2 Corinthians 13 11 14 Finally brethren farewell

2 Corinthians 13: 11 -14 “Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. ”

“Greet One Another with a Holy Kiss” I. The Texts. A. “Holy Kiss” (2 Cor. 13: 12; Rom. 16: 16; 1 Cor. 16: 20; 1 Thess. 5: 26). B. “Kiss of Love” (1 Pet. 5: 14).

“Greet One Another with a Holy Kiss” II. The Command. A. “Greet”—This is the action commanded. B. “With a Kiss”—This modifies command. 1. “Kiss” Gr. Philema. From Gr. verb phileo to love as a friend. Philos “friend” (cf. John 3: 29). C. “Holy” or “Of Love”—Modifies type of kiss.

“Greet One Another with a Holy Kiss” III. Kissing in Biblical Culture. A. Family affection (Gen. 27: 26 -27). B. Friendship (1 Samuel 20: 41 -42). C. Royalty (Psalm 2: 12; 2 Sam. 14: 33). D. A common greeting (Luke 7: 45; Luke 22: 47 -48).

“Greet One Another with a Holy Kiss” IV. Kissing in Our Culture. A. Some families, but not all do this. B. Some friends but never male friends. C. Officials and citizens do not. D. Never as a gesture of greeting between those only familiar with each other.

“Greet One Another with a Holy Kiss” IV. Kissing in Our Culture. In our culture, to kiss a person who is not family or a close friend would be seen as a romantic advance—thus neither “holy” nor “with love. ”

“Greet One Another with a Holy Kiss” V. Is This Command Binding? § Not all commands are binding. Some are to specific people (e. g. 1 Tim. 5: 23 drinking wine; 2 Tim. 4: 13 cloaks and parchments). § Commands become binding when applied to believers in general.

“Greet One Another with a Holy Kiss” V. Is This Command Binding? A. These commands are general—so they are binding. B. Sometimes general commands address principles beyond the specifics to which they are applied.

“Greet One Another with a Holy Kiss” V. Is This Command Binding? 1. Jesus commanded “you should do as I have done to you” (John 13: 15) after washing the disciples feet. 2. Not a ritual. “Washing feet” elsewhere stands for service in general (1 Tim. 5: 10).

“Greet One Another with a Holy Kiss” V. Is This Command Binding? C. A “Holy Kiss” could be any gesture of friendship, love, and acceptance: a hug, a handshake, pat on the back. It does not have to involve touch the lips to another person.

“Greet One Another with a Holy Kiss” VI. Is This a “Substitution”? A. The example of word for worship. Gr. proskuneo. From kuneo “to kiss” and pros “towards” = lit. “To kiss towards. ” 1. Although kuneo is not used in NT, it is clear that the literal meaning was retained (Matt. 28: 9).

“Greet One Another with a Holy Kiss” VI. Is This a “Substitution”? 2. To worship (i. e. “kiss towards”) didn’t demand a gesture of the mouth. Jacob leaning on staff (Heb. 11: 25); soldiers mockingly bowing the knee (Mark 15: 19); visitor falling on face in worship (1 Cor. 14: 25).

“Greet One Another with a Holy Kiss” VI. Is This a “Substitution”? B. If it is not substitution to apply a word which refers to a gesture of the mouth, to worship in general—it is not a substitution to carry out a “holy kiss” (philema – a word which does not literally refer to a gesture of the mouth) through general gestures of friendship and acceptance.