1 Peter 5:12 kjv
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.
1 Peter 5:12 nkjv
By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
1 Peter 5:12 niv
With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
1 Peter 5:12 esv
By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.
1 Peter 5:12 nlt
I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God's grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.
1 Peter 5 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 15:22 | Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders...to send chosen men of their own number to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas... | Silas/Silvanus as a chosen, reliable leader. |
| Acts 15:32 | Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words and strengthened them. | Silas's role as exhorter/strengthener. |
| 2 Cor 1:19 | For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by Me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not Yes and No... | Silvanus as a faithful preacher of Christ. |
| 1 Thes 1:1 | Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians... | Silvanus as Paul's co-author. |
| Phlm 1:1 | Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker... | "Brother" signifying spiritual kinship. |
| Col 4:7 | Tychicus, our beloved brother, faithful minister... | Trustworthy messenger delivering a letter. |
| Eph 6:21 | Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister... | Trusted messenger and minister. |
| 2 Pet 3:15 | ...just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you... | Paul as "beloved brother," similar apostolic vouching. |
| Heb 13:22 | I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. | Another apostolic letter described as "brief" and "exhortation." |
| Tit 2:11 | For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people... | The manifest nature of God's saving grace. |
| Eph 2:8 | For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God... | Salvation as a work of grace. |
| Rom 3:24 | ...and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus... | Justification by grace alone. |
| Rom 5:2 | Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand... | Believers are positioned in God's grace. |
| 2 Cor 9:8 | And God is able to make all grace abound to you... | God's abundant grace in every circumstance. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | Access to grace for help. |
| Gal 1:6-7 | I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one... | Counter-example: "True grace" vs. "another gospel." |
| 1 Cor 16:13 | Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. | Command to stand firm in the faith. |
| Eph 6:11 | Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. | Standing firm in spiritual warfare. |
| Phil 4:1 | Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way... | Steadfastness "in the Lord." |
| 2 Thes 2:15 | So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us... | Stand firm in taught truths. |
| Acts 2:40 | And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." | Peter's initial act of testifying and exhorting. |
| 1 Thes 2:12 | ...exhorting you and encouraging you and imploring you to walk in a manner worthy of God... | Apostolic exhortation for worthy living. |
| Jude 1:3 | ...I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. | Contending for the genuine faith. |
1 Peter 5 verses
1 Peter 5 12 Meaning
This verse serves as a powerful closing affirmation for Peter’s letter, encapsulating its core message and apostolic authority. It identifies Silvanus as the trustworthy messenger and affirms the letter's purpose: to exhort and to testify that the salvation, suffering, and hope presented throughout the epistle are genuinely "the true grace of God." The verse then culminates in a direct command to the readers to remain steadfastly rooted in this divine grace.
1 Peter 5 12 Context
This verse appears as Peter's final strong statement and personal endorsement at the close of his first epistle. Chapter 5 focuses on practical Christian living: pastoral leadership, humility among believers, spiritual vigilance, and steadfastness in suffering. Peter instructs elders to shepherd the flock willingly and humbly (vv. 1-4), and calls all believers to humility, casting their anxieties on God, being sober-minded, and resisting the devil (vv. 5-9). He then provides a prayer of restoration and strength (vv. 10-11). Verse 12 serves as the apostolic ratification of the entire letter's content, asserting its divine origin and critical importance. Peter is reinforcing the veracity of the comfort and instruction provided to scattered and suffering believers across Asia Minor, preparing them to face ongoing trials.
1 Peter 5 12 Word analysis
- Through Silvanus (Greek: dia Silouanou): This identifies the carrier of the letter. Silvanus is widely believed to be Silas, a prominent leader, prophet, and Paul’s companion in his missionary journeys (Acts 15-18; 1 Thes 1:1; 2 Thes 1:1). His involvement signifies an inter-apostolic connection and adds substantial credibility and authority to Peter’s letter. It also suggests he might have acted as Peter's amanuensis, penning the letter on Peter's behalf, which was common practice for ancient authors.
- Our faithful brother (Greek: tou pistou adelphou): "Faithful" (pistos) emphasizes trustworthiness, reliability, and steadfastness in his commitment to Christ and his ministry. "Brother" (adelphos) highlights shared spiritual kinship within the Christian family, a term frequently used for fellow believers and co-laborers in the New Testament. This further affirms Silvanus’s good standing and Peter’s personal confidence in him.
- as I consider him (Greek: hōs logizomai): This phrase indicates Peter’s personal assessment and firm conviction regarding Silvanus’s character. It's a statement of assured recognition, not a mere assumption. It lends the weight of Peter’s apostolic judgment to Silvanus’s integrity as the messenger and perhaps as the writer.
- I have written to you briefly (Greek: egrapsa hympin dia brachyon): "Written" (egrapsa) refers to the act of composing the letter. "Briefly" (dia brachyon – literally "through a few words" or "by means of few words") indicates Peter’s perception of the letter’s length relative to the profound importance of its content, or that he kept the letter concise despite the weighty issues it addressed. It is not brief in its spiritual depth but rather in its textual volume compared to other possible extensive teachings.
- encouraging you (Greek: parakalōn): This verb carries the dual meaning of "exhorting" and "comforting" or "consoling." Throughout the letter, Peter indeed provides both: exhortations to godly living and comforting assurance in suffering. It emphasizes the pastoral care woven throughout the epistle.
- and testifying (Greek: kai epimartyroun): This means to "bear strong witness," to "affirm solemnly," or to "certify." It's an emphatic declaration of truth. Peter is not merely offering his opinion but asserting divine truth with apostolic authority. He is certifying that what he has written is indeed a genuine and authoritative message.
- that this is the true grace of God (Greek: tautēn einai alēthē charin tou Theou): This is the absolute core of the message being certified. "True" (alēthēs) stands in contrast to anything false, counterfeit, or misleading; it emphasizes the genuineness and purity of God’s grace. "Grace of God" (charin tou Theou) refers to God’s unmerited favor and divine power, manifested in salvation, empowerment for holy living, and strength for enduring suffering. This grace is not a human philosophy or a legalistic system, but a divine, life-transforming reality.
- Stand firm in it (Greek: eis hēn stēte): An imperative command. "Stand firm" (stēte) implies stability, steadfastness, and resistance against any wavering or falling away. It conveys the idea of holding one's ground securely. "In it" (eis hēn) refers directly back to "the true grace of God," urging believers to remain established within this grace, which is their foundation and strength amidst persecution and trials.
Words-group Analysis
- Through Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him: This entire phrase serves to authenticate the letter’s transmission and, implicitly, its contents. Peter’s endorsement of Silvanus underscores the reliability of the messenger, ensuring the recipients would trust the message as delivered by such a commendable figure. This apostolic co-signing, in essence, strengthens the letter's authority.
- I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying: This passage succinctly summarizes the purpose and scope of Peter's letter. It wasn't merely a formal correspondence but a work of spiritual sustenance and authoritative truth-telling. The "briefly" might imply the succinct yet profound nature of the truths shared. "Encouraging" points to the comfort and strengthening for trials, while "testifying" emphasizes the apostolic authority backing the gospel truths.
- that this is the true grace of God: This is the heart of Peter's affirmation. It signifies that everything expounded in the epistle—concerning salvation, suffering, hope, holy living, and submission—is fundamentally rooted in and is an outworking of God’s genuine, unmerited favor and power. This distinguishes Christian faith from any humanly devised system and emphasizes the divine origin of their hope.
- Stand firm in it: This final, direct exhortation transforms the affirmation of "true grace" into a call to action. It’s a powerful call to spiritual steadfastness, urging the believers not to be swayed by trials or false teachings, but to firmly remain anchored in the truth and power of God’s grace. It provides a practical response to all the teachings preceding it.
1 Peter 5 12 Bonus section
Peter's emphasis on "true grace" (Greek: alēthēs charis) might serve as a subtle differentiation. In the early church, various ideas and practices existed that could masquerade as divine favor, but Peter's affirmation clarifies that the path of holiness and perseverance through suffering is the authentic expression of God's work in a believer's life. It underscores that God's grace empowers endurance and transformation, not merely providing a ticket to salvation without accompanying responsibility or genuine discipleship. The term epimartyroun (testifying) goes beyond merely stating facts; it implies a weighty, divinely sanctioned declaration of truth.
1 Peter 5 12 Commentary
First Peter 5:12 acts as an apostolic seal and summation for the entire epistle. Peter utilizes Silvanus, a well-regarded co-laborer with Paul, not only as the letter's reliable carrier but possibly also as his scribe, lending universal credibility to the document. Peter personally vouches for Silvanus, underscoring the trustworthiness of the messenger. The letter's dual purpose—to comfort and to authoritatively affirm—is concisely stated. Most crucially, Peter declares that the entirety of his teaching, from their spiritual inheritance and holy living to enduring unjust suffering and hoping in Christ's return, is fundamentally and purely "the true grace of God." This assertion acts as a definitive statement against any perversions or dilutions of the gospel. The ultimate call is to steadfastness: believers are to firmly take their stand, remaining unwavering and anchored within this genuine, divine grace that sustains and saves them amidst their tribulations.