1 Peter 5:14

14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

1 Peter 5:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Peter 5:14

Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity
The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions read, "with an holy kiss"; and so some copies, as in ( Romans 16:16 ) and elsewhere; (See Gill on Romans 16:16); and intends such a kiss, as is not only opposite to everything that is lascivious and impure, but is expressive of true love and affection, and is hearty and sincere: and such a love the Jews call, as the apostle does here, (wmyxrd hqyvn) , "a kiss of love" F9; for as Philo the Jew F11 observes, a kiss and love differ, the one may be without the other, a mere compliment, a show of friendship, and not arise from sincere love.

Peace with you all, that are in Christ Jesus;
who were chosen in him before the foundation of the world; and appeared to be in him by the effectual calling; and were at least by profession in him, and were in Christ mystical, and incorporated in a Gospel church; the Arabic version reads, "who are in the love of Jesus Christ". To these the apostle wishes peace, temporal, spiritual, and eternal. The Vulgate Latin reads "grace", which is most usual in Paul's epistles. The epistle is closed with

Amen,
as is common; the apostle wishing that this might be the case, and believing that it would be.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 Zohar in Exod. fol. 60. 3, 4.
F11 Quis rerum divin. Haeres. p. 486, 487.

1 Peter 5:14 In-Context

12 Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
13 Your sister church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark.
14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Other ancient authorities add [Amen]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.