Jamey Bennett summarizes an interesting argument by Peter Toon against the change from “And with your Spirit” to “And also with you” as a response to “The Lord be with you”. Setting the exchange in the context of the liturgy and the relationship of the pastor/priest to the people is helpful, although I am unconvinced that the same meaning could not be found with “And also with you”.
The real question, as far as I’m concerned (and perhaps this is addressed in the book that Jamey is summarizing) is this: Why don’t we respond with “The Lord bless you”? (See Ruth 2:4)
