Christian Greetings
CHRISTIAN GREETINGS
PHILIPPIANS 4:21-23
How close is your fellowship with other Christians?
The letter draws to a close with the conveyance of greetings and a final blessing. Paul asks for his greeting to be extended to each member of the community (4:21). His use of the term “saint” in the singular is unique. Elsewhere in the New Testament it is customary to use the plural, as does Paul in 4:22 (“all the saints”). What is even more striking is Paul’s command to greet each Christian “in Christ Jesus.” Even greetings must reflect the sphere of life in which Christians move; they should breathe the spirit of Christ. The affection for one another expressed in the exchange of greetings between Paul and his friends is rooted in the vital union which they share in Christ. The implication is that strained relationships, like those between Euodia and Syntyche, can be improved only as the relationship between each believer and their Lord is strengthened.
To his own greeting Paul adds the greeting of certain brothers and sisters who are with him. Presumably this designates those who were associated with leadership in the church at Rome, including Timothy, Aristarchus, Mark, Jesus surnamed Justus, Luke and Demas (see Colossians 4:10f.,14). Finally, the entire church at Rome sends its greetings as well, including members of “Caesar’s household.” One of the certain tokens of the advance of the gospel of which Paul had assured the Philippians (1:12) was that a number of slaves and freedmen attached to the imperial residence had come to faith. Whether their conversion was a direct result of the removal of Paul from the house he rented to a cell in the praetorium is uncertain, but the apostle has had contact with them and takes special pleasure in conveying their greeting. He then adds in his own hand the prayer for grace (4:23).