2 Corinthians 13:12

KJV

Greet one another with an holy kiss.

KJV (with Strong's)

Greet {G782} one another {G240} with {G1722} an holy {G40} kiss {G5370}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Berean Standard Bible

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

American Standard Version

Salute one another with a holy kiss.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In 2 Corinthians 13:12, the Apostle Paul delivers a concise yet profound instruction to the Corinthian believers: "Greet one another with an holy kiss." This concluding exhortation, nestled within his final remarks, serves as a powerful call for the community to embody genuine affection, unity, and spiritual purity, urging them to express their mutual love and reconciliation after a period of significant tension and correction.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse appears as part of Paul's concluding remarks in his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, immediately following his final, earnest appeals for the church to be perfected, to be comforted, to be united in mind, and to live in peace, thereby ensuring the God of love and peace would be with them ([2 Corinthians 13:11](/2_corinthians/13-11 "Paul's Final Exhortations")). The entire letter has been a complex interplay of defense of his apostleship, stern rebukes for moral and doctrinal failings, and tender expressions of pastoral love and concern. The command to "greet one another with an holy kiss" functions as a practical, tangible expression of the reconciliation and unity Paul has so ardently sought to restore within this fractured community, moving from theological instruction and disciplinary warnings to a direct call for communal harmony and affection.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East and Greco-Roman world, a kiss was a common and significant form of greeting, demonstrating respect, affection, and solidarity among family, friends, and even business associates. It was not necessarily romantic or sensual, but a customary social gesture, often involving a kiss on the cheek, hand, or even the beard. Within early Christian communities, this cultural practice was adopted and imbued with new spiritual meaning. The early church, often meeting in homes and forming close-knit communities, used such greetings to affirm their shared identity in Christ, transcending social barriers and fostering deep bonds of fellowship. The instruction reflects a common practice of the time, but with a crucial spiritual qualifier that distinguished Christian greetings from mere social custom.
* **Key Themes:** The command in this verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in 2 Corinthians and Paul's broader theology. It underscores the theme of **Christian Unity and Reconciliation**, a persistent concern for Paul given the divisions and strife in Corinth. It also highlights **Pure Affection and Fellowship**, emphasizing that the bonds among believers are not merely social but spiritual, requiring a love that is "holy" and set apart. This ties into the theme of **Sanctification**, where believers are called to live lives that reflect their consecrated status in Christ, even in their everyday interactions. Furthermore, it serves as a practical manifestation of **Agape Love**, the self-sacrificial, divine love that Paul frequently champions as the hallmark of Christian discipleship, as seen in his earlier emphasis on love in [1 Corinthians 13](/1_corinthians/13 "The Love Chapter") and his call for reconciliation throughout [2 Corinthians](/2_corinthians "Paul's Defense and Reconciliation").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Greet (Greek, _aspázomai'_):** This verb signifies to "enfold in the arms," and by extension, to salute, welcome, or embrace. It conveys a sense of warmth, acceptance, and personal connection, indicating more than a casual acknowledgment but a genuine, heartfelt welcome. Paul uses this word frequently in his epistles to convey his personal greetings and to instruct believers to extend similar warmth to one another.
* **one another (Greek, _allḗlōn'_):** This reciprocal pronoun emphasizes mutuality and reciprocity. The greeting is not unidirectional but is to be exchanged among all members of the community, fostering a shared responsibility for peace and unity within the body of Christ. It underscores the communal nature of Christian life and the relational aspect of their faith.
* **holy (Greek, _hágios'_):** Derived from a root suggesting "an awful thing" or something set apart, this adjective means sacred, pure, morally blameless, or consecrated. When applied to the kiss, it transforms a common cultural gesture into a sacred act. It distinguishes the Christian greeting from any secular or impure form of affection, emphasizing its spiritual purity, sincerity, and consecration to God. It implies that the affection shared among believers is to be free from hypocrisy, sensuality, or any form of defilement, reflecting the sanctity of their relationship in Christ.
* **kiss (Greek, _phílēma'_):** This noun specifically refers to a kiss of affection, friendship, or greeting. In this context, it denotes a tangible expression of warmth and fellowship. Combined with "holy," it points to a physical gesture that embodies spiritual purity and genuine brotherly love, rather than a romantic or sensual act.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Greet one another":** This imperative command highlights the active responsibility of each believer to initiate and participate in expressions of fellowship and welcome within the Christian community. The reciprocal nature ("one another") underscores the mutual obligation and shared experience of belonging, fostering a sense of collective identity and responsibility for the well-being of the body. It implies a breaking down of barriers and an intentional reaching out to fellow believers.
* **"with an holy kiss":** This phrase specifies the manner and quality of the greeting. The "kiss" is the culturally appropriate physical gesture of affection and welcome. The crucial qualifier "holy" (hágios) elevates this ordinary social custom to a sacred act, consecrated by the Spirit and reflecting the purity and sincerity of Christian love. It means the greeting must be genuine, free from pretense, hypocrisy, or any impure motive, embodying the set-apart nature of those who belong to Christ. It signifies a pure, sincere, and spiritually-minded expression of mutual love and acceptance among God's people.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs **Imperative Mood** in his command ("Greet!"), emphasizing the non-negotiable nature of this instruction for the Corinthian believers. The phrase "holy kiss" functions as a **Metonymy**, where the specific gesture (the kiss) stands for the broader concept of pure, sincere, and unifying Christian fellowship. The adjective "**holy**" acts as a **Qualifier**, transforming a common cultural practice into a distinctively Christian one, imbuing it with theological significance and setting it apart from secular expressions. This qualification also serves as a form of **Euphemism** or **Refinement**, ensuring the physical act is understood in its spiritual, rather than carnal, context, thereby preventing misinterpretation or abuse.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The instruction to "greet one another with an holy kiss" transcends a mere social custom, becoming a theological statement about the nature of Christian community. It emphasizes that the bonds uniting believers are sacred, rooted in their shared identity in Christ and consecrated by the Holy Spirit. This greeting embodies the practical outworking of Christian love (agape), promoting unity, reconciliation, and genuine affection within the body of Christ. It serves as a visible sign of peace and mutual acceptance, particularly poignant in a church that had experienced significant internal strife and division. The "holiness" of the kiss underscores the call to purity in all aspects of Christian life, including interpersonal relationships, reflecting the sanctifying work of God among His people.

* [Romans 16:16](/romans/16-16 "Paul's Greeting to the Roman Church")
* [1 Corinthians 16:20](/1_corinthians/16-20 "Paul's Final Greetings to Corinth")
* [1 Thessalonians 5:26](/1_thessalonians/5-26 "Paul's Exhortation for a Holy Kiss")
* [1 Peter 5:14](/1_peter/5-14 "Peter's Exhortation for a Kiss of Love")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the literal "holy kiss" may not be a culturally appropriate or common greeting in all contemporary church settings, the underlying principles of this command remain profoundly relevant for Christian fellowship today. This verse challenges believers to cultivate a church environment characterized by genuine warmth, sincere affection, and profound unity. It calls us to actively seek reconciliation where there is division, to extend radical hospitality to all, and to express our love for one another in ways that are pure, authentic, and honoring to God. This might manifest as a warm handshake, a sincere hug, an attentive listening ear, or a genuine smile that communicates acceptance and belonging. The essence is to ensure that our interactions within the body of Christ are always marked by spiritual integrity, mutual respect, and a love that reflects the holiness of God, fostering a community where every member feels truly valued, seen, and embraced as a fellow heir of grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does my current way of greeting fellow believers reflect "holy" affection and genuine unity?**
* **In what ways can my church community cultivate deeper, more sincere expressions of love and acceptance among its members, even if a literal "kiss" is not culturally appropriate?**
* **Are there any divisions or unresolved conflicts in my relationships within the church that I need to address with a spirit of reconciliation and "holy" love?**
* **How can I ensure my interactions with other believers are always characterized by purity, sincerity, and Christ-like respect?**

### FAQ
**What does "holy kiss" mean in a modern context?**

Answer: In a modern context, the "holy kiss" is understood not as a prescriptive physical act for all cultures and times, but as a timeless principle for Christian fellowship. It means that believers should greet one another with genuine, pure, and sincere affection, free from hypocrisy, sensuality, or ulterior motives. The specific expression of this greeting will vary culturally—it could be a warm handshake, a hug, a sincere smile, or an earnest word of welcome. The key is the "holiness" of the interaction, reflecting the set-apart nature of those who belong to Christ and the purity of their shared love. It emphasizes the importance of fostering unity, reconciliation, and deep, respectful bonds within the Christian community, as highlighted by Paul's broader teachings on love and unity (e.g., [Romans 12:10](/romans/12-10 "Be devoted to one another in love")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The command to "greet one another with an holy kiss" finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Christ Himself is the embodiment of holy love and reconciliation. His entire ministry was a divine "greeting" to humanity, extending grace, peace, and acceptance to a world alienated by sin. He broke down the dividing wall of hostility through His sacrifice on the cross, creating one new humanity from Jew and Gentile ([Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14-16 "Christ Our Peace")). The "holy kiss" therefore becomes a tangible expression of the new community forged by Christ's atoning work, where believers, once separated, are now united in Him, reflecting His own pure and self-sacrificial love. It is a foretaste of the perfect fellowship and unity that will characterize God's redeemed people in the new heavens and new earth, all made possible by the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")). In essence, when believers greet one another with holy affection, they are participating in and proclaiming the reconciling love of Christ that binds them together as one body, sanctified and set apart by His Spirit ([1 Corinthians 12:13](/1_corinthians/12-13 "One Body in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Romans 16:16

Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

1 Peter 5:14

Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace [be] with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:26

Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

1 Corinthians 16:20

All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.