Paragraph 16:16

16:16a

a holy kiss: The word kiss refers to the kind of kiss between relatives or friends. This kiss is holy because it is a gesture of friendship and unity, it is done between God’s holy people, and it does not have any sexual connotations.

If the word kiss is not known in your area, or if it is only a gesture of a sexual nature, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. For example:

This kiss is holy because it was a gesture of friendship and unity. It was done between God’s holy people, and it was not sexual.

• Use the common gesture of friendship or unity in your area. You may then want to explain the literal word in a footnote. For example:

Literally “holy kiss.” This kiss is holy because it was a gesture of friendship and unity, it was done between God’s holy people, and it was not sexual.

• Translate the meaning of the gesture in a general way. For example:

Greet each other sincerely as loving brothers and sisters in God’s family.

You may then want to explain the literal word in a footnote. For example:

Literally “holy kiss.” This kiss is holy because it was a gesture of friendship and unity, it was done between God’s holy people, and it was not sexual.

16:16b

All the churches of Christ: Paul spoke in general here.

the churches: See how you translated the word “church” in 16:1.

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