Greet one another
In the early Christian church, greetings were an important part of fellowship and community. This phrase emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and welcoming fellow believers. The act of greeting is a sign of unity and love within the body of Christ, reflecting the communal nature of the early church as seen in Acts 2:42-47, where believers shared everything in common and met regularly.

with a holy kiss.
The "holy kiss" was a customary greeting in the early church, symbolizing peace, love, and mutual acceptance among believers. It was a cultural practice in the Mediterranean world, where a kiss on the cheek was a common form of greeting. By calling it "holy," Paul distinguishes this kiss from ordinary social customs, imbuing it with spiritual significance. It represents the purity and sincerity of Christian love, as also mentioned in Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, and 1 Thessalonians 5:26. This practice underscores the breaking down of social barriers within the church, promoting equality and unity among all members, regardless of their background.

1. Paul the Apostle
The author of 2 Corinthians, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, providing guidance and encouragement.

2. The Corinthian Church
The recipients of the letter, this early Christian community faced various challenges, including divisions and moral issues.

3. Corinth
A major city in ancient Greece, known for its wealth and immorality, making it a challenging environment for the early church.

4. Holy Kiss
A cultural practice in the early church symbolizing love, unity, and fellowship among believers.Cultural Context and Meaning
The "holy kiss" was a common greeting in the early church, signifying peace, love, and unity. In today's context, it can be understood as any culturally appropriate gesture of fellowship and acceptance.

Unity in the Body of Christ
This practice underscores the importance of unity and love among believers. It serves as a reminder that we are all part of one body in Christ, regardless of our differences.

Expressions of Christian Love
While the specific practice of a holy kiss may not be common today, the principle remains: Christians should find ways to express genuine love and care for one another.

Overcoming Divisions
In a world often marked by division, the call to greet one another warmly challenges us to overcome barriers and foster genuine relationships within the church.

Practical Application in Modern Times
Consider how you can show love and unity in your church community today. This might be through a handshake, a hug, or simply a warm greeting.(12) Greet one another with an holy kiss.--The tense of the Greek verb indicates that the Apostle is giving directions, not for a normal and, as it were, liturgical usage, but for a single act. In doing so, he repeats what he had said in 1Corinthians 16:20. The same injunction appears in Romans 16:16; 1Thessalonians 5:26. What he meant was that, as the public reading of the Epistle came to a close, the men who listened should embrace each other and kiss each other's cheeks, in token that all offences were forgotten and forgiven, and that there was nothing but peace and goodwill between them. It was, perhaps, natural, that the counsel should be taken as a rubric, even at the cost of its losing its real significance, and becoming a stereotyped formula. So in the Apostolic Constitutions (possibly of the third century) we find the rubric, "Let the deacons say to all, 'Salute ye one another with a holy kiss:' and let the clergy salute the bishop, the men of the laity salute the men, the women the women." The deacons were to watch that there was no disorder during the act (8:57). In the account given by Justin (Apol. i. 65) it appears as preceding the oblation of the bread and wine for the Eucharistic Feast, as it did in most of the Eastern liturgies, probably as a symbolic act of obedience to the command of Matthew 5:24. In the Western Church it came after the consecration of the elements and the Lord's Prayer. It was intermitted on Good Friday in the African Church (Tertull. De Orat. c. 14) as unsuitable for a day of mourning. It may be noted as the survival of a residuum of the old practice, that when the usage was suppressed by the Western Church, in the thirteenth century, it was replaced by the act of kissing a marble or ivory tablet, on which some sacred subject, such as the Crucifixion, had been carved, which was passed from one to another, and was known as the osculatorium, or "kissing instrument."

Verse 12. - Great one another. The verb, being in the aorist, refers to a single act. When the letter had been read in their hearing, they were, in sign of perfect unity and mutual forgiveness, to give one another the kiss of peace. With a holy kiss (see on 1 Corinthians 16:20; comp. 1 Peter 5:14).

Parallel Commentaries ...


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: 2 Corinthians 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor)