The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

1 Corinthians 16:19, 20

I love this aside.  Paul reveals much in his few words.  Let’s look at a few.

“Churches in the province of Asia send you greetings.”  Paul is writing to the believers in the mighty city of Corinth were many populations made their homes.   Corinth was indicative of what was happening as the believer groups grew in mixed cultural locations.

A fellowship of believers met in the house of Aquila and Priscilla.  Paul is identifying with this fellowship, sending, in their name so to speak, greetings to other groups of believers in Asia.  This couple amaze me.  They embody the Gospel and provide fellowship for all believers in their community.

I see in this picture that the dynamic church that grew in Turkey was a house church.  No big churches, no mention of synagogues, just homes!  The home of Priscilla and Aquilla, husband and wife, was a live center for growth and learning.  These days we seem to focus on large churches.  I suppose size makes little difference.  Yet is refreshing to see that the early church was a network of homes where believers met.

Having acknowledged their multiethnic mix, Paul surprises us with his final word on the matter. “Greet one another with a holy kiss.”  That is intimacy!  By such kissing the unity is acknowledged and strengthened.