1 Peter 5:10-14, Benediction and Greeting

Babylon was “the main cultural and political center of the Akkadian-speaking region of Babylonia,” which was defeated, never to become a world power again. By the time Peter wrote his letter it was in ruins. But he says that those from Babylon greet his readers. The memory of Babylon as an oppressor of God’s people was strong, and many believe Peter was speaking in a dysphemism, “an expression with connotations that are derogatory,” using the term Babylon to speak of Rome.

¹⁰ Now the God of all grace, who called you in Christ into His forever glory, after you have suffered a little, will restore you Himself, He will establish you, He will strengthen you, He will give you a firm foundation. ¹¹ To Him belongs the power for ever and ever, amen.

¹² Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written you briefly, encouraging you and testifying to you that this is the true grace of God, in which you must stand. ¹³ Those in Babylon greet you, and Mark my son. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Peter has come to the conclusion of his letter and finishes with a doxology, a word of glory or praise to God, as well as a promise. The God of all grace, from whom all grace originates, will strengthen Peters readers as they face persecution and Satanic attack. After all, God has called believers in Christ to share in His glory forever. But suffering comes before glory.

Peter strings together four terms for God’s work in believers: restore, establish, strengthen, and give firm foundation. God is not passive in His relationship to us. He actively works to build us up, using His great power to help us.

Peter mentions Silvanus, or Silas as he is called in Luke’s writing. Silas was Paul’s companion on his second missionary journey, and was now associated with Peter. Peter identifies him as a faithful brother and as the one who helped him write this letter, most likely by taking it by dictation from Peter. He may also be the one delivering the letter.

Peter characterizes this letter as brief and for the purpose of encouraging (hence the strong admonitions throughout to holiness) and testifying (declaring truth). What Peter has written is the true grace of God in which they must stand. And he sends greetings from those in Babylon, most likely a dysphemism for Rome, with which tradition associates Peter. Mark is the John Mark who briefly accompanied Paul and Barnabas (Mark’s uncle) on their first missionary journey, only to desert them midway. Tradition also associates Mark’s gospel as, in fact, Peter’s account of Jesus’ life and ministry.

The greeting with a holy kiss was a longstanding tradition in the early church. Peter closes with a blessing of peace to all true believers and followers of Christ.

Peter has written to encourage believers who were facing persecution, encouraging them with the example of Christ, with the need to be holy and unblameable, and with the promise of blessing for suffering so. What he has not done is encourage them to pray for the end of the persecution. There is a way to stop the persecution – deny Christ.