1 Thessalonians 5:26
26 Greet [aspazomai] all [pas] the brethren [adelphos] with [en] an holy [hagios] kiss. [philema] KJV-Interlinear
26 Greet all the brethren with a
holy kiss. NASB
There are several words
used for kiss. In the Old Testament neshiqah,
and nashaq are used to refer to the common
greeting, or symbol of friendship between persons who are friends or have been introduced.
Similarly, in the New
Testament, in Pauls day, the
common act for greetings is the kiss, phileo, or kataphileo, which is a more passionate (but not an
intimate) style of kiss, such as when the feet of Jesus were kissed, kataphileo.
The kiss if referred to
in several passages, Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, 2 Cor. 13:12, just to name a few.
The kiss was traditionally
used in greetings and/or as a demonstration of subordinate respect for ones
higher position in society, such as kissing the ring or hem of someone's garment.
There are many in
society who desperately desire the respect, adoration, or approbation of
others, however, God is the one who promotes, not man, and to whom God
promotes, respect and honor are real and true, and permanent.
The respect or
adoration that is typically not permanent, but rather a flash in the pan so to
speak, is the type of approbation desired by celebrities, or those who desire
to be regarded as experts or professionals in their field, without earning it. They lust for attention. They go through all
of the formal, but phony, greetings of admiration or approval, but resent anything
that is not directed in their direction.
They manufacture honorable titles to satisfy selfish ego s, and elevate themselves above the common rabble of humanity.
The believer
who is advancing in his spiritual life, is completely different. The positive believer, if he is genuinely
positive, desires no recognition, but that which is given him by God.
The kiss then is a show
of respect between two persons, as we would show respect with a handshake in
our current day.Some handshakes are
weak and feeble, while others are firm and sure.
Your greeting and show
of respect should not vary from one person to the next. Thus bias,
self-righteousness, even prejudice should never enter into your mind or
thoughts.Each believer is equal with
the next, and should not presume an appearance of aloofness.
And that is exactly what
holiness is.Perfect righteousness (Gods
righteousness), and perfect justice (Gods justice), which add up to holiness,
the perfect state of sinless function, and residence and compliance within His
will, not ones own undeserved agenda.
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