1 Thessalonians 5:26
Hence it appears this Epistle was first handed to the elders, who communicated it to "the brethren."
holy kiss—pure and chaste. "A kiss of charity" (I Peter 5:14). A token of Christian fellowship in those days (compare Luke 7:45; Acts 20:37), as it is a common mode of salutation in many countries. The custom hence arose in the early Church of passing the kiss through the congregation at the holy communion [JUSTIN MARTYR, Apology, 1.65; Apostolic Constitutions, 2.57], the men kissing the men, and the women the women, in the Lord. So in the Syrian Church each takes his neighbor's right hand and gives the salutation, "Peace."
