Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This "kiss of love" wasn't just a friendly peck; it was a sign of deep, sacred fellowship, showing how intimately connected believers were meant to be. It reveals that physical affection was an expected part of Christian community, a tangible expression of the peace that bound them together in Christ.
Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter is concluding his letter to believers facing intense persecution, and he's wrapping up with practical advice and warm personal greetings. He's just exhorted the elders to shepherd their flocks faithfully and urged younger believers to submit to them, all while reminding everyone to clothe themselves in humility and cast their anxieties on God, who cares for them. This final affectionate command to greet each other with a kiss of love, along with his blessing of peace, flows directly from these calls to humility, mutual submission, and trust in God's sovereign care amidst suffering.
Ever feel awkward saying goodbye? In the early church, greetings were a powerful act of community. What did 'the kiss of love' really mean?
A Sign of Belonging
In ancient cultures, a kiss was a common, respectful greeting among friends and family. It wasn't usually romantic, but a gesture of affection, peace, and recognition.
For believers, this 'kiss of love' was a tangible expression of the deep brotherhood and sisterhood found in Christ. It was a way of saying: 'You are family. You are safe. You are loved, just as you are in Him.' It reinforced their shared identity and mutual care.
A Contrast to the World
This intimate greeting stood in contrast to the often impersonal or superficial ways people interacted in the Roman world. It was a radical act of inclusion, breaking down social barriers within the church community.
The verse ends with a powerful benediction. What kind of peace did Peter wish for these believers, and where does it truly come from?
Peace Rooted in Christ
Peter concludes with 'Peace to all of you who are in Christ.' This isn't just a wish for the absence of conflict. It's a deep, abiding peace that originates and is secured Jesus.
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This peace is a result of our union with Christ – our sins forgiven, our reconciliation with God accomplished through Him. It’s a spiritual well-being that can withstand the storms of life, knowing we belong to Him.
A Constant Reality
Unlike the fluctuating peace we might find in worldly circumstances, the peace 'in Christ' is a stable reality. Even amidst persecution (which the recipients of 1 Peter were facing), this inner peace remains because our foundation is secure in God's unfailing love and plan.
Understand the original words
philēma agapēs · Greek Noun phrase
A cultural practice in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world, used as a sign of spiritual unity, familial affection, and peace among believers in the early church. It signifies a holiness and lack of hypocrisy in the fellowship of the body of Christ.
eirēnē · Greek Noun
The Hebrew concept of shalom, meaning more than just the absence of conflict. It encompasses wholeness, soundness, harmony, prosperity, and the spiritual well-being that comes from being reconciled to God.
en Christō · Greek Prepositional phrase
The state of living in vital, spiritual union with Jesus Christ. It defines the believer's new identity, position, and security, indicating that they are spiritually located within His body and under His lordship.
Paul also instructs believers to greet each other with a holy kiss, highlighting the importance of communal fellowship and love within the early church.
1 Corinthians 16:20This passage echoes the sentiment by calling for believers to greet one another with a 'kiss of love,' reinforcing the idea of outward expressions of Christian affection.
John 13:34-35Jesus gives a new commandment to love one another as He has loved us, making this love the defining characteristic that will identify His followers to the world.
Ephesians 4:3Peter's call for peace is directly tied to the command to 'make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace,' emphasizing the unity found in Christ.
This "kiss of love" wasn't just a friendly peck; it was a sign of deep, sacred fellowship, showing how intimately connected believers were meant to be. It reveals that physical affection was an expected part of Christian community, a tangible expression of the peace that bound them together in Christ.
Peter is concluding his letter to believers facing intense persecution, and he's wrapping up with practical advice and warm personal greetings. He's just exhorted the elders to shepherd their flocks faithfully and urged younger believers to submit to them, all while reminding everyone to clothe themselves in humility and cast their anxieties on God, who cares for them. This final affectionate command to greet each other with a kiss of love, along with his blessing of peace, flows directly from these calls to humility, mutual submission, and trust in God's sovereign care amidst suffering.
Peter is concluding his letter to believers facing intense persecution, and he's wrapping up with practical advice and warm personal greetings. He's just exhorted the elders to shepherd their flocks faithfully and urged younger believers to submit to them, all while reminding everyone to clothe themselves in humility and cast their anxieties on God, who cares for them. This final affectionate command to greet each other with a kiss of love, along with his blessing of peace, flows directly from these calls to humility, mutual submission, and trust in God's sovereign care amidst suffering.
"Greet one another with the kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ." — This "kiss of love" wasn't just a friendly peck; it was a sign of deep, sacred fellowship, showing how intimately connected believers were meant to be. It reveals that physical affection was an expec…
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Last reviewed October 2026