1 Corinthians 16:20 Meaning and Explanation
“All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →All the believers with Paul send greetings, and he urges the Corinthians to greet one another with a holy kiss.
What Does 1 Corinthians 16:20 Mean?
The greetings widen to include 'all the brethren' — the whole company of believers with Paul. He then turns the greeting toward the Corinthians themselves, asking them to greet one another with a holy kiss, the customary sign of affection and acceptance among the early Christians.
This call to greet one another in love speaks tenderly to a church that had been fractured by quarrels. The 'holy kiss' was a sign of reconciled, family affection across every former division. Paul would have a community marked not by rivalry but by warm, sincere love — the kind that visibly shows we belong to one another in Christ.
1 Corinthians 16:20 in the Original Language
philema (φίλημα), 'kiss' -- a customary greeting of affection, here made 'holy' as a sign of love among believers.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 16:20
What does 1 Corinthians 16:20 mean?
All the believers with Paul send greetings, and he urges the Corinthians to greet one another with a holy kiss.