By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
Silvanus - Silas, the companion of Paul and Timothy: a suitable messenger by whom to confirm Paul's doctrine of the true grace of God' in the same churches (cf. 2 Peter 3:16). We never meet with Silvanus as Paul's companion after Paul's last journey to Jerusalem. His connection with Peter was subsequent.
As I suppose. Silvanus, perhaps, stood in a close relation to the churches in Asia, having taken the oversight of them after Paul's departure, and afterward went to Peter, by whom he is now sent back to them with this letter. He did not know, by observation, Silvanus' faithfulness to them; he therefore says, 'faithful to you, as I suppose,' from the accounts I hear: not expressing doubt. But Birks, 'The seeming uncertainty is not as to Silvanus' faithfulness, which is strongly marked by the article х tou (G3588) in 'Aleph (') A; B omits], but as to whether he or some other would prove to be the bearer of the letter, addressed as it was to five provinces, all of which Silvanus might not reach: 'By Silvanus, that faithful brother, as I expect, I have written to you.'
Briefly - Greek, 'in few (words),' as compared with the importance of the subject (Hebrews 13:22).
Exhorting - not so much formally teaching, which could not be done in so 'few words.'
Testifying - in confirmation [so epimarturoon (G1957)] of that truth which ye have already heard from Paul and Silas (1 John 2:27).
That this - of which I have just written, and Paul before testified (whose testimony, now that he was no longer in those regions, was called in question by some: cf. 2 Peter 1:12; 2 Peter 3:15-16); 'the present truth'-namely, the grace formerly promised by the prophets, and now manifested to you. "Grace" is the key-note of Paul's doctrine, which Peter confirms (Ephesians 2:5; Ephesians 2:8). Their sufferings for the Gospel made them to need some confirmation of the truth, that they should not fall back from it.
Wherein ye stand 'Aleph (') A B read imperatively 'stand ye' х eis (G1519) heen (G3739)] 'into which Wherein ye stand. 'Aleph (') A B read imperatively 'stand ye' х eis (G1519) heen (G3739)] - 'into which (having been already admitted, 1 Peter 1:8; 1 Peter 1:21; 1 Peter 2:7; 1 Peter 2:9-10) stand (therein).' Peter has in mind Paul (Romans 5:2; 1 Corinthians 15:1). 'The grace wherein we stand must be true, and our standing in it true also' (Bengel). Compare Steiger, 'He began with grace (1 Peter 1:2), he finishes with grace, he has besprinkled the middle with grace, that in every part he might teach that the Church is saved only by grace.'