also employed other individuals, and he draws attention to the fact by commenting that he is closing the letter in his own hand (cf. 1 Cor 16:21; Gal 6:11; Col 4:18; 2 Thess 3:17). Silvanus is identified as Peter’s amanuensis (1 Pet 5:12). This practice of using secretaries (see Jer 36:4) may account for some differences in style and language in some of the NT letters attributed to Paul and Peter. . Cuneiform tablets consisting of mostly diplomatic letters, found at Tell el-Amarna on
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