Let’s look at these two main points, (1) The ailment mentioned in
Gal 4:13-15 and (2) The “large” handwriting mentioned, and other possible reasons for these.
1. The ailment -
Gal 4:15 “Where then is the blessing ye spake of? For I bear you record, that, if (it had been) possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.”
Here Paul speaks specifically of having a “physical infirmity”, and there is no doubt that he had some type of physical ailment that had something to do with his eyes. From this scripture we can come to three basic conclusions about this ailment.
1. Since this ailment was not specifically named and the word infirmity can mean both sickness and malady (injury), there can be no specific conclusion as to what it was specifically.
2. We can safely assume that this infirmity was healed, because there is no other mention of it in all of scripture. To follow this line of thought you would have to ask if Paul was seriously injured around this time.
3. Did something happen to Paul on his first missionary journey in Galatia. The answer is Yes.
We have to remember that Galatia is an area in the middle east that incorporates a variety of cities. Turn to Acts to see the account of his first missionary journey and your will find:
Acts 14:19-20 NKJV “then the Jews from Antioch and Iconium (cities just outside Galatia) came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabus to Derbe(the first city in the region of Galatia).”
Just before entering Galatia the Jews stoned Paul to the point they though he was dead. Paul had to be a mass of bruises and welts especially around the head. The head was the main target of those doing the stoning. It is very possible that Paul was beaten so badly that his injuries made him look pitiful.
But what about the “large writing”, the scriptural answer to this is clearer than his ailment. Let’s look at some examples;
1Cor 16:21 “the salutation of (me) Paul’s with mine own hand.”
Gal 6:11 “Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.”
2Thess 3:17 “the salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.”
Phil 1:19 “I Paul have written it with mine own hand…”
We have to remember that during the first century, writing was something not known by everyone. In fact, the Scribes and Pharisees are partnered throughout scripture, because it was the Scribes that wrote the words of the Pharisees. For Paul (a Pharisee) to be able to write was an unusual talent at that time. That is also why he and so many of the other writers had scribes to do their writing.
In regards to
Gal 6:11 “ye see how large a letter…” The word translated large is the Greek word is pelikos - a quantitative form. The word literally has to do with the quantity of the letter, not the size. This shows clearly Paul is speaking about how long a letter he had written.
