Romans 16:16
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Romans 16:16
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse offers a beautiful glimpse into early Christian community: Paul doesn't just send greetings from churches, he instructs the Romans to greet each other with a "holy kiss," signifying a deep, consecrated fellowship beyond mere politeness. The inclusion of "All the churches" highlights the vast network of believers Paul had in mind, all connected in Christ and sharing mutual affection.
Paul concludes his letter by giving instructions for a mutual greeting of affection within the Roman church and then extends greetings from "all the churches of Christ" as a sign of their widespread fellowship and esteem for the Roman believers. This final blessing and instruction emphasize the deep relational bonds within the early Christian communities.
Paul doesn't just tell the Romans to 'be nice' to each other. He calls for a specific, tangible expression of love that might surprise us today.
Paul instructs the believers in Rome to "greet one another with a holy kiss." This wasn't a casual gesture, but a deeply symbolic act rooted in their cultural context.
A Sign of Peace and Fellowship
In the ancient world, a kiss was a common way to show friendship, affection, and peace. For Christians, this custom was elevated and transformed. Paul calls it a 'holy kiss,' setting it apart from secular or ungodly forms of affection. It was meant to be a sincere expression of Christian love and unity, a visible sign of the profound spiritual bond they shared in Christ.
More Than Just a Ritual
While it was a tangible action, the 'holy kiss' wasn't just a rote ceremony. Commentators emphasize that it was to spring from 'real love and true friendship,' 'without dissimulation.' It was a call to actively demonstrate the love that Christ commanded, a way to build community and encourage one another as they received Paul's letter.
Paul doesn't just speak for himself; he brings greetings from 'all the churches.' What does this tell us about the early Christian community?
The latter part of the verse, 'All the churches of Christ greet you,' is incredibly powerful. Paul is not just sending a personal message to the Roman believers; he's conveying the solidarity and fellowship of the broader Christian movement.
A Network of Love
While the exact reading of 'all' is debated by scholars, the intent is clear: Paul speaks with the authority and affection of numerous Christian communities. Whether it was 'all' the churches he knew or a representative group, his message signifies that the Roman church was not isolated. They were deeply connected to a vibrant, growing network of believers across various locations.
Rome's Esteem in Christ
Understand the original words
philēma hagion · Greek Noun phrase
A ritual act of greeting used among early Christians to signify brotherly love, unity, and communal reconciliation within the body of Christ. It reflects the equality and purity of the fellowship found in the gospel.
ekklēsiai · Greek Noun
Refers to the collective assembly of believers who belong to and are under the authority of Jesus Christ, representing the universal body of the redeemed.
The 'holy kiss' was a customary expression of Christian affection in the early church, rooted in Jewish and Eastern customs but consecrated for Christian fellowship. The greetings from 'all the churches' reflect the interconnectedness and mutual regard among diverse Christian communities at that time.
c. AD 50s— this verse
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
The Apostle Paul likely wrote Romans during his extensive ministry in Corinth, a major commercial hub in Greece. This context implies that the 'churches of Christ' sending greetings likely included those in Corinth and surrounding areas like Cenchrea.
c. AD 50s
Growth of Gentile Churches
This period saw the rapid expansion of Christianity beyond its Jewish origins into Gentile communities across the Roman Empire. This explains the 'churches of Christ' greeting, representing a broader Christian fellowship.
c. AD 50s
Roman Church's Reputation
The Roman church was already well-known and respected throughout the empire, even though Paul had not yet visited it. This esteemed reputation is why Paul could confidently speak on behalf of other churches towards them.
This passage directly parallels the instruction for a 'holy kiss' as an expression of Christian love and fellowship, showing this was a common practice in the early church.
1 Peter 5:14Peter also instructs believers to 'greet each other with a kiss of love,' reinforcing the theme of affectionate greeting as a hallmark of Christian community.
2 Corinthians 13:12Paul uses the same directive for a 'holy kiss' here, further demonstrating its consistent application across different churches as a tangible expression of unity.
John 13:34-35Jesus' command to 'love one another' as He has loved us is the foundational principle behind these physical expressions of affection, like the holy kiss, which serve as outward signs of this inner love.
Galatians 3:28The 'holy kiss' symbolizes the unity in Christ that transcends social distinctions, reflecting the truth that in Christ, 'there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free,' but all are one.
ellicottRomans 16:16: "Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you."
(16) Salute one another. —As a mark of brotherly feeling among themselves, St. Paul desires those who are assembled at the reading of his Epistle to greet each other in a Christian way. It is to be their own act and not a salutation coming from him. With an holy kiss.—A common Eastern and Jewish custom specially consecrated in Christianity. (Comp. 1Corinthians 16:20; 2Corinthians 13:12; 1Thessalonians 5:26;…
jfbRomans 16:16: "Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you."
- Salute one another with an holy kiss—So 1Co 16:20; 1Th 5:26; 1Pe 5:14. The custom prevailed among the Jews, and doubtless came from the East, where it still obtains. Its adoption into the Christian churches, as the symbol of a higher fellowship than it had ever expressed before, was probably as immediate as it was natural. In this case the apostle's desire seems to be that on receipt of his epistle, wit…
This verse offers a beautiful glimpse into early Christian community: Paul doesn't just send greetings from churches, he instructs the Romans to greet each other with a "holy kiss," signifying a deep, consecrated fellowship beyond mere politeness. The inclusion of "All the churches" highlights the vast network of believers Paul had in mind, all connected in Christ and sharing mutual affection.
Paul concludes his letter by giving instructions for a mutual greeting of affection within the Roman church and then extends greetings from "all the churches of Christ" as a sign of their widespread fellowship and esteem for the Roman believers. This final blessing and instruction emphasize the deep relational bonds within the early Christian communities.
Paul concludes his letter by giving instructions for a mutual greeting of affection within the Roman church and then extends greetings from "all the churches of Christ" as a sign of their widespread fellowship and esteem for the Roman believers. This final blessing and instruction emphasize the deep relational bonds within the early Christian communities.
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This grand salutation underscores the significant reputation of the Roman church. The fact that so many churches send greetings suggests that the believers in Rome were held in high esteem throughout the Christian world. Paul is assuring them of their valued place within the global family of God, fostering a sense of belonging and shared mission.
"Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you." — This verse offers a beautiful glimpse into early Christian community: Paul doesn't just send greetings from churches, he instructs the Romans to greet each other with a "holy kiss," signifying a…