SEV Biblia, Chapter 16:16
Saludaos los unos a los otros con beso santo. Os saludan todas las Iglesias del Cristo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 16:16
Verse 16. Salute one another with a holy kiss.] In those early times the kiss, as a token of peace, friendship, and brotherly love, was frequent among all people; and the Christians used it in their public assemblies, as well as in their occasional meetings. This was at last laid aside, not because it was abused, but because, the Church becoming very numerous, the thing was impossible. In some countries the kiss of friendship is still common; and in such countries it is scarcely ever abused, nor is it an incentive to evil, because it is customary and common. Shaking of hands is now substituted for it in almost all Christian congregations. The Churches of Christ salute you.] The word pasai, ALL, is added here by some of the most reputable MSS. and principal versions; and Griesbach has received it into his text. St. Paul must mean, here, that all the Churches in Greece and Asia, through which he had passed, in which the faith of the Christians at Rome was known, spoke of them affectionately and honourably; and probably knowing the apostle's design of visiting Rome, desired to be kindly remembered to the Church in that city.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. Salute one another with an holy kiss , etc..] Christian salutation is a wishing all temporal, spiritual, and eternal happiness, to one another; and which, as it should be mutual, should be also hearty and sincere, and this is meant by the holy kiss; the allusion is to a common custom in most nations, used by friends at meeting or parting, to kiss each other, in token of their hearty love, and sincere affection and friendship for each other; and is called holy, to distinguish it from an unchaste and lascivious one; and from an hypocritical and deceitful one, such an one as Joab gave to Amasa, when, inquiring of his health, he took him by the beard to kiss him, and stabbed him under the fifth rib, ( 2 Samuel 20:9,10); and as Judas, who cried, hail master, to Christ, and kissed him, and betrayed him into the hands of his enemies, ( Matthew 26:49). I say, it is an allusion to this custom, for it is only an allusion; the apostle did not mean that any outward action should be made use of, only that their Christian salutations should not be mere complaisance, or expressed by bare words, and outward gestures and actions, either of the hand or mouth; but that they should spring from real love and true friendship, and be without dissimulation, hearty and sincere: the churches of Christ salute you . The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, all the churches; that is, in Greece, or in the neighbourhood where the apostle was, and who might know of his writing to this church, and thereby send their Christian salutations to it; or if they did not know of his writing, yet as he knew their sincere affections, and hearty good will to this church, and the members of it, he in their names sent greetings to them: this shows the communion of churches, and how they ought to wish and sincerely desire each other's welfare.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-16 - Paul recommends Phebe to the Christians at Rome. It becomes Christian to help one another in their affairs, especially strangers; we know no what help we may need ourselves. Paul asks help for one that had bee helpful to many; he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Thoug the care of all the churches came upon him daily, yet he could remembe many persons, and send salutations to each, with particular character of them, and express concern for them. Lest any should feel themselve hurt, as if Paul had forgotten them, he sends his remembrances to the rest, as brethren and saints, though not named. He adds, in the close a general salutation to them all, in the name of the churches of Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
ασπασασθε 782 5663 V-ADM-2P αλληλους 240 C-APM εν 1722 PREP φιληματι 5370 N-DSN αγιω 40 A-DSN ασπαζονται 782 5736 V-PNI-3P υμας 5209 P-2AP αι 3588 T-NPF εκκλησιαι 1577 N-NPF του 3588 T-GSM χριστου 5547 N-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. Kiss. Compare 1 Cor. xvi. 20; 2 Cor. xiii. 12, 1 Thessalonians v. 26; 1 Pet. v. 14.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
16:16 {With a holy kiss} (en filemati hagiwi). 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 #1Th 5 26; 1Co 16:20; 2Co 13:12.
