12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you.
13:12
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
A kiss in the New Testament is a sign of respect and fellowship (Ro 16:16; 1 Co 16:20; 1 Th 5:26; 1 Pe 5:14). A “holy” kiss is uniquely set apart for Christians. The term “holy” shows that this kiss is not erotic in any sense. It was a kiss between saints. The kiss was usually executed by touching a cheek between members of the same sex.
13:13
All the saints greet you.
The “saints” here were believers in Macedonia, where Paul was while writing 2 Corinthians. These saints sent greetings to the Corinthians.
PRINCIPLE:
A church should preserve the spirit of brotherhood.
APPLICATION:
The New Testament kiss was a symbol of affection (Lu 15:20). A “holy” kiss excluded erotic implications; it was a simple greeting. Christians should make every effort to preserve the spirit of brotherhood in a local church.
