THE IMPORTANCE OF GREETING ONE ANOTHER

By Gary McDade

Greetings extended and received at the assemblies of the church usually mark the first impression of a properly functioning church as it represents the body of Christ. Christian fellowship is defined by the words in the Greek word family from **koinwno,j** appearing in its various adjective, noun, and verb forms 60 times in 59 verses in the New Testament (Moulton & Geden, 552-553). Its meaning in some of its forms is as follows:

koino,j common, partner [of persons] impartial, courteous, affable, easily

accessible (Liddell & Scott, 959)

koinwne,w share, take part, participate; contribute, give a share (Newman, 101-102)

koinwni,a( aj fellowship, a close mutual relationship; participation, sharing in; partnership; contribution, gift (Newman, 101-102)

koinwniko,j( h,( o,n liberal, generous (Newman, 101-102), social, sociable, ready and apt to form and maintain communion and fellowship (Thayer, 352).

koinwno,j( ou/ partner (Newman, 101-102), companion (Thayer, 352).

Fellowship involves the will of the Christian as emphasized in one definition given, “Ready and apt to form and maintain communion and fellowship.” Those rich in this world are charged to be “willing to communicate” from **koinwniko,j** in its accusative, plural, masculine form **koinwnikou,j** in 1 Timothy 6:18, “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to *communicate.”* And, it may begin with something as simple as a hand shake. In point of fact, in Galatians 2:9 when Paul is speaking of initially receiving fellowship from James, Peter, and John, who seemed to him to be pillars in the church in Jerusalem, Paul said, “They gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship.” And, with that gesture of greeting a bond of profitable association was forged. Philippians 4:21-22 strongly suggests no one was to be overlooked when brethren greeted one another, “*Salute every saint* in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. *All the saints salute you*, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household” (*emphases added).* Greeting one another surely seems to be a Christian duty and privilege in which one must willingly participate.

Long ago David said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord” (Psalm 122:1).