Was Peter in Babylon or Rome?

1 Pet. 5:13 "The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Mark my son."

I believe this is important to study! Peter states that he is writing from “Babylon”, is this so?! Peter is most likely writing from Rome and not Babylon, for a few reasons...

We know from history that Peter was in Rome somewhere around the time Paul was beheaded. And a year or two later Peter was crucified.

There is also the evidence of Peter's presence in Rome that we can see from his mention of Mark in the verse in question 1 Peter 5:13. Clearly it tells us that Mark was with Peter at this time. But from 2 Timothy 4:11 we know that Paul had called Mark to Rome to be with him prior to his execution.

Thus, since these events are only a year or two apart, it is likely Mark was still there and, if so, Rome has to be the 'Babylon' Peter is referring to!

Which would make sense, if Peter is in Rome, it wouldn't be wise to openly state in his writing exactly where he was. It would be safer to use a 'code' name. And the same would be true with John when he was exiled to the Island of Patmos under Roman Emperor Domitian. Would it wise to be writing about the future destruction of Rome, no way!

Also we have historical evidence that there was no Christian community at Mesopotamian Babylon during the first century AD. At this time Babylon was desolate and ruined, and wasn't a popular empire any longer.

Here are two quotes from Greek Historians showing that Babylon was deserted…

“The greater part of Babylon is so deserted that one would not hesitate to say… The Great City is a great desert.” -Strabo 19BC

“As for the palaces and the other buildings, time has either entirely effaced them or left them in ruins; and in fact of Babylon itself but a small part is inhabited at this time, and most of the area within its walls is given over to agriculture. -Diodorus of Sicily 56-36BC

Sometimes you have to do a little investigative work to put the puzzle pieces together. And that is why it's called a 'Mystery'. If you seek His Word with all your heart, He will show you!

Be a Berean!