The above verse
appears in various forms five times in Scripture (1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1
Thess. 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14). Even still, the idea of greeting one another with a
holy kiss is a rather awkward verse for the majority of Americans to apply in a
literal sense (myself included, unless you are of course referring to my wife
and kids). Therefore, most churches, commentators, and preachers just fly over
it really fast or just ignore it altogether. I can even remember that being my
experience in Bible College. Yet it is still Scriptural, so what do about a
command that shows up five times in the Bible that is awkward for the majority
of Americans?
This same case
can be made with several different commands in Scripture. A concise list would
include the practice of foot washing (John 13:3-5, 14-15), hand-railings around
the perimeter of our rooms (Deut. 22:8), the commands against wearing jewelry,
braided hair (1 Peter 3:3), the necessity to women having long hair and wearing
head coverings (1 Cor. 11:3-16), etc. Again, how do we as Christians living in
America apply these passages?
Over the next few
months we will consider some of these individually. Yet the simple answer is
that these are examples of cultural commands which could be defined as:
something that applies to the letter of the law in one culture, yet only the
intent of the law applies in other cultures. Thus, because of cultural issues,
a person could follow the letter of the law and yet break the intent of the
law. That is sin regardless of one’s culture. This definition will make
more sense as we consider a few examples in depth. But before we do, we need to
set some guidelines for all of Scripture and then see how it applies.
First, we need to
understand that all of Scripture is always authoritative. 2 Timothy
3:16-17 in the New American Standard Bible reads, “All Scripture is
inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for
training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for
every good work.” So both Old and New
Testaments, is authoritative over all people, in every age and culture. All
passages are for our benefit.
No commandments
can be freely disregarded; no examples are to be ignored. Scripture is much
more than a guide for action; it is our “Manufacturer’s Handbook” telling us
all how to live.
Second, not
all of Scripture is written to everyone. So even though all Scripture is
authoritative, it does not mean that it was written to everyone. This should be
an obvious principle yet many overlook this fact. But it can be easily
illustrated. When Jesus told Judas to go out and betray Him quickly, Jesus was
not telling us to go out and do the same.
Or how about when
God told Noah to build an ark? Was God telling all of us to do the same thing?
Of course not. So, throughout the Bible there are tons of commands that do not
directly apply to us. Yes, there can be a spirit of those commands that
applies, but the letter does not. Take Noah for example again. We are not
commanded to enter into a physical ark. Yet the ark is a picture of Christ for
us (1 Peter 3:20-22). And we are commanded to be in Him. Total difference
between the two.
Third, the
core meaning applies to everyone. This is what the spirit of a law is
referring to. Thus, what is the intent behind the command? It is easy to see
how idioms, poems, allegories, sarcasm, etc. can be used to command a person to
do something, yet they are not meant to be literally applied.
In order to
discover the core meaning, we must first discover the original intended
meaning. This involves asking eight questions: WHO is saying what is written?
WHOM to were the words spoken? WHEN were these things done or said (meaning
which covenant/age)? WHAT is the context in which the passage is found (one
chapter before and after)? It is likewise important to understand what the
historical context of the event or words spoken: WHERE did it take place
(physical location)? HOW are the key
words used here and elsewhere? The true meaning of words are determined
by their context and how they are used elsewhere. For example, if a person said
the word “gay,” a dramatically different definition would be given based upon
when it was used, how that person used it elsewhere, and how it was defined in
that same time era. Next we need to ask, WHY was the passage recorded? And HOW
did the original audience respond?
Many of these
questions can be answered through simply studying the Bible, typically about a
chapter before and after. However, some of these things will require going to a
Biblical background handbook or dictionary. Some study Bibles will include that
information, otherwise Bible Gateway.com offers a few free ones.
If a person does
not take the time to answer these questions, there will undoubtedly be verses
that will be incorrectly interpreted. So by asking these questions we are able
to gain the context of the passage. Thus, these questions are very significant,
for if you do not understand the context, then you are apt to misunderstand
what is being said, or done.
A fourth
guideline to understanding Scripture is to always keep in mind that Biblical
commands are there to help us to love God and other people.
When we consider
these four guidelines and especially the eight questions for learning the core
meaning to the command of greeting one another with a holy kiss, we learn
several things: First, it was common in the Middle Eastern culture that
the Bible was written to. Of course this practice still remains in certain
parts of the world today. Second, we learn that it was typically done
within one’s gender, and had no homosexual implications behind it. Third,
it was a token that all offenses were forgotten and forgiven, and that there
was nothing but peace and goodwill between them. So the kiss was a sign of
their perfect unity and mutual forgiveness. By calling it a “holy kiss” would
symbolize Christ’s love mutually shared (portions from Gareth Reese, New Testament Epistles
Romans, pgs. 745-746).
By properly
understanding what a verse meant to the original audience we are then able to
understand what it means to us today. In our culture, seeing two guys or girls
kissing each other on the cheek, who are not biologically related does not
convey that all offenses are forgiven and forgotten through their shared
relationship with Jesus Christ! Yet that was the intent of those verses (this
is sometimes referred to as the spirit of the law). It is for that reason that
the New Living Translation translates Romans 16:16 as “Greet each other in Christian
love…”
So my goal with
these Theology 201 articles is to be able to help you to understand verses in
the Bible that can be challenging for us to understand in our day and age. And,
as a result, God’s Word will come alive to you and you will grow in your
relationship with Him.
In His service,
Matt
