1 Peter 5:13

The [church that is] at Babylon, elected together with [you], saluteth you; and [so doth] Marcus my son.

The church that is at {G1722} Babylon {G897}, elected together with {G4899} you, saluteth {G782} you {G5209}; and {G2532} so doth Marcus {G3138} my {G3450} son {G5207}.

Your sister congregation in Bavel, chosen along with you, sends greetings to you, as does my son Mark.

The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does my son Mark.

She that is in Babylon, elect together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Mark my son.

Commentary

This verse concludes Peter's first epistle, sending greetings from fellow believers. It offers a brief but significant glimpse into the community from which Peter was writing and highlights the interconnectedness of early Christians.

Historical and Cultural Context

The most debated part of this verse is the reference to "Babylon." While a literal city in Mesopotamia or Egypt is possible, the prevailing view among scholars is that "Babylon" here is a symbolic term for Rome. This symbolism was common in Jewish apocalyptic literature (see Revelation 17:5) and likely referred to Rome due to its power and perceived opposition to God's people, much like ancient Babylon. If Peter was in Rome, this greeting comes from the church there. The letter is addressed to believers scattered throughout Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1), likely facing persecution, making greetings from a strong community encouraging.

Key Themes

  • Greetings and Fellowship: The verse emphasizes the bond between distant Christian communities through the practice of sending greetings.
  • Unity in Election: The phrase "elected together with you" (syneklektos in Greek) highlights the shared status of believers in Rome and Asia Minor as chosen by God, reinforcing their spiritual unity despite geographical separation.
  • Marcus (Mark): The mention of "Marcus my son" is widely believed to refer to John Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark. Peter's description of him as "my son" likely indicates a close spiritual relationship, perhaps that Peter led him to faith or mentored him, similar to how Paul referred to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:2).
  • Location of Writing: Provides a key piece of information, albeit debated, about Peter's location when writing this letter.

Linguistic Insights

The term "elected together" (syneklektos, Greek) is significant. It literally means "chosen together" or "jointly chosen." This powerfully underscores the idea that all believers, regardless of location, are part of the same divine election and share the same spiritual heritage and standing before God.

Reflection and Application

1 Peter 5:13 reminds us that the church is a global family, a chosen generation, united by God's call and election. Even when physically separated, believers are connected through their shared faith and mutual care. This verse encourages us to value inter-church fellowship, pray for believers in other places, and recognize that we are all fellow heirs of God's grace, called to live out our faith wherever we are, supported by the prayers and greetings of our spiritual family. The mention of Mark also highlights the importance of spiritual mentorship and relationships within the faith community.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 12:12

    And when he had considered [the thing], he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

  • Acts 12:25

    And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled [their] ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

  • Revelation 18:2

    And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

  • 2 John 1:13

    The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

  • Psalms 87:4

    ¶ I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this [man] was born there.

  • Revelation 17:5

    And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
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