Jesus Paul and Ancient Brotherhoods

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Alright, everybody—welcome back to the Sacred Greeks Podcast. I’m Dr. Lyman Montgomery, sittin’ here with my amazing co-host Janet. Today, we’re getting into a big question I hear all the time: Would Jesus or Paul have ever joined a fraternity? Or, maybe more to the point, is brotherhood—even with all its rituals and traditions—actually an issue for Christians? Now, most folks, especially in church circles, come at this with—well, let’s just say—a few… modern assumptions.

Janet

Lyman, you know, folks stay ready to pull out all the warnings the minute you mention 'brotherhood' and 'ritual' in the same breath as church. But y’all, let’s dial it back and look where Jesus and Paul actually lived. That world? It wasn’t all lone wolves and prophets on desert rocks—it was straight-up communal. Folks had guilds, apprenticeships, and brotherhoods everywhere. That’s how society kinda worked. In many ways, they resemble aspects of modern-day fraternities and sororities, I'm just saying!

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

That’s right, Janet. Look—Scripture calls Jesus a 'tekton,' not just a carpenter, but a trained craftsman. In those days, that meant a serious apprenticeship. Imagine living under someone’s roof, being tested, and learning discipline. It wasn’t just about building tables for the kitchen, you get what I mean?

Janet

Absolutely. You showed up, you submitted, you learned. If you couldn’t handle correction, you didn’t make it to ‘master.’ That’s formation, just like Luke said: Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, favor with God and people—growth by community, not isolation.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Exactly! And Paul, y’all know him as the apostle, but Acts 18:3 tells us straight up—he was a tentmaker. That meant guild life. These guilds weren’t all about worshipping some statue. They were about mutual support, protection, holding each other accountable… sounds a bit like some organizations we know today, right? Paul never rejected association—he rejected idolatry. There’s a difference. Let me share some historical facts about guilds in Jesus' and the Apostle Paul's time. They had oaths, handshakes or grips, secret phrases and rituals, just like modern-day Greek Letter Organizations. Here are a few examples: Masters swore to uphold quality standards, train apprentices properly, and maintain the guild's reputation. This was a public commitment to excellence."I solemnly promise to practice my trade with all diligence and skill, to produce only work of the highest quality, to train my apprentices faithfully, and to uphold the honor and reputation of this guild in all my dealings." The Grip of Recognition. Guild members used distinctive handshakes to identify fellow craftsmen when traveling. This was practical identification before photo IDs existed.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

The "carpenter's grip" involved pressing the thumb into a specific spot on the back of the hand while shaking, along with a specific finger position. This allowed traveling craftsmen to prove their training without documentation.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

The Holy Kiss with "Maranatha"The "holy kiss" (Greek: philēma hagion) practiced by 1st-century Christians was not a casual greeting but a liturgical act of recognition and benediction. Scholars suggest it was combined with the whispered Aramaic password "Maranatha" (meaning "Our Lord, come!" or "The Lord has come")—functioning as a secret Christian recognition phrase during times of persecution.In early Christian gatherings, the holy kiss was exchanged during worship assemblies, particularly before the Lord's Supper. Church historian Justin Martyr (c. 150 AD) describes this practice. The whispered word "Maranatha" (1 Corinthians 16:22) served as a verbal password—only genuine believers would know and respond to this Aramaic phrase. This combination of physical gesture (kiss) plus whispered password directly parallels guild practices of grip plus password for identification.

Janet

Wow, that's a lot of knowledge, you're kicking frat. Jesus and Apostle Paul used guild language, for example, Apostle Pal talking about the Church as a 'body,' 'members,' ‘building’—he straight-up borrowed guild structure language. New Testament Church learned a lot from secular brotherhoods. They adapted what worked for encouraging folks and left the idols behind.

Janet

Let’s talk about that word, because, Lord, if I had a nickel for every time someone said, “Fraternities are just pagan clubs in disguise”—whew! The word ‘fraternity’ actually comes from the Latin fraternitas, which means… brotherhood. That’s it. Not a secret religion, not a mystery cult. Another word found in scripture is the word koinonia. You were first introduced to this word while pledging Phi Beta Sigma back in college, I heard you say. Fraternities are not a modern invention. The concept of koinonia (κοινωνία)—Greek for "fellowship," "partnership," or "communion"—appears over 20 times in the New Testament and describes the essential fraternal bond between believers. When Scripture commands believers to have koinonia with one another, it commands exactly what Greek-letter organizations create: shared life, mutual support, common identity, and exclusive fellowship.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

I gotta say, when I first joined my fraternity—Phi Beta Sigma—I was in that confused headspace too. All the talk about rituals, symbols, oaths? I’ll admit, I thought, “Is this crossing the line? Is this some hidden worship service?” But when I actually studied the history and looked at what Scripture said, it clicked—it’s about intent. Rituals and oaths, they aren’t worship unless you point them toward a god. Ancient guilds did ceremonies for teaching, not because they were worship services.

Janet

Yup, and even in the New Testament, ‘brother’—adelphos—was old-school language. Churches used it. Jesus and Paul lived a world where fraternity just meant a structured community of accountability and support. The problem ain’t the structure—it’s who’s getting honored by it.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Exactly. The New Testament’s clear—Paul calls churches ‘brothers.’ Those Latin and Greek words, they were always about covenant, mutual responsibility, belonging. Modern Greek-letter organizations borrowed an ancient idea. The struggle is that folks see symbols and jump to conclusions, but those things have always existed—for marking identity, for teaching, for reminding folks what they stand for. It’s not about worship, unless you make it that. Here is what the research shows: The earliest documented password in history comes from Scripture itself. The Gileadites used "Shibboleth" to identify enemy Ephraimites who couldn't pronounce the "sh" sound. This demonstrates that password-based recognition systems have biblical precedent dating back over 3,000 years. Roman-era craftsmen guilds had "secret methods of recognition"—but actual passwords were never written down, proving how seriously they guarded secrets.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

That’s a perfect segue, Janet. If you wanna know how to make sense of all this today, Romans 14 gives us the map. Paul basically says, "Look, people are going to have different convictions about things like food, days, or associations." Each person’s got to be convinced in their own mind without violating their conscience.

Janet

Mmm, yes. That’s real. You ever have one of those younger Zeta sisters just trembling, worried—"Did I mess up by joining? Am I somehow outside God’s will?" I tell them—baby, examine your motives. Jesus called disciples to live like a brotherhood, but never let structure replace the Lord. It’s idolatry if something or someone replaces God as your center. I read that the early church functioned as a secret society during persecution. They used the Ichthys fish symbol as a recognition sign, the password "Maranatha" (which Paul didn't translate, assuming readers knew it), the Holy Kiss as a ritual greeting commanded 5 times in Scripture, and a catechumenate of 1-3 years of initiation with fasting, exorcism, and new names. These practices directly parallel modern fraternal recognition rituals. Otherwise, you can enjoy the support and accountability of community—with a clear conscience, if it’s all for God’s glory.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

And that’s the difference. Jesus made a disciplined brotherhood outta fishermen and tax collectors. The question was never about doing away with structure—it’s who’s the Lord over the structure. Let’s not forget that.

Janet

So how do we live that out now? First, y’all, whatever group you’re in—fraternity, guild, ministry committee—hold it up to what the Word says. Are you growing spiritually there, or is it pulling you away? If you see a ritual or symbol coming, pause and pray. Ask yourself: Does this honor God, or is it just tradition? Don’t be afraid to say “no” to something that goes against your faith, but don’t say "no" just because it’s different.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Well said, Janet. Part of Christian liberty is being wise—setting boundaries, not just going through motions. That can look like speaking up if a fraternity event ever crosses the line, or even choosing to opt out of certain traditions. But more than that, it’s about building your true brotherhood inside the church—where accountability, personal growth, and mutual support are the norm, not the exception.

Janet

Exactly. Don’t hide your light under external ceremonies. Let’s focus on relationships and walk together—real, authentic brotherhood, not just ceremonies or handshakes.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Alright, now we're talking. What good is it to have all this knowledge and not act on it? Brotherly love isn't just talk—it's showing up for people. Serve side-by-side, support each other when things get rough, and make space for folks to be honest about what they need.

Janet

That’s where intentional discipleship comes in. When was the last time you checked in on your brothers—or sisters, for that matter? Being Greek taught me about accountability, but being a follower of Christ taught me compassion and encouragement. Mix those together, and you end up with a community where nobody falls through the cracks.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Churches ought to organize things like prayer groups, mentoring, even service projects—something that brings people together over God’s heart. That’s how you build real community, not just a roster of names.

Janet

You wanna build real brotherhood? Grab a few folks and start a Bible study—no big show, just honest conversation and love. That’s where the deep relationships start. Or get folks together for a service project. Nothing like sweating out in the community to pull people together in mission.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

And you know what else? Churches should lift up mentorship—pairing up seasoned folks with newer believers. I see too many folks come and go without ever getting rooted. Lifelong bonds form when someone takes the time to walk alongside you, not just preach at you. Brotherhood is built in trenches, not just pews.

Janet

That’s it. If the church led the way in this, we'd see less folks drifting between organizations looking for where they belong. Real brotherhood draws people in for the right reasons.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Let’s dig a little deeper. Genuine brotherhood doesn’t happen by accident. Try starting prayer partnerships—folks who pray for each other, not just 'about' each other. That builds real trust and intimacy.

Janet

And have events where people share real testimonies, y’all—not just the good stuff, but struggles too. That’s how trust grows. You see that you’re not alone. We’ve done accountability groups with weekly check-ins—let me tell you, folks grow fast when they know someone cares and is watching out for them.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

Mmm, and it breaks down that church mask. Transparent brotherhood is what sets us apart—folks who can say, “Hey, here’s where I’m weak, can you pray for me?” That’s where real spiritual growth happens.

Janet

If you wanna take it even further, practice intentional listening. When someone’s sharing—really listen. Create a safe place, don’t just rush to fix them. That way, trust gets stronger, and folks feel seen for real.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

And doing things together that build everyone up—like fasting, praying, and reading Scripture—creates unity. Make those disciplines shared, not just private. And don’t forget outreach—when we serve our communities as one, it’s a witness the world can't ignore. Bonds deepen when you roll up your sleeves side-by-side, loving folks as Jesus did. I know this podcast was longer than the previous, but I had to show the receipts. Check out the show notes for more references, such as Meeks, Wayne A. The First Urban Christians. Yale University Press. Deissmann, Adolf. Light from the Ancient East. Baker AcademicBanks, Robert. Paul’s Idea of Community. HendricksonActs 18:3; Luke 2:52; Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8; Ephesians 2

Janet

Amen. Brotherhood—Christian brotherhood—means locking arms for the long haul. That’s what will sustain us, hold us accountable, and let us reflect Christ better—inside and outside our organizations.

Dr. Lyman Montgomery

That wraps us up for today, family. Remember, structure isn’t the problem—lordship is. Ask who sits on the throne and build your brotherhood from there. Janet, I always love having these conversations with you.

Janet

Same here, Lyman. And as always, thank y’all for tuning in to Sacred Greeks. Keep shining, keep questioning, and keep building real community. We’ll see y’all next time!