1 Corinthians 16:20
All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
Original Language Analysis
Ἀσπάσασθε
Greet ye
G782
Ἀσπάσασθε
Greet ye
Strong's:
G782
Word #:
1 of 10
to enfold in the arms, i.e., (by implication) to salute, (figuratively) to welcome
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 10
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀδελφοὶ
the brethren
G80
ἀδελφοὶ
the brethren
Strong's:
G80
Word #:
4 of 10
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like g0001)
Historical Context
The kiss greeting, common in Mediterranean culture, was adopted by Christians as a liturgical practice in worship services. Early church fathers (Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria) describe the holy kiss as part of Christian worship. By the medieval period it evolved into the "kiss of peace" still practiced in some liturgical traditions. The kiss demonstrated reconciliation and equality, shocking in a stratified society.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does Paul repeatedly command Christians to greet with a holy kiss—what theological or pastoral purpose does it serve?
- How do physical expressions of affection (handshake, embrace, kiss) incarnate spiritual realities of Christian unity?
- What contemporary practices serve the same function as the holy kiss in expressing reconciliation and fellowship?
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Analysis & Commentary
All the brethren greet you—This corporate greeting, broader than the Asian churches (v. 19), likely includes Paul's ministry team in Ephesus and perhaps converts from across his mission field. The repetition of greetings emphasizes relational connectivity across the early Christian network.
Greet ye one another with an holy kiss—Philēma hagion (φίλημα ἅγιον, "holy kiss") appears five times in the New Testament (Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:26, 1 Peter 5:14). The kiss was a standard Mediterranean greeting between family and friends; Paul sanctifies it as hagion (ἅγιον, "holy"), set apart for Christian fellowship. This physical expression of unity and affection countered Corinthian factionalism. The church is family, not merely an organization, and physical affection expresses spiritual reality.