1 Corinthians 16:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He adds, “with a holy kiss,” only here. Why? Because there was great division among the Corinthians. They were saying, “I am of Paul,” “I am of Apollos,” “I am of Cephas,” and “I am of Christ” (1 Cor 1:12). Some of them went hungry, while others were drunk. Quarrels, disputes, and lawsuits arose among them. Even over the gifts of grace there was great envy and great arrogance. Having reconciled them by his exhortation, he rightly commands them to be joined together by a holy kiss. It could unite them and make them one body. It is holy when it is free from malice and hypocrisy.

Only here does he add mention of the holy kiss, because there were many divisions. Since he had urged them much toward unity, he finally unites them by the holy kiss, that is, by one without guile and not hypocritical.

All the brethren greet you through me, that is, all the Christians surrounding the Apostle. From the very beginning Christians loved to call themselves brethren, faithful, saints, and similar names.

What does a greeting mean, or, as people say, a bow? Among us they say, "Bow to such and such a person." But according to sacred expression one should write, "greet." What does this mean?

A greeting or bow sent through another person or in a letter expresses kind remembrance of the one greeted, sympathy for him, unity of spirit, and in general a whole series of good wishes. Therefore the greeting from the Churches of Asia to the Church of Corinth teaches the Corinthians to value unity of mind with other Churches and the love of the latter for it.

The Apostle lifts up the spirit of the Corinthians when he points to all who remember them. “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” The holy kiss taught by the Apostle Paul is a symbol of peace. In it people are drawn mutually to one another and forget disagreements.

The Apostle first said, “The churches of Asia greet you,” and the church in Aquila’s house. Then he added, “and all the brethren.” By this he showed that all believers in Christ had brotherly love and unity among themselves. He also commands the Corinthians to greet one another in this way. Since kisses are sometimes hypocritical and treacherous, as was the kiss of Judas, and sometimes vile and impure, as among the lustful, he commands them to kiss one another not simply with a kiss, but with a holy kiss. A holy kiss is without hypocrisy and proceeds from purest love. To this he adds his own greeting, saying: Verse 21. “The greeting with my own hand, Paul’s.”

Finally, he sends greetings from the churches of Asia, especially from Aquila and Priscilla. He proclaims anathema, “Maranatha,” against anyone who does not love the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 16:19-24).

The greetings from all the churches, and especially from certain chosen members of them, which the Apostle sends, have many meanings. First, they speak of the close union of faith and love among Christians and of their mutual participation.

Although the Apostle Paul himself composed the epistle, and Stephanas copied it, the other members of the Church of Ephesus and of other churches who were then near the Apostle were not ignorant of Paul's sending the epistle to the Corinthians.

Not only Aquila and Priscilla with their household church greet you, but all the Ephesian Christians also greet you. Even those unknown to you do not fall behind the known in good will. If those far from you draw so near to you, how much more should you remain in sincere closeness among yourselves.

This is what I ask you to do now, immediately after the reading of the epistle, by a mutual kiss of one another. May it drive out from among you every discord and every difference of mind. May you be one both in mind and in heart.

"The Apostle drove out discord and bound them to one another with the holy kiss" (Theodoret). "This addition, 'with a holy kiss,' he makes only here. Why? Because there was great division among the Corinthians.