SUBJECT:  Holy Kiss

QUESTION:  What is a Holy Kiss?

ANSWER:

Holy Kiss mentioned in: Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14 (kiss of charity).

Notice the commentary:

Romans 16:16

Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

Salute one another - Greet one another in an affectionate manner; that is, treat each other with kindness and love, and evince all proper marks of affection.

With an holy kiss - This mode of salutation has been practiced at all times; and particularly in eastern nations. It was even practiced by "men;" see the note at Luke 22:47-48. The use of the word "holy" here serves to denote that Paul intended it as an expression of "Christian" affection; and to guard against all improper familiarity and scandal. It was common, according to Justin Martyr (Apology), for the early Christians to practice it in their religious assemblies. ~from Barnes' Notes

Here is the note from Barnes Notes on Luke 22:47-48

Luke 22:47-53

Verse 48.
Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? - By the "Son of man" was evidently meant "the Messiah." Judas had had the most satisfactory evidence of that, and did not doubt it. A kiss was the sign of affection. By that slight artifice Judas thought to conceal his base purpose. Jesus with severity reproaches him for it. Every word is emphatic. "Betrayest" thou-dost thou violate all thy obligations of fidelity, and deliver thy Master up to death? Betrayest "thou"-thou, so long with him, so much favored, so sure that this is the Messiah? Betrayest thou "the Son of man"-the Messiah, the hope of the nations, the desire of all people, the world's Redeemer? Betrayest thou the Son of man "with a kiss"-the sign of friendship and affection employed in a base and wicked purpose, intending to add deceit, disguise, and the prostitution of a mark of affection to the "crime of treason?" Every word of this must have gone to the very soul of Judas. Perhaps few reproofs of crime more resemble the awful searchings of the souls of the wicked in the day of judgment. ~from Barnes' Notes

For us today, in this culture of the USA and North America and several other countries, men do not take hold of each other and kiss, so the principle is in the phrase “Salute one another”.  True Christians should greet one another in an affectionate manner and to treat each other with kindness and love.

Following now are some Bible dictionary definitions of ‘kiss”.

KISS

 In the New Testament we have phileo, "to kiss," "to be friendly," and kataphileo, "to kiss thoroughly," "to be very friendly"-- the first in <Matthew 26:48; Mark 14:44; Luke 22:47>, of the kiss with which Judas betrayed his Master. This was probably meant to be taken as an expression of special regard, which is expressed by the kataphileo of <Matthew 26:49; Mark 14:45>; the same word is used of the woman who kissed the feet of Christ <Luke 7:38,45>; of the father's greeting of the returning prodigal <15:20>; and of the farewell to Paul of the Ephesian Christians <Acts 20:37>; philema, "a kiss," "a mark of friendship," is used by Our Lord as that which Simon omitted to give him (which may refer to ordinary hospitality), but which the woman had bestowed so impressively <Luke 7:45>; of the kiss of Judas <Luke 22:48>; and of the "holy kiss" wherewith Christians greeted each other, which, according to the general usage we have seen, would be as the members of one family in the Lord, or as specially united in holy love <Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthian 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14>. There is reason to believe that, as a rule, men only thus greeted men, and women, women. In the Apostolical Constitutions (3rd century) it is so enjoined. ~from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia

KISS

 KISS. Kissing the lips by way of affectionate salutation was customary among near relatives of both sexes, both in patriarchal and in later times (<Genesis 29:11>; Song of Solomon 8:1). Between individuals of the same sex, and in a limited degree between those of different sexes, the kiss on the cheek as a mark of respect or an act of salutation has at all times been customary in the East. In the Christian church the "holy kiss" or "kiss of love" was practiced not only as a friendly salutation but as an act symbolical of love and Christian brotherhood <Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14>. It was embodied in the earlier Christian offices and has been continued in some of those now in use. Among the Arabs the women and children kiss the beards of their husbands or fathers. The husband or father returns the salute by a kiss on the forehead. In Egypt an inferior kisses the hand of a superior, generally on the back, but sometimes, as a special favor, on the palm also. To testify abject submission, and in asking favors, the feet are often kissed instead of the hand. The written decrees of a sovereign are kissed in token of respect; even the ground is sometimes kissed by orientals in the fullness of their submission (<Genesis 41:40>, see marg.; <1 Samuel 24:8; Psalm 72:9>; etc.). Kissing is spoken of in Scripture as a mark of respect or adoration given to idols (<1 Kings 19:18; Hosea 13:2>; Smith, Bib. Dict., "Kiss"). ~from New Unger's Bible Dictionary

Romans 16:1-16 

Lastly, He concludes with the recommendation of them to the love and embraces one of another: Salute one another with a holy kiss. Mutual salutations, as they express love, so they increase and strengthen love, and endear Christians one to another: therefore Paul here encourages the use of them, and only directs that they may be holy-- a chaste kiss, in opposition to that which is wanton and lascivious; a sincere kiss, in opposition to that which is treacherous and dissembling, as Judas's, when he betrayed Christ with a kiss. He adds, in the close, a general salutation to them all, in the name of the churches of Christ (v. 16): "The churches of Christ salute you; that is, the churches which I am with, and which I am accustomed to visit personally, as knit together in the bonds of the common Christianity, desire me to testify their affection to you and good wishes for you." This is one way of maintaining the communion of saints. ~from Matthew Henry's Commentary

Finally, this from the book, Manners and Customs of the Bible.

Item 862--The Kiss

Romans 16:16  Salute one another with a holy kiss.
 

The kiss was not only used among men as a token of friendship, and of homage to a superior, but as one of the ceremonies connected with divine worship, and intended to express mutual love and quality.  As such it is supposed to have been used in the synagogues, and thence transmitted to the Christian Church.  There is nothing said in the New Testament in reference to the part of the service where the kiss was introduced, but early Christians writers state that in the apostolic age it was given after prayers and before the communion service.  The minister first said, "Peace be unto you," and the people responded.  Then "a deacon goes on to proclaim solemnly that they should salute one another with a holy kiss; and so the clergy salute the bishop, and layment their fellow-layment, and women one another."