1 Corinthians 16:21 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 16:21 mean?

1 Corinthians 16:21 means that Paul is personally writing the final greeting of this letter in his own handwriting, rather than having someone else write it for him. This is a way for Paul to authenticate the letter and show his personal care for the recipients.

Paul is the author of 1 Corinthians, writing to the Christian community in Corinth. In the ancient world, it was common for letters to be dictated to a scribe, but the writer might add a few lines at the end in their own hand as a signature. Here, Paul signals that the closing words are directly from him, making the message more personal and trustworthy.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 16:21

• "salutation" (ἀσπασμός, aspasmos): This word means a greeting or farewell. Paul is highlighting that this particular greeting is special because it is written by him personally.
• "Paul" (Παῦλος, Paulos): Paul uses his own name to make clear who is writing, reinforcing the authenticity of the letter.
• "own" (ἐμὸς, emos): This word means "my own" or "belonging to me," emphasizing that the handwriting is Paul's and not a scribe's.
• "hand" (χεῖρ, cheir): The Greek word for "hand" points to the physical act of writing, underlining that this is Paul's personal touch on the letter.

Why 1 Corinthians 16:21 matters

• This verse helps readers recognize that Paul often used a scribe but made sure to sign his letters himself, which was a common practice for authenticity in the ancient world.
• The personal greeting adds warmth and authority, reminding the Corinthians that Paul genuinely cares for them and stands behind his words.
• This detail connects to other letters where Paul mentions writing in his own hand, helping readers spot a pattern in how he communicated with early Christian communities.