The Meaning of 1 Peter 5:14 Explained

1 Peter 5:14

KJV: Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

YLT: Salute ye one another in a kiss of love; peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus! Amen.

Darby: Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be with you all who are in Christ.

ASV: Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be unto you all that are in Christ.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Greet ye  one another  with  a kiss  of charity.  Peace  [be] with you  all  that are in  Christ  Jesus.  Amen. 

What does 1 Peter 5:14 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In Peter"s culture a kiss was a common way to express affection publicly (cf. Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26). It still is today in many parts of the world.
"In the ancient world kisses were normally exchanged among family members (parents and children; brothers and sisters; servants and masters) and at times between rulers and their clients. The erotic kiss is secondary and not stressed in the literature. The familial kiss probably forms the background to the NT practice, for all fellow-Christians were considered brothers and sisters. This affectionate kissing was normally on the cheeks, forehead, or hands. We can assume such to be the practice here.... In calling it the "kiss of love" Peter not only brings out the meaning of kiss ("kiss," philema in Greek, comes from phileo, a verb indicating familial and friendly as opposed to erotic love), but also expresses the proper relationship among the members of the Christian community ("love" here is the typical Christian term for love, agape, used also in 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Peter 4:8)." [1]
In the midst of their persecution Peter prayed that his readers might experience God"s surpassing peace ( Philippians 4:6-7). "Peace" expresses the common Jewish blessing "Shalom." This epistle opens and closes with a prayer for peace (cf. 1 Peter 1:2).
"What a wonderful way to end a letter that announced the coming of a fiery trial!" [2]

Context Summary

1 Peter 5:8-14 - Resisting The Devil
We hear of the adversary in Zechariah 3:1. The enemy of Christ desires to hurt the Shepherd by injuring His flock. The hunger of a lion for his prey is an emblem of the insatiable desire of our spiritual foes for our undoing. Walketh about-temptation never assails us long from the same quarter. Perhaps the figure of a roaring lion suggests an outburst of persecution, which made timid people tremble. See 2 Timothy 4:17.
All grace is in God for every hour and need, 1 Peter 5:10. We too are called to His eternal glory through Christ. The path of suffering, and that path alone, leads to the world where suffering is unknown. The suffering is only for a little while. Perfect, that nothing be lacking; stablish, that we may not waver; strengthen, that we may stand and withstand.
Silvanus is Silas, 1 Peter 5:12. He was a man to be trusted. Peter's theme was grace. So he began, so he finishes; and from the church in the literal Babylon, or in Rome, Revelation 14:8, where he and Mark were living and working, he sends this message of grace, and love and peace [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Peter 5

1  He exhorts the elders to feed their flocks;
5  the younger to obey;
8  and all to be sober, watchful, and constant in the faith;
9  and to resist the cruel adversary the devil

Greek Commentary for 1 Peter 5:14

With a kiss of love [εν πιληματι αγαπης]
As in 1 Corinthians 16:20. The abuse of this custom led to its confinement to men with men and women with women and to its final abandonment (Apost. Const. ii. 57, 12). [source]
That are in Christ [τοις εν Χριστωι]
This is the greatest of all secret orders and ties, one that is open to all who take Christ as Lord and Saviour. [source]
Kiss of charity []
Compare 1 Corinthians 16:20.sa40 [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Peter 5:14

Romans 16:16 Kiss []
Compare 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14. [source]
1 Corinthians 16:20 With a holy kiss [εν πιληματι αγιωι]
In the synagogue men kissed men and women kissed women. This was the Christian custom at a later date and apparently so here. See note on 1 Thessalonians 5:26; note on 2 Corinthians 13:12; Romans 3:8; 1 Peter 5:14. It seems never to have been promiscuous between the sexes. [source]
1 Thessalonians 5:26 Kiss []
See on 2 Corinthians 13:12. Comp. Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 1 Peter 5:14. [source]
1 Thessalonians 5:26 With a holy kiss [εν πιληματι αγιωι]
With a kiss that is holy (Milligan) a token of friendship and brotherly love (1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; Romans 16:16). In 1 Peter 5:14 it is “with a kiss of love.” This was the customary salutation for rabbis. [source]
1 Peter 3:16 That they may be put to shame [ινα καταισχυντωσιν]
Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the first aorist passive subjunctive of καταισχυνω — kataischunō old verb, to put to shame (Luke 13:17; 1 Peter 2:6).Wherein ye are spoken against (εν ωι καταλαλειστε — en hōi katalaleisthe). Present passive indicative of καταλαλεω — katalaleō for which see 1 Peter 2:12 with εν ωι — en hōi also. Peter may be recalling (Hart) his own experience at Pentecost when the Jews first scoffed and others were cut to the heart (Acts 2:13, Acts 2:37).Who revile Articular present active participle of επηρεαζω — epēreazō old verb (from επηρεια — epēreia spiteful abuse), to insult, in N.T. only here and Luke 6:28.In Christ (εν Χριστωι — en Christōi). Paul‘s common mystical phrase that Peter has three times (here, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 5:14), not in John, though the idea is constantly in John. Peter here gives a new turn (cf. 1 Peter 2:12) to αναστροπη — anastrophē (manner of life). “Constantly the apostle repeats his phrases with new significance and in a new light” (Bigg). [source]
1 Peter 3:16 Who revile [οι επηρεαζοντες]
Articular present active participle of επηρεαζω — epēreazō old verb (from επηρεια — epēreia spiteful abuse), to insult, in N.T. only here and Luke 6:28.In Christ (εν Χριστωι — en Christōi). Paul‘s common mystical phrase that Peter has three times (here, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 5:14), not in John, though the idea is constantly in John. Peter here gives a new turn (cf. 1 Peter 2:12) to αναστροπη — anastrophē (manner of life). “Constantly the apostle repeats his phrases with new significance and in a new light” (Bigg). [source]
1 Peter 3:16 In Christ [εν Χριστωι]
Paul‘s common mystical phrase that Peter has three times (here, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 5:14), not in John, though the idea is constantly in John. Peter here gives a new turn (cf. 1 Peter 2:12) to αναστροπη — anastrophē (manner of life). “Constantly the apostle repeats his phrases with new significance and in a new light” (Bigg). [source]
Revelation 6:11 Should rest [ἀναπαύσωνται]
See on Matthew 11:28; see on 1 Peter 5:14; compare Revelation 14:13; Daniel 12:13. Not merely rest from their crying for vengeance, but rest in peace. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Peter 5:14 mean?

Greet one another with a kiss of love Peace [be] to you all who [are] in Christ Amen
Ἀσπάσασθε ἀλλήλους ἐν φιλήματι ἀγάπης Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ ⧼Ἀμήν⧽

Ἀσπάσασθε  Greet 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Middle, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀπασπάζομαι 
Sense: to draw to one’s self.
ἀλλήλους  one  another 
Parse: Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλλήλων  
Sense: one another, reciprocally, mutually.
φιλήματι  a  kiss 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: φίλημα  
Sense: a kiss.
ἀγάπης  of  love 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἀγάπη  
Sense: brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence.
Εἰρήνη  Peace  [be] 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: εἰρήνη  
Sense: a state of national tranquillity.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
τοῖς  who  [are] 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Χριστῷ  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
⧼Ἀμήν⧽  Amen 
Parse: Hebrew Word
Root: ἀμήν  
Sense: firm.