1 Corinthians 16:20
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
1 Corinthians 16:20
20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
Chapter Context
1 Corinthians 16 is a pastoral epistle chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of truth, faith, judgment. Written during Paul's third missionary journey (c. 55 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: The church existed in a prosperous, cosmopolitan, morally permissive Roman colony.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-24: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it addresses timeless questions about faith, suffering, and divine purpose. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within 1 Corinthians and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
1 Corinthians 16:20
20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
Analysis
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.
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.
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?
Word Studies
- Holy: ἅγιος (Hagios) G40 - Holy, sacred, set apart
Cross-References
- Holy: Romans 16:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:26
- Parallel theme: 1 Peter 5:14