What is a “holy kiss”?

This term appears several times throughout the New Testament. One such example is I Thessalonians 5:26: “Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.” What is a “holy kiss”?

Upon examining the article entitled “Kiss” in Smith’s Bible Dictionary, we see that it was customary to greet one another with a kiss during the apostles’ time. It still is in many countries today. But this kiss was not something God commanded the apostles or anyone to do. It was merely a custom; a salutation.

Today, one may view the modern tradition of shaking hands as being equivalent with a “holy kiss.” This is a more acceptable greeting in our society.