Greet one another with a holy kiss
Greet
The Greek word used here is "ἀσπάσασθε" (aspasasthe), which means to salute or welcome. In the early Christian communities, greeting one another was more than a mere formality; it was an expression of love and unity among believers. This act of greeting was a demonstration of the bond shared in Christ, transcending social and cultural barriers. It was a reminder of the familial relationship that believers have with one another as members of the body of Christ.

one another
This phrase emphasizes the mutual and reciprocal nature of the greeting. It is not just a directive for individuals to greet others, but for the entire community to engage in this practice. The early church was characterized by a strong sense of community and fellowship, and this mutual greeting was a tangible expression of that unity. It served as a reminder that all believers, regardless of their background or status, are equal in Christ and are to show love and respect to each other.

with a holy kiss
The "holy kiss" (Greek: "φίλημα ἅγιον," philema hagion) was a common practice in the early church, symbolizing peace, reconciliation, and the love of Christ. It was a cultural expression of affection and respect, sanctified by its association with the holiness of the Christian community. The kiss was not merely a social custom but was imbued with spiritual significance, representing the purity and sincerity of the relationships within the church. In a conservative Christian perspective, this practice underscores the importance of maintaining holiness in all interactions and the call to express genuine love and unity among believers. The "holy kiss" serves as a reminder of the sacredness of Christian fellowship and the call to live out the love of Christ in tangible ways.

(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)