Outline of 1 Peter

Introduction 1:1-2

Reflection on the grand scope of the new birth and salvation
1. Its future inheritance, 1:3-5
2. Its present suffering, 1:6-9
3. Its anticipation by prophets and angels, 1:10-12

Living life in the Now - Four rounds of exhortation in action/motive pattern
1. Action (prepare your minds...)
motive - God is holy, 1:13-16
2. Action (live in reverent fear...)
motive - Precious blood of Christ, 1:17-21
3. Action (love...)
motive - Born through the living and enduring word of God, 1:22-25
4. Action (rid yourselves of all malice...)
motive - Tasted the Lord's goodness, 2:1-3

Theology: our new standing in Christ
1. Metaphor of living stones on the Living Stone, 2:4-8
2. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God, 2:9-10

How then shall we live?
1. Good lives, Good deeds, 2:11-12
2. Submission
a. To authorities, 2:13-17
b. To masters, 2:18-20
c. The example of Christ, 2:21-25
d. In marriage, 3:1-7
3. Treat others well even if they don't deserve it, 3:8-12

Facing up to suffering
1. Our example is Christ's undeserved suffering, 3:13-22
2. Our example is Christ using suffering to defeat sin, 4:1-6
Summing up, 4:7-11
3. Our encouragement is that we are sharing in Christ's suffering, 4:12-19
Summing up, part II, 5:1-11
Postscript, 5:12-14