1 Thessalonians 5:26 kjv
Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
1 Thessalonians 5:26 nkjv
Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
1 Thessalonians 5:26 niv
Greet all God's people with a holy kiss.
1 Thessalonians 5:26 esv
Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
1 Thessalonians 5:26 nlt
Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss.
1 Thessalonians 5 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Thessalonians 5:25 | Brethren, pray for us. | Direct exhortation and part of the same flow |
| Romans 16:16 | Greet one another with a holy kiss. | Practice of mutual Christian greeting |
| 1 Corinthians 16:20 | All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. | Emphasis on communal greeting |
| Philippians 4:21 | Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. | Apostolic salutations |
| Colossians 4:15 | Greet the brothers who are at Laodicea, and Nympha, and the church. | Inclusion of local church |
| 1 Peter 5:14 | Greet one another with the kiss of love. | Kiss as a symbol of love and peace |
| 2 John 1:13 | Greet the children of her sister, grace, mercy, and peace be with you. | Continuation of apostolic blessings |
| Philemon 1:23 | Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you. | Personal greetings from fellow workers |
| Acts 20:37-38 | And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping by all, and they embraced Paul and kissed him. | Emotional farewell showing deep affection |
| Ephesians 5:11 | Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. | General exhortation to holy living |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:27 | I put you on oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. | Command for the public reading of the letter |
| 1 Timothy 5:1 | Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but, as to a father, rebuke him as sons, and to the younger men as brothers. | Family metaphor for church relations |
| Galatians 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity in Christ transcends earthly distinctions |
| 1 Corinthians 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment. | Exhortation for unity and agreement |
| Ephesians 4:1-3 | I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Emphasis on maintaining unity |
| Hebrews 13:24 | Salute all your rulers and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings. | Inclusion of greetings to specific groups |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:9 | Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for me to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. | God-given love among believers |
| 1 Corinthians 2:9 | But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— | God's prepared blessings for the faithful |
| John 13:34-35 | A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” | The identifying mark of Christ's followers |
| Colossians 3:12 | Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. | Virtues characterizing believers |
1 Thessalonians 5 verses
1 Thessalonians 5 26 Meaning
Greeting of fellowship, affection, and Christian brotherhood. This verse encapsulates the apostolic practice of offering a heartfelt salutation to the believers, affirming their shared faith and spiritual bond. It signifies warmth and a genuine care for the well-being of the church.
1 Thessalonians 5 26 Context
This verse concludes the fifth chapter of 1 Thessalonians. The preceding verses (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22) offer a series of rapid-fire exhortations on living a life pleasing to God, including rejoicing, praying, giving thanks, quenching the Spirit, not despising prophecy, testing all things, and abstaining from every form of evil. Following these commands, Paul delivers a final charge regarding the reading of the letter (v. 27). The final two verses, 25 and 26, provide concluding apostolic greetings and instructions. Verse 26, therefore, is the closing salutation, conveying affection and solidarity before the benediction in the next verse. Historically, such personal greetings were common in ancient correspondence and served to foster community and reaffirm relationships among believers.
1 Thessalonians 5 26 Word Analysis
- ἀσπάζεσθε (aspazesthe): This is the present imperative, middle voice of the verb ἀσπάζομαι (aspazomai). It means "to greet," "to salute," or "to embrace." In this context, it's a command directed to the Thessalonian believers to greet each other. The middle voice suggests an action they perform for themselves or on their own behalf, reflecting mutual regard within the community. The present tense indicates a continuous or habitual action.
- ἀδελφοὺς (adelphous): This is the accusative plural of ἀδελφός (adelphos). It translates to "brothers." In the New Testament, "brothers" is commonly used to refer to fellow believers in Christ, signifying a spiritual kinship and familial bond within the church. It's a term of endearment and equality, transcending social distinctions. This term underscores the familial nature of the Christian community.
- πάντας (pantas): This is the accusative masculine plural of πᾶς (pas). It means "all." This intensifies the preceding word "brothers," indicating that the greeting is to be extended to every brother in the fellowship. It signifies inclusivity and a desire for comprehensive unity.
Words-group Analysis
- "Greet all the brothers" (ἀσπάζεσθε πάντας τοὺς ἀδελφούς): This phrase encapsulates a specific act of communal fellowship and acknowledgment within the early church. The command to "greet" signifies more than a casual salutation; it implies a recognition of shared faith, mutual respect, and brotherly affection. The inclusion of "all" emphasizes the breadth of this fellowship, suggesting no one is to be excluded. This is a practice rooted in the core teachings of love and unity commanded by Christ and demonstrated by the apostles.
1 Thessalonians 5 26 Bonus Section
This verse, as part of a closing salutation, is a practical manifestation of the broader biblical emphasis on love and unity among believers. It mirrors the greetings found at the end of many Pauline epistles, underscoring his consistent pastoral concern for the churches. The emphasis on "brothers" is deeply significant, as it signifies a new relationship forged through faith in Christ, overriding previous social or ethnic divisions. The kiss mentioned in other epistles (like Romans 16:16) was a cultural expression of this brotherly love and peace within the community. The command here serves as a tangible practice that fosters connection and reinforces the identity of believers as members of one body in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5 26 Commentary
Paul concludes his letter with a personal and affectionate command for the believers to greet one another. This greeting is not merely a perfunctory social nicety but an essential expression of the love and unity that should characterize the Christian community. The term "brothers" highlights their spiritual relationship as children of the same heavenly Father. The command to greet "all" emphasizes inclusivity and the importance of mutual recognition and encouragement within the church. This simple yet profound instruction reinforces the apostle's concern for the well-being and cohesive fellowship of the Thessalonian believers, reflecting a fundamental aspect of Christian life and practice.