Where Was The Church In Babylon located ?

[Scott Hutchinson]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

The church that is in Babylon ,elected together with you ,saluteth you ; and so doth Marcus my son. 1 Peter 4:13
Where was this church in Babylon located ?
Rome Or Jerusalem or Babylon by the Euphrates ,Or does this mean the church that was under Imperial Roman govt ?
Where was the church In Babylon located ?

I meant 1 Peter 5:13. Sorry.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Peter wrote this epistle general to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus ,Galtatia ,Cappadocia,Asia ,and Bithynia. 1 Peter 1:1
Now I understand that saved folk are considered pilgrims and strangers in this present world.
Of course too strangers refers to dispersed Jews see John 7:35.
Could the Babylon of 1 Peter 5:13 be referring to the Imperial Roman Empire ?

[Sam]

John MacArthur in his study Bible says the sister in Babylon means a church in Rome and references Rev. 17:18.

The 1599 Geneva Bible reads, "The Church that is at Babylon elected together with you, saluteth you..." and has a note which says, "In that famous city of Assyria, where Peter the Apostle of the circumcision then was."

The Douay (Roman Catholic) Bible that I have has notes compiled by Bishop Challoner (1691-1781) in it. The note for 1 Peter 5:13 says "Babylon, Figuratively, Rome."

The Spirit Filled Life Bible has the following note at 1 Peter 5:13
"Most scholars suggest that Babylon is a symbolic reference to imperial Rome, with which early church tradition associates both Peter and John Mark. It less likely refers to a sister congregation located in Babylon."

Originally Posted by Sam

John MacArthur in his study Bible says the sister in Babylon means a church in Rome and references Rev. 17:18.

The 1599 Geneva Bible reads, "The Church that is at Babylon elected together with you, saluteth you..." and has a note which says, "In that famous city of Assyria, where Peter the Apostle of the circumcision then was."

The Douay (Roman Catholic) Bible that I have has notes compiled by Bishop Challoner (1691-1781) in it. The note for 1 Peter 5:13 says "Babylon, Figuratively, Rome."

The Spirit Filled Life Bible has the following note at 1 Peter 5:13
"Most scholars suggest that Babylon is a symbolic reference to imperial Rome, with which early church tradition associates both Peter and John Mark. It less likely refers to a sister congregation located in Babylon."

I don't put much stock in modern Study Bible notes or Bible Commentaries. I like the notes in the Geneva Bible (I happen to have a facsimile of a Geneva Bible). I really don't see a biblical basis for assuming that "Babylon" is being used figuratively. Unless there is clear indication that something is figurative (e.g., a parable or prophetic language), whatever is written is to be taken literally.

Ther People's New Testament Commentary says: "5:13 The [church that is] at Babylon. She that is in Babylon (Revised Version). The word church is not in the Greek. Peter probably referred to his wife. The salutations are from individuals. On Babylon, see topic 9257. Alford says,
There is no reason whatever for regarding this any place but the Chaldean capital."

[Steve Epley]

I have always thought it was Rome I do not think the city of Babylon was in existance when the letter was written?

[Scott Hutchinson]

Well at least I'm not the only one who thought this might refer to Imperial Rome.