Paul Writes With Intentionality - Colossians 3-4

Colossians 4:18 (ESV)

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Most commentaries, after outlining and drawing out the truths found in this letter, give very little time for this last verse of Paul’s words to this church.   Think about how much time you take to ever read the signature at the bottom of an email.   But in this ending verse we have three things that Paul wants to make sure the readers of the letter know (and those who would eventually read it):

1. Paul is writing with his own hand.   That may sound odd, but it was not unusual for writers like Paul and Peter to use secretaries (amanuenses).   As we remember, Paul had poor sight.   In Galatians he stated it this way:  (Galatians 6:11 (ESV) See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.).    Paul wants them to know that he is taking the time to write this letter himself.   Because he says he is writing this greeting with his own hand, he may be saying I am officially signing this letter (what the secretaries already wrote).   But it is more likely that Paul is saying that this letter has his authority.  Paul wants them to know he means what is said in the document.  
2. Paul tells them to remember my chains.  Paul is writing this letter from Rome, where he is imprisoned.   Perhaps that is why he had to write it with his own hands.  No one allowed him to have an amanuenses.  He wants them to remind them of his condition.   He had already stated his imprisonment in chapter four, verse three. It should be noted that Paul is suffering for Christ by the loss of his freedom.   This makes us have a deeper appreciation for the letter. It deepens our motivation to do what the letter says. 
3. Paul ends by reminding them grace be with you.  All that he has asked them to do is only possible by God’s grace.  This is not a simple statement at the end of the letter, but an exclamation point on how the readers will carry out the commands of the letter.  The letter can only become part of their daily walk as God’s grace carries them to do what is in the document.  Paul started the letter by talking about God’s grace (1:2) and he ends it talking about God’s grace.   

Paul ends this letter with these three points to allow the readers to see the authority of this letter (his own hands), the gravity of the letter (his imprisonment) and the power of the letter (God’s grace).   No words in the Bible lack these three aspects. Paul simply points them out to us in the end.