All the brothers here send you greetings
All the brothers here
This phrase indicates the unity and fellowship among the believers in the early church. The term "brothers" (Greek: ἀδελφοί, adelphoi) is often used in the New Testament to refer to fellow Christians, emphasizing the familial bond that believers share in Christ. This reflects the early Christian understanding of the church as a family, transcending biological ties and societal divisions. The use of "all" suggests a collective and unanimous expression of love and solidarity, highlighting the importance of community in the Christian faith.

send you greetings
The act of sending greetings (Greek: ἀσπάζονται, aspazontai) was a common practice in ancient letters, serving as a way to express goodwill and maintain relationships across distances. In the context of the early church, such greetings were more than mere formalities; they were expressions of spiritual kinship and mutual support. This practice underscores the interconnectedness of the early Christian communities, despite geographical separations. It also reflects the apostolic concern for maintaining unity and encouraging one another in the faith, as seen throughout Paul's epistles.

Greet one another with a holy kiss
Greet one another
The instruction to "greet" (Greek: ἀσπάσασθε, aspasasthe) one another is a call to active engagement and acknowledgment of fellow believers. In the early church, greetings were not just social niceties but were imbued with theological significance, representing acceptance, love, and peace within the body of Christ. This directive encourages believers to foster a welcoming and inclusive community, reflecting the love of Christ in their interactions.

with a holy kiss
The "holy kiss" (Greek: φίλημα ἅγιον, philema hagion) was a customary greeting among early Christians, symbolizing purity, love, and unity. In the cultural context of the time, a kiss was a common form of greeting, but by designating it as "holy," Paul elevates it to a sacred act, set apart for the expression of Christian fellowship. This practice served as a tangible reminder of the believers' shared faith and commitment to living out the holiness to which they were called. It also reinforced the breaking down of social barriers, as all members of the community, regardless of status, were to participate in this expression of mutual affection and respect.

1. Paul the Apostle
The author of 1 Corinthians, writing to the church in Corinth to address various issues and provide guidance.

2. The Church in Corinth
The recipients of the letter, a diverse Christian community in the city of Corinth, known for its cultural and moral challenges.

3. Brothers and Sisters
Refers to fellow believers in Christ, emphasizing the familial bond within the Christian community.

4. Holy Kiss
A cultural practice in the early church symbolizing love, unity, and peace among believers.Unity in the Body of Christ
The instruction to greet with a holy kiss underscores the importance of unity and love within the church. It serves as a reminder that believers are part of a spiritual family.

Cultural Expressions of Fellowship
While the holy kiss was a cultural expression of fellowship in the early church, the underlying principle is to find meaningful ways to express love and unity in our cultural context today.

Authentic Relationships
The greeting with a holy kiss calls for genuine, heartfelt relationships among believers, moving beyond superficial interactions to deep, Christ-centered connections.

Symbol of Peace and Reconciliation
The holy kiss can be seen as a symbol of peace and reconciliation, encouraging believers to resolve conflicts and maintain harmony within the church.

Practical Expressions of Love
Consider how we can practically express love and care for one another in our church communities, whether through words, actions, or gestures that convey warmth and acceptance.(20) An holy kiss.--The kiss was the ordinary form of affectionate greeting in the East. The Church adopted it; and when thus interchanged between those whose bond of friendship was not earthly, but spiritual, it was designated "the holy kiss." (See Romans 16:16; 1Thessalonians 5:26.) The practice was given up in the Latin Church in the thirteenth century, but is still used in the Greek Church on certain great occasions, such as Easter Day.

Verse 20. - All the brethren. The Ephesian Church in general. With an holy kiss. The kiss of peace is mentioned in Romans 16:16; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Peter 5:14. It was a sign of the reconciliation of all dissensions. But the abuse of the practice and the hideous heathen calumnies which it helped to perpetuate, led to its abolition. In the Roman Church a shadow of it still remains in the custom of the congregation kissing the pax after the priest has kissed it. The custom still continues in the Christos voscress of Easter Day in the Greek Church, when -

" See! the bearded faces kiss each other:
Every Russian Christian loves his brother.
Serf or noble, each today may claim
Friendly kiss in that all friendly Name."

Parallel Commentaries ...

All
πάντες (pantes)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

brothers [here]
ἀδελφοὶ (adelphoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

send you greetings.
Ἀσπάζονται (Aspazontai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 782: To greet, salute, pay my respects to, welcome. To enfold in the arms, i.e. to salute, to welcome.

Greet
Ἀσπάσασθε (Aspasasthe)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 782: To greet, salute, pay my respects to, welcome. To enfold in the arms, i.e. to salute, to welcome.

one another
ἀλλήλους (allēlous)
Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 240: One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another.

with
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

a holy
ἁγίῳ (hagiō)
Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 40: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.

kiss.
φιλήματι (philēmati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5370: A kiss. From phileo; a kiss.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 16:20 All the brothers greet you (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)