1 Peter 5:12

By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. SILVANUS - Silas, the companion of Paul and Timothy: a suitable messenger by whom to confirm Paul's doctrine of the true grace of God' in the same churches (cf. 2 Peter 3:16). We never meet with Silvanus as Paul's companion after Paul's last journey to Jerusalem. His connection with Peter was subsequent. AS I SUPPOSE. Silvanus, perhaps, stood in a close relation to the churches in Asia, having taken the oversight of them after Paul's departure, and afterward went to Peter, by whom he is now sent back to them with this letter. He did not know, by observation, Silvanus' faithfulness to them; he therefore says, 'faithful to you, as I suppose,' from the accounts...

12_By Silvanus _He exhorts them at the conclusion of the Epistle to constancy in the faith: yea, he declares that his design in writing, was to retain them in obedience to the doctrine which they had embraced. But he first commends the brevity of his Epistle, lest the reading of it should be tedious to them; and, secondly, he adds a short commendation of his messenger, that the living voice might be added to what was written; for this was the design of the testimony he bears to his fidelity. But the exception, _as I suppose, _or _think_, was added, either as token of modesty or to let them surely know, that he spoke according to the conviction of his own mind; and it was unreasonable for them not to assent to the judgment of so great an apostle. _Exhorting and testifying _How difficult it is to continue in the faith! evidences of this are the daily defections of many: nor, indeed, is suc...

10-14 In conclusion, the apostle prays to God for them, as the God of all grace. Perfect implies their progress towards perfection. Stablish imports the curing of our natural lightness and inconstancy. Strengthen has respect to the growth of graces, especially where weakest and lowest. Settle signifies to fix upon a sure foundation, and may refer to Him who is the Foundation and Strength of believers. These expressions show that perseverance and progress in grace are first to be sought after by every Christian. The power of these doctrines on the hearts, and the fruits in the lives, showed who are partakers of the grace of God. The cherishing and increase of Christian love, and of affection one to another, is no matter of empty compliment, but the stamp and badge of Jesus Christ on his followers. Others may have a false peace for a time, and wicked men may wish for it to themselves and...

Verse 12. _BY SILVANUS, A FAITHFUL BROTHER UNTO YOU, AS I_ _SUPPOSE_] To say the least of this translation, it is extremely obscure, and not put together with that elegance which is usual to our translators. I see no reason why the clause may not be thus translated: _I have written to you, as I consider, briefly, by_ _Silvanus, the faithful brother_. On all hands it is allowed that this _Silvanus_ was the same as _Silas_, Paul's faithful companion in travel, mentioned Acts 15:40; Acts 16:19; and, if he were the same, Peter could never say _as I suppose_ to _his_ faith and piety: but he might well say this to the shortness of his epistle, notwithstanding the many and important subjects which it embraced. See the _Syriac, Vulgate_, c. If the words be app...

BY SILVANUS - Or Silas. See the 2 Corinthians 1:19 note; 1 Thessalonians 1:1, note. He was the intimate friend and companion of Paul, and had labored much with him in the regions where the churches were situated to which this Epistle was addressed. In what manner he became acquainted with Peter, or why he was now with him in Babylon is unknown. A FAITHFUL BROTHER UNTO YOU, AS I SUPPOSE - The expression “as I suppose” - ὡς λογίζομαι hōs logizomai - does not imply that there was any doubt on the mind of the apostle, but indicates rather a firm persuasion that what he said was true. Thus,...

EXPOSITIONS 1 PETER 5:1 THE ELDERS WHICH ARE AMONG YOU I EXHORT. The Vatican and Alexandrine Manuscripts omit the article, and insert "therefore" (the Sinaitic gives both), reading, "Elders, therefore, among you I exhort." The solemn thoughts of the last chapter, the coming judgment, the approach of persecution, the necessity of perseverance in well-doing, suggest the exhortation; hence the "therefore." The context shows that the apostle is using the word "elder" (πρεσβύτερος,_ _presbyter) in its official sense, though its original meaning was also in his thoughts, as appears by 1 Peter 5:5. We first meet with the word in the Old Testament (Exodus 3:16,...

BY SILVANUS, A FAITHFUL BROTHER UNTO YOU,.... Silvanus is the same with Silas, so often mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, as a companion of the Apostle Paul; whom Peter met with in his travels, and sent this letter by him, or used him as his amanuensis, or both: his character is, that he was "a faithful brother" to those persons to whom this epistle is written; that is, he was a faithful minister of the Gospel to them, who with great sincerity and integrity preached the word unto them, as the apostle was well informed, and had reason to believe; for what follows, AS I SUPPOSE, does not suggest any doubt of it, but, on the contrary, a firm belief; for the word used signifies to repute, to reckon, to conclude a thing upon the best and strongest reasons; though some connect this phrase, as that "also unto you", with the following clause, I HAVE WRITTEN BRIEFLY; as does the Syriac ver...

TRUE GRACE Grace (in salvation). (John 1:16); (John 1:17); (Romans 3:24). (_ See Scofield) - (John 1:17). _...

V. EXHORTATIONS CONCERNING SERVICE AND CONFLICT CHAPTER 5 _ 1. As to Christian service (1 Peter 5:1)_ 2. Conflict and victory (1 Peter 5:8) 3. The conclusion (1 Peter 5:12) 1 Peter 5:1 Peter now speaks in great tenderness exhorting to service. The exhortation is addressed to the elders and he speaks of himself as a “fellow-elder.” Does he mean by this an official title or does he mean simply his age and experience? He is not writing in any official capacity, but the word elder has the meaning of old in years. He assumes no ecclesiastical authority to dictate, but speaks out of a ripe experience and a

Mention of the scribe or amanuensis and closing salutations. These words may (as sometimes with Paul) have been in the author's own hand. He probably calls the letter brief in view of what he had it in his heart to say. Silvanus can supplement the written message, and they may trust him as one who knows and can express all that is in the writer's mind. Silvanus is generally identified with the person of the same name in Paul's letters (1 and 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:19) and the Silas of Acts. It is thought by some that he was more than a mere amanuensis of this letter, and was given much freedom in its composition, and by many who deny the Petrine authorship his name is chosen as the most likely substitute. The greeting from her of Babylon may refer to an individual or to a