c. Greetings from the church in Rome and from Mark (5:13)
c. Greetings from the church in Rome and from Mark (5:13)
13. Babylon can hardly be the ancient city of Babylon in Mesopotamia which is prominent in the Old Testament, for by the first century it was a small and obscure place (see Introduction, p. 34), for which there is no evidence of a visit by Peter (or Mark: see the end of this verse), or even of a Christian church. But there is good evidence outside the New Testament that Peter was in Rome about the time this letter was written (see Introduction, pp. 34f.), and it is best to understand Babylon as a reference to Rome (just as in Rev. 16:19; 17:5; 18:2). It is not that Peter was trying to disguise his location, but rather that he is carrying through the imagery of the church as the new people of God, the true Israel (see note at 2:10), which he has maintained since the word ‘Dispersion’ in 1:1. Just as in the Old Testament Babylon was the centre of worldly power and opposition to God’s people, so in the time of the New Testament Rome is the earthly centre of a worldwide system of government and life which opposes the gospel. Yet there Peter is in the midst of it.
And Peter is not alone. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, must mean the church at Rome—for no one individual would be so well known to all the churches of Peter’s readers as to be identifiable from such an anonymous reference. The whole church at Rome sends you greetings. And so does my son Mark indicates the presence of Mark with Peter and shows a close association with the author of the second Gospel. Son means not physical son but spiritual ‘son’, close associate and assistant in the service of Christ (cf. 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2).