1 Peter 5:12

5:10-14 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 to one another; but theirs is a vain hope, and will come to nought. All solid peace is founded on Christ, and flows from him.

{14} 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. (14) Continuance and perseverance in the doctrine of the apostles is the only ground and foundation of Christian strength: Now the sum of the apostles doctrine, is salvation freely given by God.

1 Peter 5:12 . By Silvanus — The person probably of that name, whom St. Paul united with himself in writing the epistles to the Thessalonians, namely, Silas, who ( Acts 15:22 ) is called a chief man among the brethren, and a prophet, Acts 15:32 . Being Paul’s constant companion in travel after the defection of John Mark, he, no doubt, assisted in planting churches in Galatia, and the other countries of the Lesser Asia, mentioned chap. 1 Peter 1:1 . So being well known to the brethren in those parts, he was a fit person to carry this letter to them from St. Peter; to whom, probably, after Paul’s death, he had attached himself as an assistant. A faithful brother, as I suppose — As I judge upon good grounds, though not by immediate inspiration; I have written briefly — Δι ολιγων , in few words; exhorting and testifying — Or adding my testimony, as επιμαρτυρων signifies; namely, to that which they had before heard from Paul; that this is the true grace of God — The true and only doctrine proceeding from the grace of God, and wherein the grace of God is offered and bestowed upon all penitent believers; and therefore earnestly exhorting you to attend to and seriously consider it.

Silvanus Probably the companion of Paul known in the Acts as Silas (Acts 15:22, Acts 15:27, Acts 15:32, Acts 15:34, Acts 15:40, etc.), and called Silvanus by Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1. A faithful brother Brother has the definite article, the faithful brother, designating him as one well known for his fidelity. Rev. renders our, with the in margin. Unto you Construe, not as A. V., a brother unto you, but I have written unto you. So Rev. As I suppose (ὡς λογίζομαι) Too feeble, since the verb denotes a settled persuasion or assurance. See Romans 3:28, "we conclude" or reckon, as the result of our reasoning. Compare Romans 8:18; Hebrews 11:19. Rev., as I account him. I have written (ἔγραψα) Lit., I wrote. An example of what is known as the epistolary aorist. The writer regards the time of writing as his correspondent will do when he shall have received the letter. We say in a letter, I write. Paul, writing to Philemon, says ἀνέπεμψα, I sent; since to Philemon the act of sending would be already past. Therefore in using this form of expression Peter does not refer to the second epistle, nor to another now lost, but to the present epistle. Briefly (δι' ὀλίγων) Lit., through few (words). Compare Hebrews 13:22, where the expression is διὰ βραχέων, through brief words. Testifying (ἐπιμαρτυρῶν) Only here in New Testament. See on 1 Peter 5:1. continued...

1 Peter 5:12 . Σιλουανοῦ , Silvanus ) Silvanus, or Silas, a companion of Paul, appears to have been sent by Paul to Peter. On this opportunity, Peter expresses his approval of the doctrine and acts of Paul. Comp. 2 Peter 3:16 .— ὡς λογίζομαι , as I think ) That Silvanus was a faithful brother was not known to Peter by revelation, but he formed this opinion in the judgment of prudent charity, not having had heretofore much intercourse with him; and therefore he entrusted him with the letter.— διʼ ὀλίγων ἔγραψα , I have written shortly ) that is, in this very letter. An abbreviated expression: I have written (I have written and sent) by Silvanus . Comp. Acts 15:23 .— παρακαλῶν , exhorting ) for the sake of brevity. Instruction (doctrine) requires more copious treatment than exhortation .— καὶ ἐπιμαρτυρῶν , and moreover [or additionally ] testifying ) A compound word. They had long since heard the testimony by Paul and Silas: Peter gives additional testimony : 1 John 2:27 .— ταύτην εἶναι ἀληθῆ χάριν ) That this grace , now present, 2 Peter 1:12 , is that true grace formerly promised by the Prophets, and that no other is to be expected.— εἰς ἣν ἑστήκατε , in which ye stand ) Romans 5:2 , note. The grace in which we stand must be true, and our standing in it true also.

By Silvanus; either Silas, Acts 15:1-41 16:1-40 , whom Peter therefore here calls a faithful brother to them, that they might the more readily receive him, though a minister of the uncircumcision; or else this Silvanus was some other that had preached to them, and is therefore said to be a faithful brother to them: the former is more probable. As I suppose; this doth not signify any doubt, but rather a firm persuasion, of Silvanus’s faithfulness; q.d. I reckon him faithful, having hitherto found him so: or, it may relate to the briefness of the Epistle; q.d. I suppose it will seem brief to you, as being from one that loves you, and about matters that so much concern you. Exhorting; viz. to constancy in the faith, and diligence in duty. And testifying; bearing my testimony to the truth ye have received; this the apostle witnesseth, that being more fully convinced of it, they might more constantly adhere to it. See the like phrase, Nehemiah 9:29,30 13:15 . That this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand; the true doctrine of God, wherein he sets forth the grace of Christ: q.d. Ye are in the right way; the doctrine ye have embraced is indeed the truth of God.

1 Peter 5:12-14 . Postscript in St. Peter’s own handwriting, like Galatians 6:11-18 ( ἴδετε πηλίκοις ὑμῖν γράμμασιν ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμεῇ χειρί ); 2 Thessalonians 3:17 f. ( ὁ ἀσπασμὸς τῇ ἐμῇ χειρὶ Παύλου ).— διὰ Σιλουανοῦ , by the hand of my scribe S. ; so Ignatius writes διὰ Βύρρου to the Philadelphians (11:2) and the Smyrnaeans (12:1), but wishes to keep him with himself ( Ephesians 2:1 ). That S. was also the bearer of the Epistle is indicated by the recommendation which follows. There does not seem to be any good reason for refusing to identify this S. with the companion of St. Paul and Timothy who wrote with them to the Church of Thessalonica and preached with them at Corinth ( 2 Corinthians 1:19 ).— τοῦ πιστοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ὡς λογίζομαι . One main object of the postscript is to supply S. with a brief commendation. He is presumably the appointed messenger who will supplement the letter with detailed application of its general teaching and information about the affairs of the writer. So St. Paul’s Encyclical ends with that ye may know my circumstances how I fare Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord shall make known all things to you ( Ephesians 6:21 f.). S. was known probably to some of the Churches as St. Paul’s companion: in case he was unknown to any, St. Peter adds his own certificate.

For this use of λογίζομαι compare 1 Corinthians 4:1 , οὕτως ἡμᾶς λογιζέσθω ἄνθρωπος ; 2 Corinthians 11:5 , λογίζομαι γὰρ μηδὲν ὑστερηκέναι τῶν ὑπερλίαν ἀποστόλων .— παρακαλῶν … θεοῦ , motive and subject of the Epistle. St. Peter Wrote exhorting as he said I exhort you ( 1 Peter 2:11 , 1 Peter 5:1 ) and the general content of his exhortation may be given by the subordinate clause which follows: “That you stand in the grace, which I bear witness is truly God’s grace”. The acquired sense of the verb comfort (LXX for נחם ) is not directly contemplated. The Epistle is a λόγος παρακλήσεως in the sense of ὁ παρακαλῶν ἐν τῇ παρακλήσει , Romans 12:8 .— ἐπιμαρτυρῶν , testifying to … not … in addition . The verb does not occur elsewhere in O.T. (LXX has ἐπιμαρτύρομαι ) or N.T.; but Hebrews 2:4 has the compound συνεπιμαρτυροῦντος τοῦ θεοῦ .— ταύτην … θεοῦ , that this is true grace of God, i.e. , the grace—in the widest sense of the word which is theirs ( 1 Peter 1:10 ) which God gives to the humble ( 1 Peter 5:5 ). St. Peter was witness of the sufferings of Christ which they now share; he witnesses from his experience that the grace which they possess is truly God’s grace, though sufferings are a passing incident of their sojourn nere.— εἰς ἣν στῆτε , paraenetic summary of τὴν προσαγωγὴν ἐσχήκαμεν εἰς τὴν χάριν ταύτην ἐν ᾗ ἑστήκαμεν ( Romans 5:2 ), from which the easier reading ἐστήκατε is derived.— ἡ … συνεκλεκτή .

12. Silvanus—Silas, the companion of Paul and Timothy: a suitable messenger by whom to confirm, as Peter here does, Paul's doctrine of "the true grace of God" in the same churches (compare 2Pe 3:16). We never meet with Silvanus as Paul's companion after Paul's last journey to Jerusalem. His connection with Peter was plainly subsequent to that journey. as I suppose—Join "faithful unto you [Steiger], as I suppose." Silvanus may have stood in a close relation to the churches in Asia, perhaps having taken the oversight of them after Paul's departure, and had afterwards gone to Peter, by whom he is now sent back to them with this Epistle. He did not know, by positive observation, Silvanus' faithfulness to them; he therefore says, "faithful to you, as I suppose," from the accounts I hear; not expressing doubt. Alford joins "I have written unto you," which the Greek order favors.

The seeming uncertainty, thus, is not as to Silvanus' faithfulness, which strongly marked by the Greek article, but as to whether he or some other would prove to be the bearer of the letter, addressed as it was to five provinces, all of which Silvanus might not reach: "By Silvanus, that faithful brother, as expect, I have Written to you" [Birks]. briefly—Greek, "in few (words)," as compared with the importance of the subject (Heb 13:22). exhorting—not so much formally teaching doctrines, which could not be done in so "few words." testifying—bearing my testimony in confirmation (so the Greek compound verb implies) of that truth which ye have already heard from Paul and Silas (1Jo 2:27). that this—of which I have just written, and of which Paul before testified to you (whose testimony, now that he was no longer in those regions, was called in question probably by some; compare 2Pe 3:15, 16). 2Pe 1:12, "the present truth," namely, the grace formerly promised by the prophets, and now manifested to you. "Grace" is the keynote of Paul's doctrine which Peter now confirms (Eph 2:5, 8).