The Holy Kiss in Early Christianity
Early Christian writings teach that the holy kiss was a normal sign of peace, love, and shared worship. Justin Martyr says believers prayed and then greeted one another with a kiss, and Tertullian, Ignatius, and the Apostolic Constitutions all echo that practice. Some writers also warn that the kiss must be pure and not fake. Later church orders add rules about order and modesty, including men greeting men and women greeting women.
113 early-church witnesses · 180 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about the holy kiss?
Early Christian writings treat the holy kiss as a real church practice tied to peace, love, and worship, not just a polite greeting. Justin Martyr says believers prayed and then greeted one another with a kiss, and Tertullian and the Apostolic Constitutions place the holy kiss in the worship setting and warn against hypocrisy and impurity. Ignatius also uses the greeting in his letters, showing that the practice was known very early.
The evidence is broad across the 2nd and 3rd centuries, though some later liturgical texts add detailed rules about men and women greeting separately, and some writers also warn that a kiss can be abused or made false. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Justin Martyr places the kiss right after prayer in church life.
- Tertullian and the Apostolic Constitutions link the holy kiss to peace, love, and sincerity.
- Ignatius uses the holy kiss as a normal Christian greeting in the apostolic age.
- Some early writers warn that a kiss can be abused if it is hypocritical or unclean.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Which Bible verses tell Christians to greet one another with a holy kiss?
The New Testament repeatedly commands believers to greet one another with a holy kiss. These verses are the clearest direct Bible passages for the practice.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching
...o that we may offer heartfelt prayers together for ourselves, for the baptized person, and for everyone else everywhere. We pray that we may be deemed worthy, having learned the truth, to be found good citizens and keepers of the commandments by our works so that we may be saved with everlasting salvation. After finishing the prayers, we greet one another with a kiss. Then, bread and a cup of wine mixed with water are brought to the leader of the brethren. He takes them and gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and the Holy Ghost, offering thanks at length for our being deemed worthy to receive these things from His hands. When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present express their agreement by saying "Amen." This word "Amen" corresponds to [so be it] in the Hebrew language. After the leader has given thanks and all the people have expressed their agreement, those called deacons by us give each person present a portion of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and a portion is also taken to those who are absent.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
... all." And let the people answer, "And with your spirit." And let the deacon say to all, "Greet one another with the holy kiss." And let the clergy greet the bishop, the laymen greet the men, and the women greet the women. And let the children stand at the reading desk, and let another deacon stand by them so that they may not be disorderly. And let other deacons walk around and watch the men and women, so that there may be no disturbance, and that no one may nod, whisper, or fall asleep. And let the deacons stand at the doors for the men, and the sub-deacons at those for the women, so that no one may go out, and no door may be opened, even if it is for one of the faithful, at the time of the oblation. But let one of the sub-deacons bring water to wash the hands of the priests, which is a symbol of the purity of those souls that are devoted to God.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
and let the deacon say to all, Salute one another with the holy kiss.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness
Let us greet one another with a holy kiss. Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness
Let us salute one another with an holy kiss.
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2 Corinthians 13:12 Supporting witness
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
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1 Thessalonians 5:26 Supporting witness
Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
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1 Corinthians 16:20 Supporting witness
All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
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1 Peter 5:14 Supporting witness
Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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Tertullian, Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas Supporting witness
but they first kissed one another, that they might consummate their martyrdom with the kiss of peace.
Did the early Christians actually practice the holy kiss?
Multiple early Christian sources describe believers greeting one another with a kiss as part of prayer, worship, or church order. The practice is shown as normal Christian behavior rather than a mere figure of speech.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
...hat deacon who is at the high priest's side say to the people, "Let no one have any quarrel against another; let no one come in hypocrisy." Then let the men give the men, and the women give the women, the Lord's kiss. But let no one do it deceitfully, as Judas betrayed the Lord with a kiss. After this let the deacon pray for the whole Church, for the whole world and its several parts, and for its fruits; for the priests and the rulers, for the high priest and the king, and for the peace of the universe. After this let the high priest pray for peace upon the people and bless them, as Moses commanded the priests to bless the people, in these words: "The Lord bless you, and keep you: the Lord make His face shine upon you, and give you peace." Let the bishop pray for the people, and say: "Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance, which You have obtained with the precious blood of Your Christ, and have called a royal priesthood, and a holy nation." After this let the sacrifice follow, the people standing and praying silently. And when the oblation has been made, let each rank by itself partake of the Lord's body and precious blood in order, and approach with reverence and
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
But let no one do it with deceit, as Judas betrayed the Lord with a kiss.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
let no one come in hypocrisy. Then let the men give the men, and the women give the women, the Lord's kiss.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
And let the clergy salute the bishop, the men of the laity salute the men, the women the women.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness
... send us the gift of Your Holy Spirit, so that with a pure heart and a good conscience we may greet one another with a holy kiss, without hypocrisy and with no hostile purpose, but sincerely and purely in one spirit, in the bond of peace and love, one body and one spirit, in one faith, just as we have been called in one hope of our calling, so that we may all come together in the divine and boundless love, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom You are blessed.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness
Give us Your peace, Your help, and Your love, and send to us the gift of Your Holy Spirit, that with a pure heart and a good conscience we may salute one another with an holy kiss, without hypocrisy, and with no hostile purpose, but guileless and pure in one spirit, in the bond of peace and love, one body and one spirit, in one faith, even as we have been called in one hope of our calling, that we may all meet in the divine and boundless love, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom You are blessed.
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Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris Supporting witness
And they give each other the kiss of peace, and say:
What did early Christians say the holy kiss should mean?
Early writers connect the holy kiss with peace, love, and unity, and they insist it should be sincere rather than hypocritical. Clement especially warns that a kiss must not become a cover for sensuality or empty show.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching
But there is another unholy kiss, full of poison, pretending to be holy. Do you not know that spiders, simply by touching the mouth, cause people pain? And often kisses also put in the poison of sexual sin. So it is very clear to us that a kiss is not love. For the love meant here is the love of God. And this is the love of God, says John, that we keep His commandments; 1 John 5:3, not that we touch each other on the mouth. And His commandments are not burdensome. But greetings between loved ones in the streets, full as they are of foolish boldness, belong to people who want to be noticed by outsiders and do not have even the smallest part of grace. For if it is proper, in a spiritual sense, to pray to God in the inner room, then it follows that we should also greet our neighbor in a spiritual way, our neighbor whom we are commanded to love as second to God, indoors, making the best use of the time. For we are the salt of the earth. Matthew 5:13. Whoever blesses his friend early in the morning with a loud voice will be considered no different from one who curses him. Proverbs 27:14.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
But there is another unholy kiss, full of poison, counterfeiting sanctity.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
For this very thing, the shameless use of a kiss, which ought to be mystic, occasions foul suspicions and evil reports. The apostle calls the kiss holy. Romans 16:16
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
...ht to be sacred and hidden, causes shameful suspicions and evil reports. The apostle calls the kiss holy. Romans 16:16
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
...betrayed the Master with a kiss. For he was a hypocrite, giving a treacherous kiss, in imitation of another hypocrite from long ago. And He rebukes that people about whom it was said, "This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." Isaiah 29:13 Therefore, it is not unlikely that by the oil He means that disciple to whom mercy was shown, and by the spoiled and poisoned oil, the traitor.
Common Questions
Did early Christians practice the holy kiss?
Yes. Justin Martyr says believers greeted one another with a kiss after prayer, and later writers like Tertullian and the Apostolic Constitutions describe it as part of Christian worship.
Was the holy kiss meant to be romantic?
No clear early Christian writer treats it that way. The texts connect it with peace, love, and church fellowship, and some warn against impurity.
Did early Christians have rules about the holy kiss?
Yes. The Apostolic Constitutions says men should greet men and women should greet women, and it warns against hypocrisy and deceit.
Source Index for the holy kiss
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 147 ranked source links from 180 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 147 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 113
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
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Bible Passages 67 included
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
Related Resources
Course Lesson
How Did Early Christians Practice the Holy Kiss, and Should it Still Be Practiced Today?
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