The Ground Of The Church

[YP0534]

Originally Posted by Hope

I had my own reasons in the past for thinking the "church in their house" included all the individuals in the greeting. After your expounding dear YP0534, the entire passage makes better sense.

I did a little further digging.

Although the supplied word "greet" is commonly placed in translations without identifying that it was supplied, Amplified and the Recovery Version also make clear that it was supplied. (I'll note in passing that Lee believed that they lived in Rome, according to his footnote.)

The gloss in my Nestle-Marshall interlinear, which includes punctuation, seems to favor the reading I've suggested. The notes in the Expositor's Greek Testament states that their home may have been in Ephesus, which would also corroborate my reading.

The Greek word itself aspazomai is odd. It appears to be an "aloha" sort of term that could be used for different types of salutation, both initial hello and bidding adieu. Sometimes it has been translated as "embrace," which I'll note can have two meanings in English, as can "welcome."

Vine suggests "welcome" as a translation and that choice would reinforce my reading.

Bauer also suggests "welcome" as a rendering and at one place notes:

Mt. 5:47 - certainly means more than 'greet'; be fond of, cherish, be devoted to, like are better.

Kittel states (along with pages of other stuff!):

The basic meaning of the term seems to be 'to embrace.'

Louw & Nida, in reference to the occurrence at He 11.33, write:

to be happy about something, on the basis that it would prove particularly welcome (thus implying a type of future orientation) - 'to be happy about, to anticipate with pleasure.' [Gk. omitted] 'but from a long way off they saw them (the promises) and anticipated them with pleasure' He 11.33....

to welcome something or someone, with focus upon the initial greeting - 'to welcome, to accept gladly.' [Gk omitted] 'not having received the promises but from a long way off they saw them and welcomed them' He. 11.33...

It occurred to me that there may be a little iceberg tip here. This very term in the often neglected sections of the New Testament epistles deals directly with the practical act of receiving believers. There's apparently an affectionate element implied in the term as relates between believers and if Paul were giving direction to warmly welcome these listed ones instead of merely telling them 'hi' upon reading of the epistle, it paints a far more vivid picture of relationships that are merely alluded to. It's not merely a partial roster of the assembly in Rome but instead a list of approved persons who might be expected to minister something in Rome upon their arrival. And Paul concludes the section by issuing a warning concerning divisiveness.

I think I may need to consider the New Testament "greetings" further in this light...