1 Peter 5:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

NIV: Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

NASB: Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

CSB: Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

NLT: Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.

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

NKJV: Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Peter closes his letter to fellow believers with an encouragement to greet each other, perhaps on his behalf. Here, Peter refers to a "kiss of love." Apparently, a kiss was a common greeting between friends and associates in this part of the world at the time. Several New Testament books encourage believers to greet each other in this way. Whatever the expression we use, Christians are encouraged to be warm and close with each other.

Finally, Peter signs off with a wishful prayer for peace for all Christians who read his letter. Since so many of his first readers were facing or would face persecution for their faith, this prayer is not merely polite. It is a heartfelt hope that their circumstances would change. At the same time, it is a prayer that they would experience the very confidence Peter has spoken of in this letter (1 Peter 5:7), regardless of the troubles they may face. In their hardships, Christians long for peace. In Christ—and only in Christ—we can find it.

1 Peter 5:12–14 brings Peter’s letter to the scattered Christians of Asia Minor to a close. He commends Silvanus (Silas), who will likely deliver the letter to the churches. He offers greetings from the church where he is, including a greeting from his ''spiritual'' son (not likely his actual child) Mark. Finally, Peter asks that they greet each other, on his behalf, with a kiss, and he signs off with a prayer for peace for all Christians.

Peter concludes his letter to the scattered Christians in Asia Minor with specific instructions. Primarily, these are targeted at those in the role of elder, about how to lead. He also provides counsel for all believers on living in humility toward each other and toward God. In humility, we wait and trust God to exalt us in His time. In humility, we cast our cares on Him. But we’re also called to remain alert, watching out for the devil and resisting him by focusing on staying firm in our faith. After this brief life of suffering, our God will bring our suffering to an end and make us strong forever.

Thus far, Peter has affirmed that Christians have been chosen by God and set aside for His purposes. We should not be surprised by suffering, and we should not respond to persecution by rebelling against our human authorities. Our suffering in both cases points the world to our hope in Christ and allows us to follow in Jesus’ steps. Peter here concludes his letter with instructions to the elders, teaching on humility, and a final warning to be sober-minded and alert.

Some 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are facing greater persecution for their faith. How should they respond? How should we respond to suffering today? The apostle Peter writes this letter both to comfort believers and to encourage them to stay strong. He urges them to put all their hope in their perfect future with Christ, and to obey and trust Him in the present, even in their suffering. Christ suffered greatly; now the Christ-followers have the opportunity to follow Him even in this, showing His grace and power in their hopefulness, obedience, and faith.

Accessed 5/5/2024 2:04:40 PM