Question
Does the bible say anything about how important it is to greet people or anything about greeting people? I'm looking for something to encourage the greeters at my church, so anything of that sort can help!
Answer
Yes, Paul and others regularly expressed their desire that people greet others on their behalf, and regularly sent along the greetings of others. Greeting was an important part of maintaining relationships with others. While the Bible does not really contain many instructions regarding the nature, frequency or type of greetings we ought to offer (it mentions the "holy kiss" as one option), it does show us by example that greeting is a significant and important part of church life. Greeting encourages and welcomes those who are greeted, and communicates concern and love on the part of those who greet. The entire chapter of Romans 16 is instructive in this regard, as are Acts 18:22; 21:7,19; 1 Corinthians 16:19-21; 2 Corinthians 13:12-13; Philippians 4:21-22; Colossians 4:10-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 2 Timothy 4:19,21; Titus 3:15; Philemon 1:23; Hebrews 13:24; James 1:1; 1 Peter 5:13-14; 2 John 12-13; and 3 John 15.
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