesis, various explanations have been put forward as to why Paul writes in large letters and what he means by it. The contention of this article is that by using large letters in his writing, the apostle Paul was trying to get the attention of the Galatians, and at the same time, by writing in this manner, he was trying to draw attention to the central importance and gravity of his message. Furthermore, we can assume that Paul, who repeatedly depicts his missionary activity as spiritual fatherhood and motherhood (1 Tes 2:7.11; 1 Cor 4:15; 2 Cor 6:13), and who sees it as such in his letter to the Galatians (Gal 4:19), uses large letters in his writing (Gal 6:11) in order to try, in his role as “spiritual father,” to draw the attention of the addressees of the letter – “his spiritual children” – to his final message, which is of crucial importance.