1-Thessalonians - 5:26



26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of 1-Thessalonians 5:26.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss.
Greet all the Lord's followers with a sacred kiss.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Salute all the brethren with an holy kiss. As to the kiss, it was a customary token of salutation, as has been stated elsewhere. [1] In these words, however, he declares his affection towards all the saints.

Footnotes

1 - See Calvin on the Corinthians, [58]vol. 2, p. 78.

Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss - see the notes on Romans 16:16.

Greet all the brethren - See the note on Romans 16:16. Instead of all the brethren, the Coptic has, greet one another; a reading not noticed by either Griesbach or Wetstein.

Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. In opposition, to an unchaste and hypocritical one. His meaning is, that they would salute the members of the church in his name, and give his Christian love and affections to them. And his view is to recommend to them brotherly love to each other, and to stir them up to the mutual exercise of it more and more.

Hence it appears this Epistle was first handed to the elders, who communicated it to "the brethren."
holy kiss--pure and chaste. "A kiss of charity" (1-Peter 5:14). A token of Christian fellowship in those days (compare Luke 7:45; Acts 20:37), as it is a common mode of salutation in many countries. The custom hence arose in the early Church of passing the kiss through the congregation at the holy communion [JUSTIN MARTYR, Apology, 1.65; Apostolic Constitutions, 2.57], the men kissing the men, and the women the women, in the Lord. So in the Syrian Church each takes his neighbor's right hand and gives the salutation, "Peace."

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