1 Corinthians 16:19-24 (WEL) 19 The congregations of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla warmly greet you and the congregation that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 21 The greeting by me, Paul, with my own hand. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let the same be anathema. O Lord, come! 23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
V19 The congregations of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla warmly greet you and the congregation that is in their house.
Asia is modern-day western Turkey. Aquila and Priscilla are Messianic Jews engaged in evangelism and teaching ministries.
V20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
This is Christian love. We are a family. The holy kiss was a Middle Eastern way of greeting as hands on the shoulders and kissing their neck or similar. The principle is to greet other believers in genuine love. Men greeted men, and women greeted women.
V21 The greeting by me, Paul, with my own hand.
The authenticating signature.
V22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let the same be anathema. O Lord, come!
All those who do not love Jesus, as in obedience to His will and in His service whatever it may be, are under the wrath of God. O Lord, come is the Christian’s eternal prayer for the Lord Jesus to come, deliver, and reign on earth.
(Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible) “Here is a solemn warning. Many who have Christ’s name much in their mouths have no true love to him in their hearts. None love him in truth who do not love his laws and keep his commandments. Many are Christians in name who do not love Christ Jesus the Lord in sincerity. Such are separated from the people of God and the favor of God. Those who love not the Lord Jesus Christ must perish without remedy. Let us not rest in any religious profession where there is not the love of Christ, earnest desires for his salvation, gratitude for his mercies, and obedience to his commandments.”
V23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Paul’s blessing.
V24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Love is agape love, which is a love of choice and characterized by 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.
We learn:
• To greet each other.
• To live a Christian life that is true.
Questions:
• How is your Christian life?
• Do you greet other Christians or only those you agree with?