1 Peter 5:12
in 1 Peter 5Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written unto you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God: stand ye fast therein.
KJV
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.
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This verse in 1 Peter 5
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThrough Sylvanus, your faithful brother, etc. What he says, beseeching, can refer to what precedes, because he writes briefly after all, not commanding, but beseeching them to stand firm in faith. It can also be rightly connected to what follows, so that it is understood …
This site's exposition
a faithful brother
on 1 Peter 5:12-14
Silvanus, the Silas of Acts, brings the letter, whose purpose is testifying that this is the true grace of God. The church in Babylon is read as Rome under a cover name, most since the fathers, or as Babylon on the Euphrates.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"By Silvanus." This Silvanus was very faithful and eagerly motivated around the preaching. Indeed, Paul also mentions him and takes him as a helper along with Timothy in his letters, saying: "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy." (1-2 Thess. 1:1)
The Medieval Church1 voice
This Silvanus believes excellently and labors diligently in the work of preaching. Paul also mentions him, and together with Timothy names him as a fellow worker in his epistles; thus, he writes: "Paul and Silvanus and Timothy" (1 Thess. 1:1).
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
As I suppose - As I judge, upon good grounds, though not by immediate inspiration. I have written - That is, sent my letter by him. Adding my testimony - To that which ye before heard from Paul, that this is the true gospel of the grace of God.
Observe, An honourable esteem of the ministers of religion tends much to the success of their labours. When we are convinced they are faithful, we shall profit more by their ministerial services. The prejudices that some of these Jews might have against Silvanus, as a minister of the Gentiles, would soon wear off when they were once convinced that he was a faithful brother.
By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose - To say the least of this translation, it is extremely obscure, and not put together with that elegance which is usual to our translators. I see no reason why the clause may not be thus translated: I have written to you, as I consider, briefly, by Silvanus, the faithful brother.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
2:7, 8, 9) stand (therein)." Peter seems to have in mind Paul's words (Ro 5:2; "The grace wherein we stand must be true, and our standing in it true also" [BENGEL]. Compare in "He began his Epistle with grace (1Pe 1:2), he finishes it with grace, he has besprinkled the middle with grace, that in every part he might teach that the Church is not saved but by grace."
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
By Silvanus - Or Silas. See the 2Co 1:19 note; 1Th 1:1, note. He was the intimate friend and companion of Paul, and had labored much with him in the regions where the churches were situated to which this Epistle was addressed. In what manner he became acquainted with Peter, or why he was now with him in Babylon is unknown. A faithful brother unto you, as I suppose - The expression “as I suppose” - ὡς λογίζομαι hōs logizomai - does not imply that there was any doubt on the mind of the apostle, but indicates rather a firm persuasion that what he said was true. Thus, Rom 8:18, “For I reckon (λογίζομαι logizomai) that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared,” etc. That is, I am fully persuaded of it; I have no doubt of it. Peter evidently had no doubt on this point, but he probably could not speak from any personal knowledge. He had not been with them when Silas was, and perhaps not at all; for they may have been” strangers “to him personally - for the word “strangers,” in 1Pe 1:1, may imply that he had no personal acquaintance with them. Silas, however, had been much with them, (compare Act 15:17-31,) and Peter had no doubt that he had shown himself to be “a faithful brother” to them. An epistle conveyed by his hands could not but be welcome. It should be observed, however, that the expression “I suppose” has been differently interpreted by some. Wetstein understands it as meaning, “Not that he supposed Silvanus to be a faithful brother, for who, says he, could doubt that? but that he had written as he understood matters, having carefully considered the subject, and as he regarded things to be true;” and refers for illustration to Rom 8:18; Php 4:8; Heb 11:9. […]
The words behind it
23 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Διὰ | dia | Through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| Σιλουανοῦ | silouanou | Silvanus | G4610 → | |
| ὑμῖν | humin | to you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πιστοῦ | pistou | faithful | G4103 → | 67 times |
| ἀδελφοῦ, | adelphou | brother | G80 → | |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| λογίζομαι, | logizomai | I regard [him], | G3049 → | |
| δι᾽ | di᾽ | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| ὀλίγων | oligon | few [words] | G3641 → | 40 times |
| ἔγραψα | egrapsa | I have written | G1125 → | |
| παρακαλῶν | parakalon | exhorting | G3870 → | 108 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐπιμαρτυρῶν | epimarturon | testifying | G1957 → | |
| ταύτην | tauten | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| εἶναι | einai | to be | G1511 → | |
| ἀληθῆ | alethe | [the] true | G227 → | |
| χάριν | charin | grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ, | theou | of God, | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| εἰς | eis | in | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ἣν | hen | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| στῆτε.¶ | stete | do stand firm. | G2476 → |
ΔιὰThrough
diaG1223 →664 times
ΣιλουανοῦSilvanus
silouanouG4610 →
ὑμῖνto you
huminG4771 →2973 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
πιστοῦfaithful
pistouG4103 →67 times
ἀδελφοῦ,brother
adelphouG80 →
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
λογίζομαι,I regard [him],
logizomaiG3049 →
δι᾽through
di᾽G1223 →664 times
ὀλίγωνfew [words]
oligonG3641 →40 times
ἔγραψαI have written
egrapsaG1125 →
παρακαλῶνexhorting
parakalonG3870 →108 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐπιμαρτυρῶνtestifying
epimarturonG1957 →
ταύτηνthis
tautenG3778 →1381 times
εἶναιto be
einaiG1511 →
ἀληθῆ[the] true
aletheG227 →
χάρινgrace
charinG5485 →153 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦ,of God,
theouG2316 →1312 times
εἰςin
eisG1519 →1755 times
ἣνwhich
henG3739 →1405 times
στῆτε.¶do stand firm.
steteG2476 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 20:24But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good…
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Timothy 4:6–8
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
- 2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- 2 Corinthians 4:1
Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.
- Acts 21:13
Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Through
2 Corinthians 1:19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.”
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
- Hebrews 13:8
Through
1 Corinthians 15:1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm.
it leads to
- Galatians 1:6–12
I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
- Galatians 1:6–12
Through
Acts 11:23When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
it leads to
- Acts 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
- Acts 14:22
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies15
About 1 Peter
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 Peter and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.