Why does Paul personally write the greeting in 1 Corinthians 16:21? Paul’s Personal Signature • “This greeting is in my own hand—Paul.” (1 Corinthians 16:21) • Throughout the letter Paul used an amanuensis (scribe), but here he deliberately takes the pen himself. • His handwriting serves as a visible, tangible seal that everything written earlier truly comes from him. Authenticity and Protection against Forgeries • False letters circulated even in Paul’s lifetime (2 Thessalonians 2:2). • Paul therefore adopted a practice: “This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. This is my mark in every letter; that is how I write.” (2 Thessalonians 3:17) • By signing, he guards the Corinthians from deception and anchors them to inspired truth. Pastoral Warmth and Personal Connection • A handwritten line adds intimacy that a dictated letter cannot match. • It reminds believers that their shepherd knows and loves them individually (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:4; Philippians 1:7). • The signature expresses the same affection he voiced earlier: “I do not write these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.” (1 Corinthians 4:14) A Consistent Apostolic Pattern • Galatians 6:11—“See what large letters I am using to write to you with my own hand!” • Colossians 4:18—“I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains.” • Philemon 19—“I, Paul, write this with my own hand.” • Romans 16:22 shows the normal use of a scribe (“I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter…”), highlighting the distinctiveness of Paul’s personal closing. Affirmation of Apostolic Authority • By signing, Paul not only shows affection but underlines that the preceding commands carry divine weight (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:37). • His personal mark mirrors Old Testament prophets who authenticated scrolls (Jeremiah 32:10-12), stressing continuity of God’s authoritative word. Encouragement for Today • Scripture’s reliability is strengthened by such internal evidences of authenticity. • Believers can rest in the Spirit-guided preservation of every word (2 Peter 1:20-21). • Paul’s handwritten greeting reminds us that God’s truth comes through real people who genuinely care for Christ’s church. |
    |