Concluding his final words of greeting, Peter now expresses the regards of fellow Christians in the place where he is writing. Your sister church is literally “she,” but the presence of the description chosen by God makes it very likely that Peter is here referring to a Christian congregation, and this is made explicit in the Good News Translation (also New American Bible “The church that is in Babylon”; Phillips, Knox, Moffatt, Barclay “The Christian church in its modern Babylon”). In 2 John 1, 13, the church is referred to as “the elect lady” and “your elect sister,” indicating that was no uncommon practice at that time to use the feminine gender in referring to Christian congregations.

Your sister church in Babylon may be rendered in some languages as “the church in Babylon which is like a sister to you” or “the church in Babylon which in so many ways is like you”.

Babylon, as the Good News Translation footnote shows, is probably Rome (compare Rev 14.8; 17.5, 18; 18.2; etc.), although Babylon is not used here in a pejorative sense, as it is in Revelation; otherwise it is hard to explain the presence of exhortation regarding obedience to government authorities (2.13-17).

It should be mentioned that there is no universal agreement in this exegetical position. Two other possible interpretations have also been proposed. (1) Babylon is the real Babylon, either the Babylon by the Euphrates or the Babylon in Egypt. Against this, it may be observed that there is no tradition connecting Peter with either of these places. (2) Babylon is used symbolically to mean any place of exile. The Jews in exile could talk about the “waters of Babylon” (Psa 137.1) wherever they were. The meaning here then is “The Christian community here, which is also in exile as you are.” This is actually reflected in some translations, for example, Barclay “The Christian church in its modern Babylon.”

Also chosen by God is literally “who is also chosen,” with God or Christ as the implied agent. For chosen, see 1.2; 2.4, 6, 9. Also chosen by God may be expressed positively as “whom God has also chosen.”

It may be difficult in some languages to speak of a “church sending greetings,” and therefore one may wish to speak of “the believers in the church in Babylon send you greetings.”

Mark may be the John Mark mentioned in Acts 12.12, who was a companion of Paul in his first missionary journey (Acts 13.4-13), and who is referred to several times in Paul’s letters (Col 4.10; Phil 24; 2 Tim 4.11). One strong tradition, originating from Papias and recorded by Eusebius (Ecclesiastical History 3.39.15), tells of Mark becoming a secretary to Peter and later framing a gospel out of Peter’s reminiscences. My son does not indicate a biological relationship but is a term of endearment. In a number of languages one cannot speak of “my son Mark” without the implication that Mark was actually the son of Peter. The closest equivalent may be “my close companion Mark” or “my young helper Mark.”

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 .