Romans 16:16

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Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

Verse 15 Read Chapter 16 Verse 17

Ambrosiaster

AD 400

Paul asks that all those to whom he has written and whom he names be greeted with a holy kiss, that is, in the peace of Christ, not in the desire of the flesh, because these kisses are spiritual, not physical. By saying “churches of Christ” Paul is saying that there is a church which is not Christ’s. For David called the company of evildoers an assembly of the wicked. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.

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Clement Of Alexandria

AD 215

If we are called to the kingdom of God, let us walk worthy of the kingdom, loving God and our neighbor. Love is not proved by a kiss but by kindly feeling. But there are those who do nothing but make the church resound with a kiss, not having love itself inside them. For this very thing, the shameless use of a kiss, which ought to be mystic, occasions foul suspicions and evil reports. The apostle, however, calls the kiss holy.

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Clement Of Alexandria

AD 215

For this very thing, the shameless use of a kiss, which ought to be mystic, occasions foul suspicions and evil reports. The apostle calls the kiss holy.

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George Leo Haydock

AD 1849

Thus the primitive Christians express their concord and benevolence, as also their perfect equality. For it was customary with the Persians, and all oriental nations, to salute only their equals thus; though, to their inferiors, the presented their hand to be kissed. (St. Clem. Pædog. and Polus.)

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John Chrysostom

AD 407

By this salutation Paul intended to cast out of them any reason for pride. The great were not to despise the small, nor were the small to envy the great, but pride and envy were to be banished by the kiss, which made everyone equal. Therefore, he not only asks them to greet each other in this way, but he also sends them this greeting from the other churches.

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Tertullian of Carthage

AD 220

What prayer is complete if it is divorced from the holy kiss? On Prayer

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Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation - 2 Peter 1:20