1 Peter 5:13

Verse 13. The church at Babylon, elected together with you.

The brethren forming the church at Babylon, becoming members of the body of Christ as you also did, salute you. And so does Mark. This is the same Mark who wrote the Gospel bearing that name. I see no good reason for thinking that spiritual Babylon that is, Rome is here meant. The thought is therefore rejected. In passing I desire to say, I hesitate not to use the word "church," notwithstanding it does not appear in the Revised Version. It appears in the Syriac and Vulgate Versions which I have, and, besides, I can hardly believe that Peter refers to his wife, as some suppose, when I consider that the Scriptures fail even to give her name. She would therefore be almost wholly unknown to the brotherhood anywhere, and hence her salutation would be out of place.