best example of Paul’s thought (and writing), but it was transcribed by the otherwise unknown Tertius (Rom. 16:22). Occasional references to Paul’s own handwriting indicate his basic competence to read and write (see 1 Cor. 16:21; Gal. 6:11; Col. 4:18; 2 Thess. 3:17; Phlm. 19), thus placing Paul among the grapho-literary elite who could hire the services of professional scribes as needed for the more extended task of writing out a lengthy correspondence (see LITERACY). However, although we know Paul