19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. 21 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. 22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. 23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. <<The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus and Timotheus.>> (1 Corinthians 16:19-24 KJV)
Greetings and a Solemn Farewell
The apostle closes his epistle with salutations to the church of Corinth, first from those of Asia, from Priscilla and Aquila (who seem to have been at this time living in Ephesus, see Acts 18:26), with the church in their house (1 Corinthians 16:19), and from all the brethren (1 Corinthians 16:20) at Ephesus, where Paul probably was at that time. All these sent greetings to the church at Corinth through him.
Christianity does not destroy civility and good manners. Paul found room in an epistle dealing with important matters to send the greetings of friends. Religion should promote a courteous and kind spirit toward all. Those who think it encourages a sour or unfriendly temper misunderstand it. Some of these brethren salute them “much in the Lord.” Christian greetings are not empty words; they express sincere goodwill and come with heartfelt prayers for divine grace and blessing. Those who greet others “in the Lord” wish them all good from the Lord and commend them to His favor.
We also read of a church in a private family (1 Corinthians 16:19). It is likely that the family itself was called the church in their house. Every Christian family should in some sense be a church. In special cases—such as being isolated from other believers—they should function as a church themselves, if large enough, and live in obedience to Christian ordinances. In ordinary cases, they should live by Christian principles and offer daily worship. Wherever two or three are gathered in Christ’s name, He is among them (Matthew 18:20).
To these salutations Paul adds this advice: that they should greet one another with a holy kiss (1 Corinthians 16:20), or in other words, with sincere goodwill—a gentle rebuke to their divisions. When believers far away loved and greeted them as brethren, it would be shameful for them not to love one another. The love of the brethren should be a strong encouragement to mutual love.
Paul then adds his own greeting: “The salutation of me Paul with my own hand” (1 Corinthians 16:21). It is reasonable to think that a secretary wrote most of the epistle from Paul’s dictation, but he signed it himself so they would know it was genuine. As he said elsewhere, “This is my mark in every letter; this is how I write” (2 Thessalonians 3:17). He did this in every epistle he did not write entirely by his own hand (see Galatians 6:11). The churches who received apostolic letters were thus assured that they were authentic and inspired.
Paul would not be behind the rest of the brethren in affection toward the Corinthians. After conveying their greetings, he adds his own.
He then closes with a solemn warning: “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. Maranatha” (1 Corinthians 16:22). Sometimes warnings are necessary to stir holy fear, which is a good friend to both faith and obedience (Proverbs 28:14).
The person described here is one “who does not love the Lord Jesus Christ.” This might refer to those who blaspheme Christ, reject His teaching, despise His institutions, or through pride of worldly wisdom scorn His revelation. It serves as both a warning and a rebuke to the Corinthians, urging them not to be led away from the simplicity of the gospel by worldly teachers who mocked its truths.
Those who turn away from Christ will bring on themselves dreadful judgment. Others interpret the words simply as referring to those who lack sincere love for Christ. Many speak often of Him but do not truly love Him, refusing to have Him rule over them (Luke 19:27). None love Him in truth who do not love His laws and keep His commandments (John 14:15). There are many Christians in name who do not love Christ sincerely. But can anything be more shameful than not loving the One who loved us and gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:20)? What is the purpose of love itself if we are unmoved by such love and ungrateful to such a Savior?
The sentence upon such a person is this: “Let him be accursed. Maranatha,” meaning, “Let him lie under the heaviest curse, separated from God’s people and His favor, and delivered to His vengeance.” “Maranatha” is a Syriac phrase meaning “The Lord comes.” The same Lord whom they do not love will come to execute judgment. To be condemned by Him—to be placed on His left hand—will be dreadful indeed. “If He destroys, who can save?” (Deuteronomy 32:39). Those who fall under His sentence will perish forever. The wrath of God remains on everyone who does not believe in the Son (John 3:36), and true faith always produces sincere love to Him. Those who do not love Him cannot truly believe in Him.
Paul ends with good wishes and expressions of love for them. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (1 Corinthians 16:23). As if to say, “Though I warn you of His displeasure, I sincerely wish you His favor and eternal love.” The grace of Christ includes every good thing for time and eternity. To wish this grace for our friends is to wish them the greatest good. We should heartily pray that all may value and obtain this grace. The most serious warnings flow from genuine love. We may warn our friends that if they do not love the Lord Jesus, they will perish—and yet truly desire that the grace of Christ be with them.
Finally, he adds: “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen” (1 Corinthians 16:24). Though he had spoken to them sternly and corrected their faults, he ends in love. He assures them that his affection for them is sincere and grounded in Christ. He loves them not with mere human fondness but with Christian affection, for Christ’s sake. His love remains with them as long as their hearts are with Christ and devoted to His cause.
We should love all who are in Christ and who love Him sincerely. While we are to show kindness to all, those who belong to Christ should have our deepest affection. May our love always be with all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.