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His Own Hand
Just a quick, interesting note on the closing of the letter. We'll see Paul make similar statements later on, I want to give you some insight into the ending of the letter:
"After verse 20, Paul stops dictating his letter to his amanuensis (the “secretary” writing down the letter)—was it Sosthenes (1:1)? Paul now picks up pen and papyrus himself to write the closing words in his own hand (v. 21), as was his custom (cf. Gal. 6:11; 2 Thess. 3:17; other ancient letter writers often did the same). The one letter in which we definitely know the name of Paul’s amanuensis is Romans, when that individual, Tertius, sent his own greetings at the end (Rom. 16:22)." [1]
See also:
"Usually Paul would dictate his letters to a scribe, and often he would end with a short note in his own handwriting (see also Galatians 6:11; Colossians 4:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:17; Philemon 1:19). This is similar to adding a handwritten postscript (P.S.) to a typewritten letter. This greeting with [Paul’s] own hand assured the recipients that false teachers were not writing letters in Paul’s name (as apparently had been a problem—see 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 3:17). It also gave the letters a personal touch." [2]
His Own Hand
Just a quick, interesting note on the closing of the letter. We'll see Paul make similar statements later on, I want to give you some insight into the ending of the letter:
"After verse 20, Paul stops dictating his letter to his amanuensis (the “secretary” writing down the letter)—was it Sosthenes (1:1)? Paul now picks up pen and papyrus himself to write the closing words in his own hand (v. 21), as was his custom (cf. Gal. 6:11; 2 Thess. 3:17; other ancient letter writers often did the same). The one letter in which we definitely know the name of Paul’s amanuensis is Romans, when that individual, Tertius, sent his own greetings at the end (Rom. 16:22)." [1]
See also:
"Usually Paul would dictate his letters to a scribe, and often he would end with a short note in his own handwriting (see also Galatians 6:11; Colossians 4:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:17; Philemon 1:19). This is similar to adding a handwritten postscript (P.S.) to a typewritten letter. This greeting with [Paul’s] own hand assured the recipients that false teachers were not writing letters in Paul’s name (as apparently had been a problem—see 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 3:17). It also gave the letters a personal touch." [2]
[1] Craig Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), 339.
[2] Bruce B. Barton and Grant R. Osborne, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1999), 251.
[2] Bruce B. Barton and Grant R. Osborne, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1999), 251.
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