1 Peter 5: 10-14

¹⁰ But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

¹² 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.

¹³ She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.

¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Verse 10 isn’t a prayer or a wish, but a statement of future fact. The verbs are all in the future tense.

Verse ten — The words “make you perfect” are not the translation of the Greek word teleioo which means “to perfect” in the sense of “to make spiritually mature and complete,” but from a word meaning “to fit or join together.” The predominating idea in the verb is adjustment, the putting of parts into right relationship and connection with one another. It is the same word translated “perfecting” in Ephesians 4:12, where the gifted servants of the Lord mentioned were given to the Church for the equipping of the saints for ministering work. The word was used of James and John mending their nets, thus equipping them for service (Mark 1:19).  … The word “stablish” is the translation of a Greek word whose root is akin to the word translated “steadfast” in 5:9. It speaks of a solid foundational position. — Wuest, pages 131-132.

__________

Verse twelve — In verses 12-14 we probably have the postscript in Peter’s own handwriting. This would indicate that Silvanus was the amanuensis, the one to whom Peter dictated the letter and by whom it was sent. The word “faithful” is preceded by the definite article in the Greek text, showing that he was well-known to the recipients. — Wuest, page 132.

__________

Since Silas wasn’t a common name in biblical times, there seems to be little doubt that this is the same Silas (Silvanus) that accompanied the Apostle Paul on his apostolic journeys. He was probably a Hellenistic Jew (Greek-speaking Jew) as well as a Roman citizen (Acts 15:22-27; 16:37). Silas was a member of the circumcision who helped to announce the fall of Israel nationally. He was also instrumental in confirming Paul’s ministry among the Gentiles to his countrymen (Acts 15:22-34). — Sadler, page 170.

__________

As Peter closes the epistle, he reminds his hearers once again that the things he has shared with them are “the true grace of God,” that is, the prophesied grace which was promised to come unto them (1 Peter 1:10). In the grand view of the two programs of God, Paul addresses our standing in grace, but Peter speaks here of the power of grace which would enable his hearers to endure the hour of trial they were about to face. — Sadler, page 170.

Babylon (v.13) — most likely referring to the actual city of Babylon on the Euphrates and not to Rome (as in Revelation 17:5). Wuest and Sadler both support this view.

Williams has a different take.

Whether the Apostle meant his wife (v.13) or the Christian synagogue at Babylon, or at Rome, or at Jerusalem is difficult to say. The argument of the epistle, insisting that the Divine wrath was about to fall upon Jerusalem because it had morally become Babylon (compare Revelation 11:8), inclines to the belief that the guilty city was here thus named and intended. The fact that Peter was the head of the Hebrew church would make his residence at Jerusalem the more probable. — Williams, page 1005.

kiss of love (v.14) — refers to a custom in the early church when after prayers, the brethren welcomed each other with a kiss.