1 Peter 5 13

1 Peter 5:13 kjv

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

1 Peter 5:13 nkjv

She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.

1 Peter 5:13 niv

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.

1 Peter 5:13 esv

She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.

1 Peter 5:13 nlt

Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark.

1 Peter 5 verses

1 Peter 5 13 Meaning

This verse conveys a final greeting from Peter, establishing the source of his letter. It identifies a "she" in "Babylon" as sending salutations, affirming their shared spiritual status as "chosen," and also includes greetings from Mark, whom Peter endearingly calls "my son." The passage speaks to spiritual unity and kinship among believers across geographical locations and highlights key individuals within the early Christian community, utilizing language understood by its immediate recipients, particularly regarding "Babylon."

1 Peter 5 13 Context

First Peter 5:13 serves as a part of the epistolary closing of the letter, following Peter's exhortations to elders and younger members of the church, and a call to humility and resistance against the devil. The overall theme of 1 Peter is to encourage believers, who are facing suffering and persecution as "elect exiles," to live a holy life and endure hardship with hope, steadfastness, and confidence in Christ's return. The letter emphasizes their new identity in Christ and the practical implications of their faith in a hostile world. In this specific closing verse, Peter includes greetings that reinforce the broader fellowship of believers and offers personal touches, preparing to conclude his letter of exhortation and encouragement to churches across Asia Minor. The cryptic mention of "Babylon" would have been understood by the original audience within the context of early Christian symbolism for powerful, pagan imperial cities, particularly Rome, which was the center of emerging persecution.

1 Peter 5 13 Word analysis

• She who is in Babylon:

  • She (ἡ, hē): The feminine definite article. In this context, it is almost universally understood by scholars to refer not to a literal woman (like Peter's wife) but to a local Christian congregation, effectively personifying the church as a "lady" or "sister church." This usage echoes similar language for the church, as seen in 2 Jn 1:1, 13, referring to the "chosen lady." This conveys solidarity and sisterhood among communities of believers.
  • Babylon (Βαβυλῶνι, Babylōni): This term is largely understood symbolically as a veiled reference to Rome. During this period, identifying Rome by its actual name would have been provocative, potentially inviting further scrutiny or persecution, given its escalating hostility toward Christians. Early Christian apocalyptic literature (e.g., Rev 17-18) also consistently uses "Babylon" to refer to Rome as a city of spiritual idolatry, empire, and opposition to God's people. While a literal Babylonian city in Mesopotamia might have existed with a Jewish-Christian population, the prevailing tradition and contextual clues (Peter's later ministry, symbolic use in Revelation, and common persecution centers) strongly point to Rome as the implied "Babylon." This symbolic designation serves as a form of coded language, reflecting both political caution and theological condemnation of the oppressive power.

• Chosen together with you (συνεκλεκτή, syneklektē):

  • This is a rare compound word in the New Testament, emphasizing a shared spiritual status. The prefix syn- (συν-) means "with" or "together," and eklektē (ἐκλεκτή) means "chosen" or "elect." Thus, it translates to "fellow elect" or "chosen together." It highlights the universal unity of believers in God's saving purpose, irrespective of their geographic location or particular challenges. This reinforces the core theological concept of divine election (foreknowledge, choosing) that Peter has emphasized throughout the letter (e.g., 1 Pet 1:2). The church in Rome (Babylon) is declared to be "chosen together" with the scattered believers in Asia Minor, establishing a deep spiritual bond.

• sends you greetings (ἀσπάζεται, aspazetai):

  • This verb means "to greet," "to salute," or "to embrace." It is a common and polite epistolary closing phrase in ancient letters, indicating well-wishing and Christian fellowship. It is used extensively in the New Testament to convey mutual love and communion among believers (e.g., Rom 16:3-16). Its use here signifies a connection and bond between the community sending the greetings (the "she" in Babylon/Rome) and the communities receiving the letter.

• and so does Mark (Μάρκος, Markos):

  • Refers to John Mark, who is consistently mentioned in other New Testament books. Mark was a close associate of Peter and is traditionally understood to be the author of the Gospel of Mark, which is believed by many early church fathers (like Papias via Eusebius) to have been based on Peter's preaching and testimony. His inclusion here suggests his presence with Peter in "Babylon" (Rome) and highlights his importance within the apostolic circle.
  • my son (υἱός μου, huios mou): This expression conveys a deep personal and spiritual bond, indicating that Peter considered Mark a spiritual protégé or disciple. It does not imply biological kinship but a close master-disciple relationship or a form of spiritual fatherhood, where Peter likely mentored Mark in the faith and ministry (cf. 1 Tim 1:2; Tit 1:4 where Paul uses similar language for Timothy and Titus). This designation underscores the mentorship and discipleship networks vital to the early church's spread and endurance.

1 Peter 5 13 Bonus section

The tradition of Peter's martyrdom in Rome during Nero's reign (circa AD 64-68), specifically crucifixion upside down, aligns strongly with the identification of "Babylon" as Rome in this verse. His presence in Rome would make his writing from there to Asia Minor churches perfectly plausible. This tradition is supported by early church fathers such as Eusebius of Caesarea, Clement of Rome, and Irenaeus. Furthermore, the early church believed that Mark’s Gospel was essentially Peter’s sermons written down, lending further weight to Mark’s intimate relationship with Peter as implied by "my son" and his presence alongside Peter in "Babylon"/Rome.

1 Peter 5 13 Commentary

1 Peter 5:13 encapsulates several vital aspects of early Christian identity and communication. The most discussed element, "She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you," uses a coded yet meaningful geographical identifier for the source of the letter. The scholarly consensus points to "Babylon" as Rome, a common practice in early Christian literature (especially Revelation) to refer to the imperial power oppressing believers. This subtle code offered both protection in communication and a theological critique of Rome as a center of spiritual opposition to God. The "she" signifies the local Christian community or church, personified as a sister, affirming the solidarity between believers in Rome and those suffering in Asia Minor. The unique term "chosen together" (syneklektē) profoundly emphasizes the unity of all believers in God's universal plan of election, creating a powerful sense of shared identity and destiny regardless of location or trials. The greetings from Mark, explicitly called "my son," provide a tender and authentic personal touch. This term reflects not biological relation but Peter's spiritual mentorship and Mark's significant role as a trusted helper, scribe, and traditional interpreter of Peter's preaching. The verse, therefore, offers a blend of theological affirmation, practical epistolary tradition, historical context regarding coded language, and personal connection within the persecuted yet unified early Christian body. It closes Peter's encouragement with a final echo of deep, relational unity in Christ amidst a challenging world.