1 Peter 5:12

By Sylvanus 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.

By Sylvanus our faithful brother ... "On its narrowest interpretation, this means simply that Sylvanus was the bearer of the letter,"[36] the same being the technical meaning of the phrase; and it is perhaps best to let that meaning stand. We do not feel any need to help the apostle out with his Greek by making Sylvanus also the "writer" of this letter. Peter was fully competent to have written this epistle. Sylvanus' name is linked with Paul's in the writing of Thessalonians; he is called Silas (Acts 15:22); he is referred to as a chief man among the brethren (Acts 15:22), also as a prophet (Acts 15:32). After the defection of John Mark, he was Paul's traveling companion, being cast into prison with Paul at Philippi. Thus, he was well acquainted with many of the churches that would be receiving this epistle, thus being a very appropriate bearer of it.

As I account him ... does not imply any lack of confidence in Sylvanus, the same being Peter's manner of recommending him.

Exhorting, and testifying ... Again, it is clear that "testifying" in apostolic times was not merely sounding off in public meetings, as the word is often understood today. It was exhorting and commanding the people to obey the word of God.

This is the true grace of God ... The entire epistle Peter had written with its magnificent overtones of so many varied and profound Christian teachings - that is the true grace of God.

Stand ye fast therein ... This reminds one of Paul's great charge, "Having done all, to stand." The unanimous appeal of the apostles of Christ was for Christians to stand firmly against every foe, not being swept off their feet, or made to defect from the holy faith by anything whatsoever.