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What is meant by a holy kiss?

The Holy Kiss Implied Full Acceptance In New Testament times, a kiss on the cheek was used for greeting and implied friendship and acceptance. A kiss of greeting between Christians implied that no elite groups existed and that all were equally loved and accepted—not only by God—but by one other.

gcu.edu - Theology Thursday: Greet One Another with a Kiss | GCU Blog

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Promotion

“Greet one another with a holy kiss.” – Romans 16:16, NIV

Some of the “one another” commands in the New Testament are familiar to us, for example, “Love one another” (John 13:34) and “Be kind to one another” (Ephesians 4:32). We can generally find applications for these fairly readily. For example, if my neighbor gets sick, I can help in practical ways such as offering to bring over a meal.

What About the “Holy Kiss” Command?

But how do I apply the command to greet someone “with a holy kiss” (1 Corinthians 16:20) or a “kiss of love” (1 Peter 5:14). This seems particularly strange to us in American culture. In Europe, greeting with a kind of stylized kiss is more common. In any case, how do we deal with this command to greet one another with a kiss?

Interpreting Biblical Commands

This brings us up against the very important question of how biblical commands work. Many commands in the Bible are given as examples of how to apply more general principles. For example, Deuteronomy 22:8 says, “When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof.” This command is an application of the principle in Leviticus 19:18: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Today, most of us do not spend time on our roofs. A modern application of “Love your neighbor as yourself” would be to build a railing around a deck or a fence around a swimming pool. The Bible often presents a principle, provides a few examples, and then leaves it to us to create other applications of the principle.

The Holy Kiss Implied Full Acceptance

Returning to the idea of a holy kiss, a major issue facing the first New Testament churches was tension between Jewish and non-Jewish (gentile) believers. Jesus and the New Testament writers stressed the equal inclusion of all groups into the family of God. In New Testament times, a kiss on the cheek was used for greeting and implied friendship and acceptance. A kiss of greeting between Christians implied that no elite groups existed and that all were equally loved and accepted—not only by God—but by one other.

Applying the Kiss of Love Today

How do we demonstrate with a greeting the principle that all are accepted equally in Christ? A handshake by itself does not necessarily show acceptance. In today’s context, we can add eye contact and some kind words. This is how we can show the same kind of acceptance that was implied by the “holy kiss” or the “kiss of love.” Christians are a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17) that includes people from all “nations, tongues, and tribes” (Revelation 7:9). All are accepted by God and we can demonstrate that with a warm greeting. Want to learn more about theology? Explore other Theology Thursday blogs and check out Grand Canyon University’s College of Theology and our degree programs. Click on the Request Info button at the top of your screen to get started.

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Promotion

What is Psalms 56 3?

3 What time I am afraid, I will atrust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my atrust; I will not bfear what flesh can do unto me. 5 Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

churchofjesuschrist.org - Psalm 56 - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

To the chief Musician upon Jonath-elem-rechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. David seeks mercy, trusts in and praises the Lord, and thanks Him for deliverance. 1 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would aswallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. 2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.

3 What time I am afraid, I will atrust in thee.

4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my atrust; I will not bfear what flesh can do unto me. 5 Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. 6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they await for my soul. 7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy abook?

9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. 10 In God will I praise his word: in the Lord will I praise his word. 11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. 12 Thy avows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.

13 For thou hast delivered my asoul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may bwalk before God in the light of the living?

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