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Pelokois is so used in the LXX of Zech. 2: 2. In Heb. 7: 4 the idea of magnitude in
an ethical sense is expressed by this same word. We must, therefore, avoid confusing the
ideas of `how large' with `how many' or with `how lengthy'.
Grammata. Once only does grammata signify an epistle, namely in Acts 28: 21,
where the Jews at Rome declared `we neither received letters out of Judea concerning
thee'. This, however, is an isolated usage and not used by Paul but by the Jews. Where
Paul desires to speak of an epistle he uses the regular epistole and that seventeen times.
Grammasin is in the dative plural, and we are compelled to translate these words as
they are in Luke 23: 38 "and a superscription also was written over Him in letters of
Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew". The fact that the word here in Galatians is in the plural
prevents us from translating it by the word epistle in this place.
Egrapsa. This word is in the aorist tense, but whether this is what is known as `the
epistolary aorist' where the reference would be to the time when the epistle is received, or
whether it should be translated `I wrote' or in idiomatic English `I have written' referring
to the writing of the epistle itself is something we must attempt to answer presently.
It was the custom of writers in Paul's time to employ the service of a trained scribe,
and one, evidently a believer, has inserted his name in the epistle to the Romans:
"I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you" (Rom. 16: 22).
It is common knowledge that Rom. 16: 25-27 was added as a `postscript' to the
epistle, and Alford has suggested that `we may conceive him (Paul) to have taken his pen
off from one of the pastoral epistles and to have written it under the same impulse'. He
gives a list of words and expressions found in the postscript and in the pastoral epistles
that point to this conclusion. For example, `my gospel' is found in II Tim. 2: 8;
kerugma `preaching' is found in II Tim. 4: 17 and Titus 1: 3; chronois aioniosis
`age-times' in II Tim. 1: 9 and Titus 1: 2; etc.
The Apostle makes a pointed reference to his `sign-manual' when writing to the
Thessalonians, for they had been deceived by a letter purporting to come from himself
(II Thess. 2: 2), consequently he draws their attention to a feature in his salutation:
"The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I
write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all" (II Thess. 3: 17, 18).
Here the Apostle draws attention to two features:
(1)
The handwriting `so I write';
(2)
The form of the salutation `Grace . . . . . with you'.
The Apostle did not always call attention to the fact that he concluded his epistles with
a note in his own hand. He does in I Cor. 16: 21, "The salutation of me Paul with mine
own hand", and again in Col. 4: 18. The form of the salutation varies in small
particulars in the several epistles, but ALWAYS includes the words "Grace . . . . . be
with . . . . ." As this is a matter of first importance let us not begrudge the time spent in