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Bible Notes - Tabernacle Commentaries
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1 Thessalonians 5:26
Comments
The holy kiss, or kiss of charity, appears five times in the New Testament epistles. It was a widespread 1st century greeting. Clearly the manner of carrying out this varies with cultures. We are told it was only between those of the same gender. What did it express? Affection, concern for each other’s welfare, a family bond in Christ. It is one of the few examples in the New Testament of a command with a cultural coat. Our handshake is better as a universal greeting.The debate about the meaning of this text is whether Paul means, greet one another, or whether he means, greet all from me. Does he want elders at the doors to do this? No, it is an expression.
Application
In every culture we must find a way of expressing this affection. If I do not express what I feel, I soon cease to feel it. We do have a responsibility to greet and smile; it is not enough to look gloomy and ignore the other. We have a responsibility not just to respond with a gruff silence. And we have to be sincere. ‘I have to shake hands’: It is a good way of curbing our worst feelings.
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