June 5, 2005

MARANATHA

1 Corinthians 16:7-24

 

   "The churches of Asia salute you," that is, churches such as Ephesus from whence Paul was writing to Corinth. No doubt he had told the Ephesians of the great work God had done in Corinth.

   Though Apollos did not choose to visit Corinth at this time, he had enjoyed a substantial ministry among them. Paul wrote that Apollos had watered what he had planted. The help Apollos received from Priscilla and Aquila at Ephesus was put to good use very soon thereafter. According to Luke, Apollos had "helped them much (at Corinth ) who had believed through grace" (Acts 18:19).

   "Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord." That "much" is added to their greeting might be expected, for they were among Paul's early converts and fellow tent-makers at Corinth . They were well grounded in the gospel and diligent saints wherever they went.

   "All the brethren salute you," includes too many to name, but they all sent greetings nevertheless.

   "Salute one another with an holy kiss," a greeting method that might seem difficult to emulate today. Whatever one might think of a "kiss-greeting," remember, this is "an HOLY kiss," not lustful.

   At that point it seems as though Paul reached for the pen from his secretary and added "the salutation of me Paul with my own hand." His personal touch here was the genuine seal of his authorship and the effort expressed his earnest affection, and added,

   "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathama Maranatha" (1 Cor 16:22). These two words were Aramaic in the original, hence were not translated. There should be two sentences: "If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed. The Lord comes." It is not a mild rebuke. There were some at Corinth who needed such a warning. Paul closed 2 Corinthians, "I told you before...and being absent now I write to them who heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare" (2 Cor. 13:2). Maranatha means the Lord is coming, thus intensifying the rebuke. Christ be with you" (v.24).