II Corinthians 13:12

Common misinterpretations treat this as a literal mandate for physical kissing on the lips in every church context today, ignoring cultural variations where handshakes, hugs, or other warm greetings equivalently convey affection without offense. Others erroneously view the holy kiss as endorsing casual or sensual contact, overlooking its emphasis on purity and spiritual intent, or dismiss it as obsolete, thereby neglecting the enduring principle of genuine, loving interactions that build unity among believers.

Paul exhorts the Corinthian church to greet one another with a holy kiss, a common cultural expression of sincere affection and unity among believers in the early Christian community. This instruction, given at the close of his letter amid calls for self-examination and restoration, emphasizes fostering pure, brotherly love that reflects spiritual kinship and reconciliation, countering divisions and promoting harmony within the body of Christ as a visible sign of their shared faith.