Our Relationships with One Another - Lesson 11

Greet One Another

  1. INTRODUCTION

    1. In this lesson of the series on our relationships with one another, we will consider some of the most neglected passages in the New Testament.  These are passages containing greetings made between Christians.

    2. It may appear that the greetings in these passages are almost all strictly personal, but the fact that God's word includes thirty-nine messages in the New Testament about greeting one another indicates that there is an important lesson for us.

       

  2. GREETING EVERY SAINT

    1. In his letter to the Roman saints, Paul sent greetings to all of them and instructed them to greet one another.

      1. There are twenty-six individuals specifically greeted in Romans 16:3-16, and some of these greetings are extended to their households and family members as well.

      2. In many of these greetings, Paul expresses specific knowledge of these individuals, and he comments on his relationships with them. Many of them are praised for their service in the Lord.

      3. Paul's penman even sent his greeting to them in Romans 16:22.

      4. At the end of his greetings, Paul gives this instruction and salutation in verse 16:

        Greet one another with a holy kiss.  All the churches of Christ greet you.

    2. Many of the other letters written by Paul include similar expressions and instructions about greetings.

      1. In 1Corinthians 16:19-21, Paul gave these greetings and instructions:

        19The churches of Asia greet you.  Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.  20All the brethren greet you.  Greet one another with a holy kiss.  21The greeting is in my own hand -- Paul.

      2. A similar message is given in 2Corinthians 13:12-13:

        12Greet one another with a holy kiss.  13All the saints greet you.

      3. Likewise, similar words are recorded in Philippians 4:21-22:

        21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.  The brethren who are with me greet you.  22All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.

      4. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul sent many personal greetings from himself and his fellow workers to the church and instructed the Colossians to greet others (Col. 4:10-18).

      5. In 1Thessalonians 5:26, Paul gave this simple instruction:

        Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

      6. In 2Thessalonians 3:17, Paul concluded his letter with a personal greeting in his own handwriting.

      7. Prisca, Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus are greeted in 2Timothy 4:19.

      8. Notice the conclusion of Paul's letter to Titus (3:15):

        All who are with me greet you.  Greet those who love us in the faith.  Grace be with you all.

      9. Similarly, the letter to the Hebrews ends with this message in Hebrews 13:24:

        Greet all of your leaders and all the saints.  Those from Italy greet you.

    3. Other New Testament writers record such greetings as well.

      1. Peter's first letter ends in 1Peter 5:13-14 with this message:

        13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark.  14Greet one another with a kiss of love.  Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

      2. John ended his second and third letters with similar greetings:

        2John 13 -- The children of your chosen sister greet you.

        3John 14 -- The friends greet you.  Greet the friends by name.

         

  3. WHAT THESE GREETINGS MEAN FOR US

    1. Our interest in studying these greetings is learning from their examples.  What do these examples teach us about our own relationships with one another as fellow Christians?

      1. These greetings are more than just the usual greetings that we extend toward casual acquaintances.  They correctly indicate the unique spiritual relationships that exist only between Christians.

      2. These greetings indicate the brotherly love and affection that should exist among Christians.  For example, four of the individuals greeted in Romans 16 are addressed as "beloved."

      3. Such greetings also acknowledge honor, respect, value, and appreciation for the brethren and their service in the Lord.  For example, notice again some of the greetings from Romans 16;

        1. Verses 3-4 -- 3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles...

        2. Verse 7 -- Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

        3. Verse 9 -- Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.

        4. Verse 12 -- Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord.  Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord.

      4. These examples form a pattern for our own esteem toward one another.  This esteem should be evident in our greetings to one another through expressions of love, honor, respect, value, concern, and appreciation.

      5. Also consider that Paul longed to see these Christians who were separated from him (Rom. 1:11; Phil. 4:1; 1Thess. 3:6).  His greetings toward them expressed this desire for them, and our greetings toward one another should likewise express our joy to see one another.

    2. Such greetings between Christians express a true fellowship in the Lord.

      1. Fellowship is a sharing in common, a joint participation, and an association.  Those who have fellowship in Christ share a common faith and a common fellowship with God Himself (1John 1:1-7).

      2. When we greet one another in the manner seen in these passages of Scripture, we communicate approval of one another and endorse one another as brothers and sisters in the fellowship of Christ.

      3. Because this is true, we must not give such greetings to those who are in opposition to Christ.  Consider the warning about those who do not abide in the teaching of Christ from 2John 10-11:

        10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

      4. This does not indicate that we cannot be cordial to those who are not Christians, but rather it means that there is a special greeting that must be reserved for Christians only.

        1. In Matthew 5:47, Jesus asked, "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?  Do not even the Gentiles do the same?"  Therefore, we should be friendly and cordial to those who are not our brothers or sisters.

        2. However, we must not give the "right hand of fellowship" (Gal. 2:9) to those who are outside of Christ.

        3. Especially, we must withhold our greetings of fellowship from those who are clearly opposed to Christ and His teachings (2Cor. 6:14-18). We cannot give them the impression that we approve what they believe, do, and teach.

    3. The instructions from these passages often mention the "holy kiss."  Is the holy kiss mandated as our form of greeting?

      1. The holy kiss is mentioned in Romans 16:16, 1Corinthians 16:20, 2Corinthians 13:12, and 1Thessalonians 5:26.  In 1Peter 5:14, the Scripture mentions a "kiss of love."

      2. Historical and cultural context helps to shed light on this issue.

        1. In Eastern cultures even to this day, many people greet one another with kisses on their cheeks.

        2. For example, Jesus implied that his host had been impolite by not kissing Him in Luke 7:44-45. In contrast, the sinful woman had not ceased from kissing His feet.

        3. Also, recall that Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss (Luke 22:47-48).  The irony of this kiss is that it was a sign of love and esteem, but it was used for betrayal.

      3. These instructions concerning the holy kiss took the common greeting of the time, the kiss, and elevated it to an even greater purpose by setting it in the holy fellowship of Christ.

      4. In our culture, a kiss is not the standard greeting between friends, but we have other customs, such as a handshake.

      5. Regardless of the form of the custom, it is the holy nature of the greeting that is to be preserved and practiced among Christians. It is not necessary that we greet one another with a kiss.

         

  4. CONCLUSION

    1. If we have proper relationships with one another and the Lord, then proper greetings will come naturally.

    2. Therefore, let us greet one another in fellowship with love, affection, honor, esteem, and respect.