1 Peter 5:12

Silvanus is the Roman form of the Greek name Silas. This Silas may very well have been Paul’s companion on his second missionary journey. Silas may have written this epistle as Peter dictated it or in some other way assisted in its composition. [Note: See Selwyn, pp. 9-17, for a helpful excursus on Silvanus (Silas).] Peter may have taken the pen from Silvanus at this point and written the conclusion himself, as was common (cf. Galatians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:17). It seems more probable, however, that Silas carried this epistle from Peter to its first destination. [Note: See E. Randolph Richards, "Silvanus Was Not Peter’s Secretary: Theological Bias in Interpreting dia Silouanou . . . egrapha in 1 Peter 5:12," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 43:3 (September 2000):417-32.] It would have been more customary for Peter to mention Silas at the beginning of the letter if he had had some role in its composition. [Note: Michaels, pp. 306-7.]

Peter explained his purpose for writing this epistle. He wanted to exhort the readers to stand firm in the faith since suffering for the Savior is part of being a recipient of God’s grace (1 Peter 5:9). One of Peter’s gifts was exhortation. God’s grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9)! The "true grace of God" may refer to the help that the readers would obtain from the Lord and, specifically, from this letter. [Note: Ibid., pp. 309-10.]