I Corinthians 16:20

Misinterpretations often treat the holy kiss as a mandatory literal practice for modern churches, ignoring its first-century cultural context as a common platonic greeting equivalent to today's hugs or handshakes, potentially leading to discomfort or irrelevance. Others misconstrue it as endorsing romantic or sensual contact, overlooking the emphasis on holiness and fraternal purity intended to foster spiritual unity rather than physical intimacy.

In 1 Corinthians 16:20, Paul extends greetings from the brethren and instructs believers to greet one another with a holy kiss, emphasizing the warmth, purity, and unity of Christian fellowship as a spiritual family. This culturally appropriate gesture of the time symbolized brotherly affection and communal bonds without impurity, encouraging mutual love and encouragement among church members much like a handshake or embrace today.