Salute One Another – Romans 16:16

 Years ago, I discovered an interesting Greek word, which pops up here in verse 16. It is “allelon” (al-lay’-lone), and it is translated “one another” in this verse. It is not a particularly significant word in itself, but it ties together a number of important exhortations. It brings together people – “one another” – but almost always it ties these people to something else. It is found exactly 100 times in the Bible and Paul uses it 37 times – usually within some sort of plea. In the Book of Romans he uses this word 13 times – some of which are: “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” “Be of the same mind one toward “allelon” (al-lay’-lone).” “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” “Let us therefore follow after things which make for peace, & things wherewith one may edify another.” “Wherefore receive ye “allelon” (al-lay’-lone), as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” “Admonish “allelon” (al-lay’-lone).” And here we have “Salute allelon (al-lay’-lone) with an holy kiss.”

As we have said there are a great many people mentioned in this chapter. Paul commends them and salutes them, encouraging them to do the same among themselves. The word “salute,” “aspazomai” (as-pad’-zom-ahee) is interesting in itself. Young translates it: “to salute, embrace or draw together.” Strong translates it: “to enfold, embrace, greet, or salute.” Vine points out that it can speak of a greeting of welcome, or a warm taking leave. In other words its like “aloha” – it can be taken either coming or going. Our King James translators used the word four ways: Most often they translated it “salute.” But they also translated it “greet,” “take leave of” and “embrace.” Five times in New Testament we are told about saluting someone with an holy kiss. Four times Paul uses the word this way, and once Peter uses it.

If Paul enjoins us to kiss one another, then why don’t we do it? I read of an account of a church where the people were taught that men should kiss each other each week. Then the ladies all kissed the other ladies. But it really confused the writer, because one half the church hated the other half. Paul says something here about an “holy” kiss.

When was the last time you heard a sermon on “Greeting One Another with an Holy Kiss?” Does this have any relevance to Christians living in the 20th Century? If the Virgin Birth of Christ is mentioned in the Bible five times, and we demand that people believe it. Can we afford to ignore “Greet one another with an holy kiss” when it is mentioned five times?

First we have to consider THE CULTURAL ASPECT.Like it or not, there are important “absolutes” and less-important “non-absolutes” in the Bible. Fundamental Baptists sometimes get themselves into trouble thinking everything in Bible is an absolute. Take for example the injunction, “Preach the word, be instant in season, out season.” Can you prove that Paul and Peter had Sunday Evening preaching services exactly like we do? Did they begin with five pre-selected songs, an offering, two prayers and two testimonies? Or was it an open song service with selections from the floor? Then, did a rapt hush fall over the congregation as Apostle started to preach? Did he deliver a three point message, with two illustrations, and ending in a poem? Was the congregation expected to be perfectly silent while he spoke? Was there invitation with four verses of “Have Thine Own Way Lord,” or “Jesus I come?” You’d be pretty hard pressed to prove any of that from the Bible. So, are we unscriptural when we do things similar to that? Years ago I had a man tell me that my church was unscriptural because we had a Sunday School. Sunday Schools, as we saw a few weeks ago, are a tradition less than 150 years old. When you look at many sermons in the Bible there is a lot of two-way dialogue. Peter’s sermon on Pentecost is one example. People often interrupted and dictated how the message would develop. Who says that the preacher has to lift is voice so high that it raises the roof 2 inches each sermon? All I’m trying to show you is that scripture doesn’t always demand every detail.

But wait preacher, in the case of this “aspazomai” (as-pad’-zom-ahee) “allelon” (al-lay’-lone)” the Bible tells us to kiss. That is true. Five times the Bible tells us to greet one another with a kiss, and fifty-five times we are told to greet one another, but there isn’t a word said about kissing.

I think that in this case we have a Biblical absolute coupled to a cultural non-absolute. If we faithfully, lovingly and religiously carry out the absolute, the non-absolute becomes less important. To greet one another – to “aspazomai” (as-pad’-zom-ahee) “allelon” (al-lay’-lone)” is incumbent upon all the saints, but the part about kissing may or may not be appropriate. And in our society it is mostly “may not.” Some Orientals bow to one another as a way of greeting. Some Europeans kiss as a way of greeting. The French like to kiss on both cheeks. And remember the Russian bear hug? It is customary for some people to hug and then kiss on one cheek. I think that is how David’s military captain, Joab, killed Abner. He hugged him, holding his arms to his side, and then plunged a blade into the man. Some people in America’s south hug as a common greeting. I had problems with that in our church in New Mexico. But the people there had no trouble with it at all. Contrary to these, most people here like to shake hands.

Paul’s only concern was that the brethren be properly, and righteously greeted. It was to be holy – sanctified by the love of the Lord Jesus. And it was to demonstrate the true feeling of the brethren for one another as well. It wasn’t just supposed to be a mere greeting, a routine gesture performed by everyone. This was supposed to be genuine.

Judas kissed the Saviour – but that was definitely not an holy kiss. The father kissed the prodigal upon his return from the far country – that was fatherly. And the Ephesian elders kissed Paul when they met him Miletus. Maybe there, we have a hint about the kind of kiss that it was – Acts 20:37 – “And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.”

I realize that this argument is not flawless, but it must be considered in our society. Let’s say that at 10 minutes to 7:00 tonight a man came into our service to see what we were like. Then beginning at 5 minutes to, until 10 minutes after, you started arriving. What would that man think, from his North American cultural perspective, if each of you went to each other as you came in and hugged and kissed one another? And then what would he think as finally you came toward him? The guy would probably tuck his tail between his legs, and run for the Catholic Church.

What might be appropriate in France, Japan or ancient Rome would not necessarily be appropriate here.

The essential thing about Paul’s command is not the kiss, but the GENUINE GREETING.We should genuinely, sincerely, deeply, lovingly, say “hello” to one another in our personal fashion. Not just as we meet at church, but everywhere, and especially as we come together here. If we do it right, it should make us stand out in this shallow, insincere, and uncaring world. Most people, say, “Hi, how are you?” but they have no desire at all to know how you are. Some say, “It’s good see you again,” when in fact they couldn’t care less if they ever saw you again. At church they say to a stranger, “I’m glad you came,” but they say it without emotion or sincerity. They say, “We missed you last week,” but they didn’t really. Not only are these things meaningless and empty…. But they are downright dishonest and hypocritical and so they are also blatantly sinful. I think that the Apostle’s concern was for honest greetings with the purest of motives. If we’d be sincere in this very simple courtesy, perhaps the lost world might be more apt to see something different in us.

But let’s say that you can’t sincerely greet some Christian with or without an holy kiss. Then it’s time that you figure out exactly what the trouble is and correct it. If he has sinned against you and caused to you stumble, then you are exhorted to go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. If you are ashamed to greet him sincerely because you have sinned against him, then go and confess that sin and seek his forgiveness.

As I say, these “allelon” (al-lay’-lone), exhortations are linked together. If you can’t greet one another, it’s because you lack brotherly love, or some of the other things that Paul has been telling us. And 9 times out of 10 when you think that someone has hurt you, he thinks the same thing about you. Be prepared to discover that you are as out of step with him as he is with you.

Is it possible to develop a sincere interest in other people? Absolutely Think about them, rather than yourself, and try to put yourself into their shoes. Try to look at yourself as they might look at you. And as I said a couple of weeks ago, verbalize whatever affection you have for them. A lot of apparently “shy” people are actually self-centered people, who feel too good to speak to others. Is that you? Furthermore, there are a lot of shallow people, who go through the routine of saying “hello,” but who care little for others are equally self-centered.

You know, this one exhortation, carried out scripturally could very well be an important ingredient in a person’s spiritual growth. It could be a catalyst for self-examination and growth in other areas. “Salute one another” – honestly, sincerely and righteously.