Here we are informed for the first time that Peter did not write this letter alone, but that he had the help of Silas (literally “Silvanus”). Silas is the name of one of Paul’s fellow-workers (Acts 15.22-34, 40; 18.5; 2 Cor 1.19; 1 Thes 1.1; 2 Thes 1.1); since no other person by that name is mentioned in the New Testament, it is assumed by many interpreters that this particular companion of Paul is the same Silas who is referred to in this letter. This is a very interesting proposition and may well be a fact, although there is nothing in the letter itself to indicate that it is so.
With the help of Silas (literally “through Silvanus”) is in itself ambiguous and is capable of at least three interpretations: (1) Silas was the secretary who wrote down what Peter dictated; (2) Silas wrote the letter, incorporating Peter’s own ideas, but not simply writing down what was dictated; (3) Silas is to be the bearer of the letter which Peter himself has written. Of course these are not exclusive options. Some translations take the third of these (for example, Phillips “I am sending this short letter by Silvanus”), but many others indicate that it is either the first or the second which they prefer (for example, Good News Translation, Barclay, Moffatt “By the hand of Silvanus … I have written you…”). A literal translation would be ambiguous but still would lean towards the first two choices (for example, New American Bible “I am writing briefly through Silvanus”; New English Bible “I write you this brief appeal through Silvanus”).
In most languages it is difficult to be ambiguous in rendering the phrase with the help of Silas. One must often choose between a rendering such as “Silas has helped me in the writing of this brief letter” or “Silas has helped me in sending this brief letter to you.” In the first instance the meaning would be that Silas had in some way participated in the composition of the letter, and in the second instance the meaning would be that Silas was the one by whom the letter was delivered to the people in question.
Whom I regard emphasizes, not other people’s doubts as to Silas’ competence, but Peter’s own high regard for him. Whom I regard may be appropriately rendered as “whom I know to be” or “whom I am sure is.”
A faithful Christian brother is literally “a faithful brother,” but “brother” has the same sense as in 1.22, that is, fellow believer. Faithful may be in relation to Peter, hence “a brother whom I can trust,” or in relation to God or Christ, hence “a brother, whose trust and confidence in Christ I cannot doubt.”
The phrase Christian brother may very well be taken as a kind of semantic unit, in that one may render it as “one who believes in Christ even as we do” or possibly “… even as you do,” but faithful may be understood either in the sense of “one whom I trust” or “one whom you can trust.”
I want to encourage you (literally “exhort”) probably harks back to the content of the whole letter and mentions its purpose as encouraging the believers (compare New American Bible “herewith are expressed my encouragement”). Taken in this manner, it is best to take it with Stand firm at the end of the verse (compare Jerusalem Bible “to encourage you never to let go this true grace of God”).
In a number of languages a rendering of I want to encourage you requires some kind of content for the encouragement, for example, “I want to encourage you to stand firm” or “I want to urge you not to change in your faith in Christ.”
Give my testimony is literally “declare” but in an intensive sense, denoting that his testimony is true. Here he may be referring to his authority as an apostle (1.1) and to the fact that he himself is a witness to Christ’s sufferings (5.1). Give my testimony may be rendered as “say emphatically” or “declare without the slightest doubt.”
This probably refers to the content of the whole letter, although it is possible that it goes back only to verse 10 of this chapter. But since “encourage” and “declare” refer to the whole letter, then the former of these two alternatives is the more likely. The reference of this may be effectively indicated in some languages as “what I have said” or “what I have written.”
The true grace of God is a difficult phrase, and most modern translations give no help, since they simply translate it literally. If this refers back to verse 10, and grace there is taken to mean God’s undeserved love, then grace here too could be taken in the same way, in which case what is meant here is that all of God’s actions in verse 10 are real expressions of God’s love and favor. Accordingly, this is the true grace of God may be rendered as “what God has done for you is truly an example of his love for you” or “… his loving kindness toward you.” If this refers to the situation of the readers, particularly to their sufferings because of their faith, then grace may have the meaning of “gift,” in which case the meaning of the phrase may be “all your sufferings and difficulties are truly a gift from God” or “… are truly blessings from God” or “… are ways in which God is truly blessing you.” If, however, this refers to the whole letter, then the phrase may mean “everything I have written truly concerns the kindness of God” or else “everything I have written can truly lead you to experience God’s kindness and goodness.” For the previous occurrences of grace, see 1.10, 13; 3.7; 4.10; 5.5, 10.
In most languages a literal rendering of this is the true grace of God is misleading, especially if this is to refer to what has previously been written or said, because the content of a message cannot be literally true grace. What has been written may concern true grace but cannot be equated with it. Therefore, this is the true grace of God may be rendered in some languages as “what I have written concerns the real grace of God.”
Stand firm in it is literally “in which you stand,” with “stand” either as subjunctive or imperative. Most translations take it in the latter sense. To stand firm is to persevere until the end, regardless of what happens. “In which” may give the reason for standing firm (for example, Reicke “In view of it remain steadfast”) or its sphere (Good News Translation and most translations). The difficulty here is that in represents the preposition “into” (Greek eis), which is usually used in this letter to express purpose or reason; however, one may allow for an exception here and therefore read eis as equivalent to en, hence in.
As in a number of contexts, an expression such as Stand firm must be expressed negatively as “do not waver” or “do not change” or “do not weaken.”
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The First Letter from Peter. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .