Navigation: Index >> Previous >> Next

Scripture Reading : Romans 16:16

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

To this day, the kiss is a form of greeting in Eastern lands. Whenever friend meets friend, they greet one another in this way. It is a mark of respect and friendship. Five times in the New Testament, Christians are exhorted to greet one another in this fashion¹. In Paul's epistles it is always a "holy kiss," while Peter speaks of a "kiss of love." The expression "one another," when used with the kiss, is always in the masculine gender and 1 Thessalonians 5:26 especially mentions "the brethren." "Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss." This was not promiscuous kissing between women and men. Today, in western lands the kiss has a different meaning than in the days of the apostles.

The hand shake

In western lands the customary form of greeting is the handshake. When Christians in western lands heartily greet one another with a hand shake, they fulfill the spirit of this exhortation. The thought behind the verse is that Christians should always keep themselves in a condition wherein they can sincerely greet any of the Lord's people. If one is in the East or even in France , then a literal observance of the scriptural admonition could be advocated.

A holy kiss

If sincere Christians in western lands sought still to greet one another with a holy kiss, perhaps few could find fault with it. However, the custom here in greeting one another is the practice of a handshake. In any case, it is always to be a "holy kiss." They say the Greek Christians still practice greeting one another with a holy kiss.

Some Christians still follow this practice

William Harrison  was once asked to speak in a small country community, almost cut off from modern civilization. He wrote:

I invited a fellow who lived in that small town to attend the Gospel meeting. He said, "Oh, that is the church where they greet one another with a holy kiss." I told him I did not think so, at least I had not heard of it. However, I found out later that one of the elders of the church in that place believed in keeping this exhortation literally, and the congregation practiced it, too.

Harrison went on to say that “this gave the place an unsavory reputation with some people, and for this reason I have always questioned the wisdom of the practice in America .”

A holy hand shake

While a "holy kiss" might not be accepted by western society in our age, certainly a holy handshake is. Always seek to be in a condition where you can greet any of the Lord's people at any time. Hold no grudge against another Christian. A preacher presented a sermon on Ephesians 4:32; "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." He stressed especially "forgiving one another." After the service, as he shook hands with departing members and visitors, he noticed that one man seemed to be trembling. "What is the matter, are you sick?" "No, I’m not sick." "Why are you trembling?" "A brother shook hands with me tonight for the first time in six years." It was good that he shook hands with him that night, but sad that he would not do so for six years. Are there any whom you cannot greet with a holy hand shake? Get it settled and straightened out as soon as you possibly can.

Footnote:

¹ Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14.