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Daily Devotions

Romans

Romans 
Day 
Day 352

"Greet one another with a holy kiss."

Text: Romans 16:16

SENDING OF GREETINGS

Paul certainly practised the concept of sending greetings! This practice is age-old but was never taken for granted! Sending of greetings serves many purposes:-

1. It sent forth the following signals:-

a) Appreciation of friendship.
b) Honouring of the person greeted.
c) Encouragement to the heart.

2. It also was a special means of:-

a) A short but specific word of exhortation.
b) Sometimes a little word of instruction or admonition.

3. It was further used to:-

a) Encourage people to communicate with each other more substantially.
b) Encourage people to practise sending greetings and thus keep in better touch.

A SPECIAL WAY OF GREETING EACH OTHER

Paul wrote a word that helps us appreciate a special way of greeting each other in the first century. (This text us best understood and applied with ethnic sensitivities in mind).

“Greet one another with a holy kiss.
The churches of Christ greet you.”
Romans 16:16

1. A holy kiss (philema)

a) It was a common practice to kiss each other on the cheeks.
b) This was an act of genuine affection.
c) It was an act that was “holy” (sanctified).

2. The churches of Christ

This would most likely be a reference to Gentile Churches. They sent greetings to the church in Rome through the apostle Paul.