1 Corinthians 16:20 Meaning: What Does a 'Holy Kiss' Mean?

Three words from this verse open up its meaning. First, brothers (adelphoi), not just biological siblings, but a new family created by faith in Christ. Paul uses this word over and over in this letter, reminding them that despite all their arguments, they belong to each other.

Second, the verb greet (aspazomai) carries more warmth than a wave across the street. It means to draw someone close, to welcome them with intention. Paul uses it both for what the Ephesians are doing (sending their greeting from afar) and what the Corinthians are to do face to face.

And then, kiss (philēma), modified by holy (hagios). A kiss was an ordinary gesture of friendship in that culture, and they already knew how to do it. Paul is not introducing a new custom. He is stamping it with the word holy, set apart, sacred. The same mouth that once used this gesture for any friend now uses it for a brother or sister in Christ. The ordinary becomes a vessel of the divine.

Early Christians understood the holy kiss as part of their worship gatherings. Justin Martyr, writing in the second century, describes it happening after prayers, before the bread and wine were brought in. In many Eastern churches today, men and women still kiss each other on the cheek as a greeting of peace.

Western traditions gradually replaced the kiss with a handshake or a passing of the sign of peace. The Roman Catholic Mass at one point used a metal plaque called the pax that was kissed and passed around. Most Protestant churches today simply shake hands or embrace. The form has changed, but the purpose remains: to express that the love of Christ runs through the community, visible and physical.

Some readers take Paul's words as a rule that every Christian must literally kiss every other Christian on the cheek every time they meet. In fact, Paul is giving a culturally appropriate expression of love, not a universal ritual. The word holy guards the meaning: it is a kiss given in the Spirit, not a mere custom. What matters is that our greeting is marked by genuine, set-apart affection, whatever form it takes in your setting.

This week, pay attention to how you greet your brothers and sisters in Christ. A quick nod or a distracted hello may be polite, but Paul is inviting you to something warmer. When you see someone from your church, take a moment to really welcome them. Let your handshake be firm, your smile real, your hug, if that fits your culture, a true embrace. You are not just saying hello. You are confirming that you belong to the same family. The holy kiss has become a holy handshake, a holy wave, a holy look of recognition. Let your greeting carry the holiness of Christ.