Fathers

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What the Fathers say

1 Peter 5:14

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

He speaks not of the ordinary, human peace, but wishes them to receive that peace which Christ bestowed upon them when He was departing to His sufferings, saying: "Peace I leave with you," and noting the distinction: "not as the world gives" (Jn. 14:27). For one must keep peace not out of partiality, but because you are bound by love, so that one must endure blows from adversaries. The disciples of the Lord everywhere, at the end of their epistles, append a prayer like a seal, and thereby show their genuine holiness. …

Commentary on 1 Peter ↗

Ignatius of Antioch

May I enjoy your prayers! Pray ye that may attain to Jesus. I commend unto you the Church which is at Antioch. The Churches of Philippi, whence also I write to you, salute you. Philo, your deacon, to whom also I give thanks as one who has zealously ministered to me in all things, salutes you. Agathopus, the deacon from Syria, who follows me in Christ, salutes you. "Salute ye one another with a holy kiss." I salute you all, both male and female, who are in Christ. …

Epistle of Pseudo-Ignatius to the Tarsians ↗

Oecumenius

However, when Paul writes that they should greet each other with a holy kiss (2 Cor. 14:12), Peter says here, "With a kiss of love," saying the same as that. For Paul (1 Cor. 13:1-19) knows the love which is according to Christ and is greater than all virtues, even than martyrdom itself suffered for Christ. Therefore, he calls the holy kiss separate and defined in God, while he similarly refers to the kiss of love which is true love, which Paul has praised. …

Commentary on 1 Peter ↗

Western Saints

Bede

Greet one another with a holy kiss. With a holy kiss, a true kiss, a peaceful kiss, a dove-like kiss, not deceitful, not polluted, like the one Joab used to kill Amasa, like the one Judas used to betray the Savior, like those who speak peace with their neighbor, but evil is in their hearts (Psalm 27). Therefore, they greet one another with a holy kiss, who do not love in word or tongue, but in deed and truth.

Commentary on the Catholic Epistles ↗