What does Romans 16:16 mean?
Paul has concluded the list of people to whom he would like his Roman readers to pass on his greetings. He wraps up this section with an encouragement for them all to greet each other with a holy kiss. Paul concluded many of his letter in this way (1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26).Many modern Christians, especially in the west, might not fully understand this idea. Nevertheless, a kiss on one or both cheeks has been a common greeting between friends in many cultures throughout human history. It was practiced in the early church as a way of confirming the sibling bond of love between believers in Christ. Paul likely refers to it as a "holy" kiss to set it apart from other kinds of kissing.
Paul also offers general greetings to the church in Rome from all the Christian churches he has been associated with. As always, Paul emphasizes the ultimate unity of all the churches that are of Christ.
Romans 16:1–16 includes a list of two dozen or so people or groups that Paul wants his readers to greet for him in Rome. He begins by introducing them to Phoebe, the lady who will deliver this letter from him in Corinth. He asks them to greet his good friends and longtime partners in work and ministry Prisca—or Priscilla—and Aquila, who have returned to Rome from their time in Asia. Also on the list are close friends, slaves, royal families, and members of the various house churches that meet in Rome.
The final chapter of Romans contains four sections intended to wrap up the letter. Paul commends the woman who will deliver the letter and then sends greetings to many people he knows in Rome. After last-minute, urgent instruction about false teachers, Paul sends greetings to the Roman Christians from those who are with him in Corinth, including Timothy. Paul closes out the letter with a hymn of praise to the God who has revealed to all the nations of the earth the gospel of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus.
