Should Christians Greet Each Other With A Holy Kiss?

Before you jump to conclusions and think that we are going to implement a new form of greeting on Sunday mornings other than shaking hands…just hear me out.

The apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth, "Greet one another with a holy kiss" (2 Corinthians 13:12).

In the first century, this “holy kiss,” was just what it says, holy. This was not an inappropriate kiss, it was an appropriate greeting. However, it is likely that a few centuries later, this practice was being abused. The “holy kiss” was a standard greeting in the first century exchanged between all people, and even between genders. Dunn’s commentary on Romans says it was a “form of social respect.”

Because our cultures have changed over the last two-thousand years, we can liken the “holy kiss” to shaking hands in our current society. So, just to be clear…let’s not start kissing everyone. However, let’s make an effort to be welcoming and greet one another with social respect via shaking hands or an appropriate hug.

This command to “greet one another” has more to it than just making an effort to be welcoming. This is Paul’s last known letter to the Corinthians, a people who were full of division and discord due to doctrinal ignorance. Paul’s letters to the Corinthians was an effort to create unity in a church that was divided by poor theological practice (1 Cor.1:10; 3:9; 7:17; 6:1-6; 12-15).

This desire for unity amidst the division is the undertone of Paul’s command to “greet one another.” In the context, he is giving them some parting instructions. But the larger context of the entire letter is that Paul is encouraging unity. So, as Paul closes his letter to the Corinthians, he commands them to “greet one another” in a socially appropriate manner, as a practical application for building up unity, breaking down divisions, and strengthening the church.

So the next time you shake another believer’s hand, realize that not only are you showing them respect, you are promoting unity in the body of Christ, encouraging healthy relationships, and strengthening the church.