1 Peter 5:13

The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. THE ... AT BABYLON. Alford and Bengel, 'She that is elected together with you in Babylon;' namely, Peter's wife, whom he led about in his missionary journeys (cf. ). But why she should be called 'elected together with you in Babylon,' as if there were no Christian woman in Babylon besides, is inexplicable. The sense is clear: 'that portion of the whole dispersion (, Greek), the church of Christianized Jews, with Gentile converts, which resides in Babylon.' Since Peter and John were closely associated, Peter addresses the church in John's province, Asia, and closes with 'your co-elect sister church at Babylon saluteth you.' John similarly addresses the "elect lady" - i:e., the church in Baby...

13_That is at Babylon _Many of the ancients thought that Rome is here enigmatically denoted. This comment the Papists gladly lay hold on, that Peter may appear to have presided over the Church of Rome: nor does the infamy of the name deter them, provided they can pretend to the title of an apostolic seat; nor do they care for Christ, provided Peter be left to them. Moreover, let them only retain the name of Peter’s chair, and they will not refuse to set Rome in the infernal regions. But this old comment has no color of truth in its favor; nor do I see why it was approved by Eusebius and others, except that they were already led astray by that error, that Peter had been at Rome. Besides, they are inconsistent with themselves. They say that Mark died at Alexandria, in the eighth year of Nero; but they imagine that Peter, six years after this, was put to death at Rome by Nero. If Mark forme...

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 13. _THE_ CHURCH THAT IS _AT BABYLON_] After considering all that has been said by learned men and critics on this place, I am quite of opinion that the apostle does not mean Babylon in _Egypt_, nor _Jerusalem_, nor _Rome_ as _figurative_ Babylon, but the ancient celebrated Babylon in Assyria, which was, as Dr. Benson observes, the metropolis of the eastern dispersion of the Jews; but as I have said so much on this subject in the _preface_, I beg leave to refer the reader to that place. Instead of _Babylon_, some MSS. mentioned by _Syncellus_ in his Chronicon have ιοππη, _Joppa_; and one has ρωμη, _Rome_, in the margin, probably as the meaning, according to the writer, of the word _Babylon_. _ELECTED TOGETHER WITH_ YOU] συνεκλεκτη. _Fellow elect_, or _elected jointly_ with you. Probably meaning that they, and the believers at Ba

THE CHURCH THAT IS AT BABYLON, ELECTED TOGETHER WITH YOU - It will be seen at once that much of this is supplied by our translators; the words “church that is” not being in the original. The Greek is, ἡ ἐν Βαβυλῶνι συνεκλεκτὴ hē en Babulōni suneklektē; and might refer to a church, or to a female. Wall, Mill, and some others, suppose that the reference is to a Christian woman, perhaps the wife of Peter himself. Compare 2 John 1:1. But the Arabic, Syriac, and Vulgate, as well as the English versions, supply the word “church.” This interpretation seems to be confirmed by the word rendered “elected together with” - συνεκλεκτὴ suneklektē. This word would be properly used in reference to one individual if writing to another individual, but would hardly be

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,...

THE CHURCH THAT IS AT BABYLON,.... The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, supply the word "church", as we do. Some, by "Babylon", understand Rome, which is so called, in a figurative sense, in the book of the Revelations: this is an ancient opinion; so Papias understood it, as e Eusebius relates; but that Peter was at Rome, when he wrote this epistle, cannot be proved, nor any reason be given why the proper name of the place should be concealed, and a figurative one expressed. It is best therefore to understand it literally, of Babylon in Assyria, the metropolis of the dispersion of the Jews, and the centre of it, to whom the apostle wrote; and where, as the minister of the circumcision, he may be thought to reside, here being a number of persons converted and formed into a Gospel church state, whereby was fulfilled the prophecy in Psalms 87:4 perhaps this church might consist c...

1 PETER 5:13 Babulw/ni {A} Instead of Babulw/ni a few minuscules (4mg 1518 2138) read ~Rw,mh|....

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