Romans 16:8-16

Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. (9) Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. (10) Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household. (11) Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. (12) Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which labored much in the Lord. (13) Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. (14) Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. (15) Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. (16) Salute one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

I stop the Reader at this last verse of the paragraph, just to remark a few words, in relation to an holy kiss. It was the custom in those eastern countries, for friends and relations to salute one another with various outward marks of affection. The Abba Father was never used by slaves to the Ab, or Head of the family. This privilege belonged only to children. In like manner the kiss, was a general token of love and reverence, or of equality. The brethren of Christ, his Church, his people, had their love-tokens also to manifest their affection, and attachment to each other. But Paul, taught by the Holy Ghost, instructs the Church, to shew their love, not simply by a kiss, but an holy kiss. Perhaps recollecting the traitorous kiss of Judas. And also to distinguish it from anything savoring of a want of chastity. The holy followers of the Holy Jesus are in everything to be distinguished from the carnal and ungodly. And if they do in their salutations, use the kiss of brotherly affection, it must be holy, and with an eye to the holy child Jesus!