Godly, Christian Greetings

June 27th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Romans 16:14-16 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

In vv. 14-16 Paul greets nine people by name, some unnamed brothers in Christ, a sister of one of those specifically named, and all the saints with these people in Rome. Nothing is known of those Paul mentions in v. 14 (Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, and Hermas) except that Hermes was a slave name which is common among names listed in Romans 16. The “brethren who are with them” is likely a reference to the people who were meeting in their house, a church. In v. 15 Paul may be addressing another house church hosted by another husband-wife team, Philologus and Julia. The two people that follow them, Nereus and “his sister,” are most likely their children. Paul seems to have known no one else in that church except Olympas whom he mentions by name, yet he greeted “all the saints” with them.

Barclay comments on Nereus in v. 15: “In AD 95 there happened an event which shocked Rome. Two of the most distinguished people in Rome were condemned for being Christians. They were husband and wife. The husband was Flavius Clemens. He had been consul of Rome. The wife was Domatilla, and she was of royal blood. She was the granddaughter of Vespasian, a former Emperor, and the niece of Domitian, the reigning Emperor. In fact the two sons of Flavius Clemens and Domatilla had been designated Domitian’s successors in the imperial power. Flavius was executed and Domatilla was banished to the island of Pontia where years afterwards Paula saw the cave where ‘she [Domatilla] drew out a long martyrdom for the Christian name.’ And now the point—the name of the chamberlain of Flavius and Domatilla was Nereus. Is it possible that Nereus the slave had something to do with the making into Christians of Flavius Clemens the ex-consul and Domatilla the princess of the royal blood? Again maybe it is an idle speculation, for Nereus is a common name, but again, maybe it is true.”

Paul ends this section in v. 16 with the admonition to “greet one another with a holy kiss” (cf. 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Pet. 5:14). Whereas Paul could only send written greetings, he encouraged them to engage in their cultural practice of kissing to greet one another. The custom included a kiss on the forehead or cheek, but these were in no way romantic style kisses. It simply signified respect and honor. This custom continued on in the early Church for decades, but it clearly came to an end at some point. Customs in their forms tend to change for various reasons, but the function of a custom never changes when it is commanded in the Bible. Therefore, it is the greeting that, though it may change in form, must never change in its function. Greeting other believers in Christ is not only a command but a privilege. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). The Christian greeting, in whatever form it takes, is one of the outward forms of love believers can show toward one another. Paul must have longed to have been be able to participate in that when sending his written greetings to all of his brothers and sisters in Christ. Until he could do so in person, he took solace in knowing they were greeting one another.

Food For Thought
Paul wasn’t just an apostle, he was a pastor who knew other Christians by name and deeds. What a privilege this is! We can participate in their deeds by encouraging them, greeting them, and praying for them. Paul’s fruitful ministry points to so many of these people who encouraged and helped him. Let us do the same: encourage, pray for, and greet God’s people.