P.S. WHAT COMPELS YOU?

Today’s reading is the postscript of the letter. There is much speculation around what Paul meant by his reference to ‘large letters’ (v. 11). Rightly or wrongly, I like to think that these ‘large letters’ are the equivalent of using bold print to emphasize a point. Lightfoot comments, ‘He writes in large bold characters, that his handwriting may reflect the energy and determination of his soul.’¹

In this postscript we find ourselves again immersed in the argument that weaves its way throughout the entire letter. Paul emphasizes one final time that our standing before God is dependent on what he has done for us and not on anything impressive that we may have done. In fact, one of the biggest burdens we can carry is the overwhelming desire to impress others. This may sound crude, but the Judaizers sought to wear a badge of honor based on how many gentile foreskins were cut off! After all, that was a boast of one of their heroes, King David.² The word ‘compel’ (v. 12) is critical in our consideration of these verses, and indeed the whole letter. After all, circumcision is not a sin, but Paul’s angst is targeted at those who compelled the new Galatian converts of its necessity in being accepted by God. Has much really changed? I urge you not to feel pressurized if someone in the life of your church encourages you to do something on the basis that it will somehow earn God’s favor.

Paul ends his letter in the same way as it began. Having argued, rebuked, and corrected, his final word is ‘grace’ (v. 18). May you, too, know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has made it possible for your sin to be crucified and his righteousness to become yours.³ What a Savior!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be yours and may you know the comfort of his Spirit.