Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as strangers in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
    There is no reason, however, to interpret this passage figuratively. A passage should be interpreted literally unless the type of literature, context, or other weighty evidence indicates otherwise. Babylon is said to have been a large city with a good size Jewish population during the first century. (The city was not actually destroyed and deserted until the end of the third century.)