Week 9 - 1 Peter 5:12-14 - Say Hello

The valediction of this letter mentions two people and the church as as whole:

By Silvanus . . . 

This longer form of the name of Silas (silas), whom Paul (not Peter) chose over Mark during a “sharp disagreement” with Barnabas, as a traveling companion in (Acts 15:36-41).

She who is at Babylon, . . . 

The likely place of authorship of this letter is Rome.  Babylon being a code-word for it.  “She” would be the church present there.

. . . Mark, my son.

Unlike Paul, who had rejected Mark, Peter spiritually adopted Mark, who is also called John (Acts 12:12) and was the cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10).

Even with the disagreement between Paul (Not Peter.  It is so easy to conflate the two) and Barnabas over the choosing of Mark or Silas, this affectionate valediction, where both Mark and Silas are included out of the entire church at Rome, befits a letter focused on brotherly kindness.

That disagreement took place following the Jerusalem council, which scholars date to AD 49.  And because he was a native of Cyprus (Acts 4:36) Barnabas returned there and served there with Mark (Acts 15:39).  Even though they took different paths, no ill-will was demonstrated or spoken.

Already in 1 Corinthians 9:6, written only a few years later (AD 53-55), Paul declared his support for the work of Barnabas which indicates no lingering animosity.

Barnabas continued to serve on Cyprus with a copy of Matthew's Gospel (by tradition) until his martyrdom around AD 61.  At which time, Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome (AD 60 – AD 61) wrote to the church at Colossae (Colossians 4:10) and gave them instructions to welcome Mark.

This epistle, Peter’s first, was written from Rome just prior to the Great Fire of Rome AD 64.  At this time Paul had already been released from house arrest and was evangelizing westward (Romans 15:24, 28) but the extent of that work is lost to history.

Both Paul and Peter were martyred at the hand of Nero in the years that followed (AD 64 – AD 68).  By tradition, Peter was crucified upside down and Paul, because he was a Roman citizen, by civilized beheading.

All three were willing to share in the sufferings of Christ.  All three honored each other.  All three gave honor to the younger generation.  All five have a place near the Cornerstone.

Let us do likewise.