This week marks the final passage of 1 Peter, where Peter gives a few final greetings and closes. You can find it in 1 Peter 5:13-14.

This final passage can be broken into four easy portions for discussion. Each of them provides valuable insight into the early church and those who served as leaders.

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings

The first phrase is the most ambiguous of them all. There are a couple of different possibilities as to what Peter is referring to here. It is worth noting that Peter’s choice of words is almost identical to that of John’s in his final words of 2 John, “The children of your chosen sister send their greetings.” Both John and Peter focus on the fact that we have been chosen by God as a central focus in much of their writings, as Peter did in 1:1-2. This provides a nice set of bookends for Peter’s letter.

One other item in this phrase bears some scrutiny. Peter refers to Babylon. There are a couple of possibilities. It could be the major city that existed in Mesopotamia, the literal Babylon. It could also be a reference to a less well known town of the same name in Egypt. Most likely, Peter uses it like John does in Revelation, as a veiled reference to Rome. With Peter’s historical connection to Rome, this seems the most plausible.

The last few verses of 1 Peter are the final greetings that Peter gives to his readers. He begins by giving credit to Silas for his help. Take a look at 1 Peter 5:12.

Just who is this guy that Peter is talking about, and how was he such a help to Peter?

In the original language, Peter uses the name Silvanus. Many of the modern translations, such as the NIV, use Silas, and they do so based on a couple of specific thoughts. First of all, that this Silvanus was the same one mentioned in the letter of 2 Corinthians, as a coworker of Paul and Timothy. Second, that Silvanus is the man named Silas in Acts, who was sent to Antioch by the Jerusalem church leaders, and then joined Paul on his second missionary journey.

Silas is a Greek name, while Silvanus is Latin, and in the case of Paul’s mention of Silvanus, and Luke’s person named Silas, it is possible that they are the same person. If so, then it is also likely that this is the same person to which Peter is referring to as well. Based on what we know of Silas/Silvanus, his efforts with Paul and now possibly with Peter make him a “faithful brother,” and a great help in ministry to Peter.

As Peter wraps up this last section of his letter, and before his closing remarks, he inserts a brief doxology. Take a look at it in 1 Peter 5:10-11.

This brief exhortation of praise is typical throughout the New Testament, and is used frequently, especially in Paul’s letters. Peter follows suit here and offers a brief doxology, and gives some final encouragement to his readers while doing so.

In this brief statement, Peter revisits three of his central themes, those of grace, salvation and suffering.

First, Peter calls God the “God of all grace.” This is in keeping with his theme of the grace of God that runs through this entire letter. Peter continually emphasizes God’s grace over and over to his readers, and has done so in places like 1:2, 1:10, 3:7, 4:10, and 5:5, just to name a few.

Second, Peter again emphasizes that God has called his readers to new life, a thought he has addressed in 1:2, 1:15, 2:9 and 3:9.

Once again, Peter returns to one of the major themes of this brief letter, the idea that we will experience suffering because of our faith. This time, he identifies the root cause of it. See it for yourself in 1 Peter 5:8-9.

This is not the first time that Peter encourages self-control in this letter either. He has done so already in 1:13 and 4:7. But this time, he adds to it and tells his readers to stay alert as well. This is a common instruction through out the New Testament, but is the first time Peter has used it. His reason for including it is that the enemy, the devil, is looking for any opportunity to trip us up.

For the first time, Peter identifies this enemy. It is Satan, the devil, who is behind all the suffering and persecution that believers face. Peter describes him as a lion, a very powerful and menacing image to first century readers. The lion is a powerful predator, and is very intimidating, especially when faced in the wild. Peter uses this metaphor to describe the enemy, and his pursuit of Christians. He is looking for any and every opportunity to trap us, to tempt us, and to devour us.

The first few verses of 1 Peter 5 are addressed to elders, but as Peter draws some application from his instructions, he shifts his focus to all of his readers. Take a look at what he says in 1 Peter 5:5-7.

These three verses of 1 Peter 5 may be some of the most well known, and most often memorized. They are very encouraging, but they are also very much to the point, and contain some instructions that we need to make sure we follow closely. They deal with the topic of humility.

First of all, Peter gives a parallel to his instructions concerning elders to the younger men of the church community. There is some debate among commentators as to whether this is in direct contrast to his remarks to elders, or just a linguistic mechanism to shift gears. Based on what he states here, I feel that he is offering some instructions for both men and women, and especially as it relates to submitting to the authority of the elders’ leadership, who have the responsibility of overseeing, or shepherding, the flock under their care.

Those instructions are a close parallel to what he has already given to the elders. The elders are not to “lord it over” those in their care; and in the same way, those younger are to submit to the authority of the elders and leadership. Both sides of this relationship are to be characterized by humility, much like Peter stated back in chapter 3, verse 8. To reinforce this, Peter quotes Proverbs 3:34, where we are told that God opposed arrogance, and seeks an attitude of humility in our hearts.