1 Corinthians 16:20

Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church while closing his letter, relaying salutations from the Asian congregations and his own host family before adding his personal sign-off. He addresses the Corinthians directly as the recipients of these collective messages.

The words — The Greek verbs ἀσπάζονται (aspazontai) and ἀσπάσασθε (aspasasthe) both literally mean "greet," with the second form functioning as a direct command. These terms frame the exchange as a formal, reciprocal acknowledgment between the sending and receiving groups.

The thread — The text commands believers to greet one another with a holy kiss, a directive repeated in Romans 16:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:26, and 1 Peter 5:14. Each passage records the same instruction as a standard practice for early Christian communities.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to actively reciprocate communal affection rather than maintain passive distance. It establishes a physical expression of unity as a practical marker of shared faith.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.