I. Comfort and reassurance in suffering 1:1-25
A. Salutation 1:1-2
B. Reassurance in God's grace and salvation 1:3-12
C. Reassurance in holiness 1:13-25
II. Practical holiness 2:1-3:22
A. The foundation of holiness 2:1-3
B. Participation in a holy community 2:4-10
C. Unimpeachable living, the answer to persecution 2:11-3:13
D. Victory in unjust suffering 3:14-22
III. The spiritual significance in suffering 4:1-19
A. Physical suffering: a type of death to the flesh 4:1-6
B. Love for one another despite suffering 4:7-11
C. The purifying fires of persecution 4:12-19
IV. Divine love as a guide in church life 5:1-11
A. Elders rule in love 5:1-7
B. The devil to be resisted through grace 5:8-11
V. Closing salutation and benediction 5:12-14
