Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Peter 5:14

φιλήματι ἀγάπης. So St. Paul concludes 1 Thess. with greet all the brethren with an holy kiss (1 Thessalonians 5:26; cf. 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; Romans 16:16). “Hence,” says Origen, “the custom was handed down to the Churches that after prayers (so Justin Apol., i. 65) the brethren should welcome one another with a kiss.” Chrysostom (on Rom. l.c.) calls it “the peace by which the Apostle expels all disturbing thought and beginning of smallmindedness … this kiss softens and levels”. But the practice was obviously liable to abuse as Clement of Alexandria shows, “love is judged not in a kiss but in good will. Some do nothing but fill the the Churches with noise of kissing … There is another an impure kiss full of venom pretending to holiness” (Paed., iii. 301 P.). Therefore it was regulated (Apost. Const., ii. 57, 12, men kiss men only) and gradually dwindled. εἰρήνη. The simple Hebrew salutation is proper to Peter's autograph postscript and links it with the beginning. τοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ, cf. 1 Peter 3:16; 1 Peter 5:10, and the saying, Thus have I spoken to you that in me ye might have peace: in the world ye have tribulation but be of good cheer I have conquered the world (John 16:33).

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Peter 5:14

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