Concluding Words to the Suffering Saints

Final words carry weight. Like a coach addressing his team before a game, Peter leaves encouraging words with the suffering believers.

1. The Carrier of the Letter (1 Peter 5:12a; 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1)
• Silvanus was the bearer of the letter.
- Silvanus was the man Silas who was Paul’s companion on his second missionary journey.
• Silvanus may have been the transcriber of the letter.
• Silvanus was a faithful, trustworthy, dependable friend.

2. The Purpose of the Letter (1 Peter 5:12b)
• The purpose is to admonish and encourage his readers to live for God while suffering.
• The purpose is to confirm that the readers had experienced the true grace of God.
- They had experienced God’s true saving grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- They had and would continue to experience God’s true sanctifying grace.
- They had and would continue to experience God’s true suffering grace. (Ephesians 6:13-14)
• The purpose is to challenge them to stand firm in God’s grace. (2 Peter 3:17-18)

3. The Greeting to the Recipients of the Letter (1 Peter 5:13-14)
* It’s a greeting from the Church of Rome (Babylon).
• It’s a greeting from (John) Mark. .
• It’s a greeting of mutual love.
• It’s a benediction of peace. (Ephesians 2:14)