The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
The greeting is sent from a congregation of believers located at Babylon together with Mark, whom Peter calls his son because of their close association in the apostolic work. The Babylon meant is the literal city on the Euphrates, still partly inhabited at the beginning of the Christian era, from which the letter was written about A.D. 60-67 to Jewish Christians scattered as strangers in Asia Minor to encourage them under severe persecution. Others understand Babylon here figuratively for Rome, placing Peter and Mark there at the time of writing, though the place is also given simply as probably Babylon with Rome suggested beside it. Mark is John Mark the writer of the second Gospel, also called John and by the Latin name Marcus, who through this close connection with Peter became thoroughly acquainted with the facts of Christ's life and learned from him the great facts recorded in his Gospel under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. The verse gives no indication that the church was at Rome or that Peter had been Rome's bishop, but shows him as a pioneer missionary apostle whose journeyings carried him at least as far as Babylon instead of settling in one place in royal luxury.
Place and Date of Writing
The greeting locates the writing at Babylon, the city on the Euphrates, which was still partially inhabited at the beginning of the Christian era. The epistle was probably written from Babylon, though Rome is also suggested as its place of writing. On another understanding, Babylon is used figuratively for Rome, placing Peter and Mark there when the letter was written rather than in ancient Babylon in Asia.
It is evidence of a church in Babylon during the period when the gospel was preached throughout the Roman world. The epistle is thought to have been written at Babylon around A.D. 60-67. It was addressed to Jewish Christians living as strangers in Asia Minor and was meant to encourage and strengthen them during severe persecution.
Mark was with Peter when Peter wrote his first epistle, about A.D. 63. Mark is identified as John Mark, and that time with Peter is given as the supposed time when he wrote his Gospel. The letter was written from Babylon to the churches in northern Asia Minor during the persecution under Nero, about A.D. 64-67.
Peter and Mark Together
Mark was with Peter when Peter wrote his first epistle, probably at Babylon, about A.D. 63, and Peter calls him his son. He is John Mark, the writer of the second Gospel, also known as John and by the Latin name Marcus, and the time he was with Peter is the supposed time when he wrote his Gospel. Calling him his son, his son in the gospel, shows his close association and relationship with Peter and the apostolic ministry.
Through this close connection with Peter, Mark became thoroughly acquainted with the facts of Christ's life and may have learned the facts of his Gospel from Peter. He learned the great facts recorded in the Gospel of Mark from Peter through their close relationship, and his writing was also inspired by the Spirit of God.
Doctrine and Missionary Example
The salutation comes from a congregation situated at Babylon, naming that place as its location. There is no indication in it that the congregation was at Rome. There is likewise no indication in it that Peter had been bishop of Rome.
Peter stands revealed as a pioneer missionary apostle rather than a settled prelate. His journeyings carried him at least as far as Babylon. He did not sit down in one place in royal luxury, but moved from place to place preaching the gospel.
The greeting is sent from a congregation of believers located at Babylon together with Mark, whom Peter calls his son because of their close association in the apostolic work. The Babylon meant is the literal city on the Euphrates, still partly inhabited at the beginning of the Christian era, from which the letter was written about A.D. 60-67 to Jewish Christians scattered as strangers in Asia Minor to encourage them under severe persecution. Others understand Babylon here figuratively for Rome, placing Peter and Mark there at the time of writing, though the place is also given simply as probably Babylon with Rome suggested beside it. Mark is John Mark the writer of the second Gospel, also called John and by the Latin name Marcus, who through this close connection with Peter became thoroughly acquainted with the facts of Christ's life and learned from him the great facts recorded in his Gospel under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. The verse gives no indication that the church was at Rome or that Peter had been Rome's bishop, but shows him as a pioneer missionary apostle whose journeyings carried him at least as far as Babylon instead of settling in one place in royal luxury.
Place and Date of Writing
The greeting locates the writing at Babylon, the city on the Euphrates, which was still partially inhabited at the beginning of the Christian era. The epistle was probably written from Babylon, though Rome is also suggested as its place of writing. On another understanding, Babylon is used figuratively for Rome, placing Peter and Mark there when the letter was written rather than in ancient Babylon in Asia.
It is evidence of a church in Babylon during the period when the gospel was preached throughout the Roman world. The epistle is thought to have been written at Babylon around A.D. 60-67. It was addressed to Jewish Christians living as strangers in Asia Minor and was meant to encourage and strengthen them during severe persecution.
Mark was with Peter when Peter wrote his first epistle, about A.D. 63. Mark is identified as John Mark, and that time with Peter is given as the supposed time when he wrote his Gospel. The letter was written from Babylon to the churches in northern Asia Minor during the persecution under Nero, about A.D. 64-67.
Peter and Mark Together
Mark was with Peter when Peter wrote his first epistle, probably at Babylon, about A.D. 63, and Peter calls him his son. He is John Mark, the writer of the second Gospel, also known as John and by the Latin name Marcus, and the time he was with Peter is the supposed time when he wrote his Gospel. Calling him his son, his son in the gospel, shows his close association and relationship with Peter and the apostolic ministry.
Through this close connection with Peter, Mark became thoroughly acquainted with the facts of Christ's life and may have learned the facts of his Gospel from Peter. He learned the great facts recorded in the Gospel of Mark from Peter through their close relationship, and his writing was also inspired by the Spirit of God.
Doctrine and Missionary Example
The salutation comes from a congregation situated at Babylon, naming that place as its location. There is no indication in it that the congregation was at Rome. There is likewise no indication in it that Peter had been bishop of Rome.
Peter stands revealed as a pioneer missionary apostle rather than a settled prelate. His journeyings carried him at least as far as Babylon. He did not sit down in one place in royal luxury, but moved from place to place preaching the gospel.