OUTLINE OF FIRST PETER

1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Part One: The Salvation of the Believer (1:1-2:12)

I. Salutation............................ 1:1, 2   

1Pe 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

II. Salvation of the Believer............................. 1:3-12

A.  Hope for the Future     1:3, 4 

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

B.  Trials for the Present     1:5-9

1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

C.  Anticipation in the Past     1:10-12

1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

III. Sanctification of the Believer............................ 1:13-2:12

A.  "Be Ye Holy"............................. 1:13-21

1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

B.  "Love One Another"... 1:22-25

1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

C. "Desire the Sincere Milk of the Word" 2:1-3

1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

D. "Offer Up Spiritual Sacrifices"     2:4-10    

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

E.  "Abstain from Fleshly Lusts"     2:11, 12

1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Part Two: The Submission of the Believer (2:13-3:12)

I. Submission to the Government............................ 2:13-17   

1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

II. Submission in Business............................. 2:18-25   

1Pe 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

III. Submission in Marriage............................ 3:1-8

1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

IV. Submission in All of Life............................. 3:9-12

1Pe 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Part Three: The Suffering of the Believer (3:13-5:14)

I. Conduct in Suffering............................ 3:13-17   

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

II. Christ's Example of Suffering............................. 3:18-4:6

1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

III. Commands in Suffering      4:7-19

1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

IV. Minister in Suffering      5:1-9

A. Elders, Feed the Flock................5:1-4

1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

B.  Saints, Humble Yourselves............................... 5:5-9

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

V. Benediction............................... 5:10-14

1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.