Salutations and Greetings Philippians 4:21

As Paul the apostle came to the closing of his letter to the Philippians, he gave a series of salutations and greetings to the church. In chapter four and verse twenty-one Paul began those greetings with a salute to the saints and a greeting from the brothers with him. We read:

Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

The verse begins, “Salute every saint in Christ Jesus.” Paul used the word “salute” which means “greet, bid welcome, wish well to, and receive joyfully” as he directs the Philippians' attention toward “every saint in Christ Jesus” which are not specialized individuals but members of the church in Philippi. If we use our imaginations we can almost see Paul thinking about each of the people within the church whom he met, and his desire as he closes his words to them is to “salute” them.

The verse continues, “The brethren which are with me greet you.” In reciprocation to saluting the “saints in Christ Jesus” Paul then shares that “the brethren” or “fellow believers, united to another by the bond of affection, or brethren in Christ” who are “with” him “greet”, which is the same Greek word used previously for “salute”, them. In other words Paul desired that every saint in the Philippian church be greeted and the brothers who were with Paul greeted them as well.

Though the premise of this verse may seem simple, let us allow the Holy Spirit to teach us the benefit of acknowledging one another by salutations and greetings. Just to know others care for and think about us can be a great encouragement, and because Paul was so loved by the Philippians and he so loved them, proper salutations and greetings were well in order. Perhaps as we consider these things people will come to our minds who would benefit by our acknowledging them. May the Lord Jesus help us to so interweave salutations and greetings within our lives that no one would wonder about their importance to us and the Lord ever again.

Next time Paul shares more salutations with the Philippians, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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