The Meaning of Romans 16:16 Explained

Romans 16:16

KJV: Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

YLT: salute one another in a holy kiss; the assemblies of Christ do salute you.

Darby: Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the assemblies of Christ salute you.

ASV: Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you.

Discover Romans 16:16

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Romans 16:16?

MEANING: What does Romans 16:16 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Romans 16:16 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Romans 16:16?

What is the context of Romans 16:16?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

What does Romans 16:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The "holy kiss" was and is a common affectionate greeting expressing mutual love, forgiveness, and unity in Christ. Paul relayed the greetings of all the churches he represented.

Paul"s acknowledgement of his co-workers ( Romans 16:3; Romans 16:9; cf. Romans 16:7) shows that he was not a "lone ranger" minister. The number of women mentioned in these verses argues against the view of some that Paul was a woman-hater. Obviously women played important roles in the ministry of the early church, and Paul appreciated them.

Context Summary

Romans 16:1-16 - Personal Interest In Fellow-Christians

Here is a window into Paul's heart. He was apparently disowned by his own kindred, yet, as the Lord had promised, He had mothers, sisters, and brothers a hundred-fold. What a contrast there is between the spirit of this chapter and that of the mere disputant or theologian, the stoic or monk. We see also the courtesy, purity, thoughtfulness, and tenderness of Christian relationships.

Women are here-Phoebe, Priscilla, Mary, Junia, Persis, Julia, and others. The Apostle realized the immense help that holy women could furnish in the ministry of the gospel. Men are here-old and young, fathers, brothers, and sons. Lovely titles are given with a lavish, though a discriminating hand-succorer, helpers, beloved, approved in Christ, saints. How especially beautiful the appellation, the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord! The kiss was the common mode of greeting, but there was to be a new sanctity in it, as though Christ were between. This church in Rome was a model for other churches. Would that we could realize the same spiritual unity that presided over the gatherings of these early saints! [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 16

¹ Paul wills the brothers to greet many;
¹⁷ and advises them to take heed of those which cause dissension and offenses;
²¹ and after various salutations ends with praise and thanks to God

Greek Commentary for Romans 16:16

With a holy kiss [εν πιληματι αγιωι]
The near-east mode of salutation as hand-shaking in the Western. In China one shakes hands with himself. Men kissed men and women kissed women. See note on 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12. [source]

Kiss []
Compare 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 16:16

1 Thessalonians 5:26 Kiss []
See on 2 Corinthians 13:12. Comp. Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 1 Peter 5:14. [source]

1 Thessalonians 5:26 With a holy kiss [εν πιληματι αγιωι]
With a kiss that is holy (Milligan) a token of friendship and brotherly love (1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; Romans 16:16). In 1 Peter 5:14 it is “with a kiss of love.” This was the customary salutation for rabbis. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 16:16 mean?

Greet one another with a kiss holy Greet you the churches all - of Christ

Ἀσπάσασθε ἀλλήλους ἐν φιλήματι ἁγίῳ Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς αἱ ἐκκλησίαι πᾶσαι τοῦ Χριστοῦ

Ἀσπάσασθε	Greet
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Middle, 2nd Person Plural Root: ἀπασπάζομαι Sense: to draw to one’s self.
ἀλλήλους	one another
Parse: Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: ἀλλήλων Sense: one another, reciprocally, mutually.
φιλήματι	a kiss
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular Root: φίλημα Sense: a kiss.
ἁγίῳ	holy
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Singular Root: ἅγιος Sense: most holy thing, a saint.
Ἀσπάζονται	Greet
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἀπασπάζομαι Sense: to draw to one’s self.
ἐκκλησίαι	churches
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural Root: ἐκκλησία Sense: a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly.
τοῦ	-
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Χριστοῦ	of Christ
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: Χριστός Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.

What are the major concepts related to Romans 16:16?

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Similar Scriptures for Romans 16:16

		1 Corinthians 16:20 [6]
		1 Thessalonians 5:26 [5]
		2 Corinthians 13:12 [5]
		1 Peter 5:14 [5]
		Acts 20:37 [3]