4. The argument, the giving of thanks for the grace and hope given to them, and also various exhortations.
The Argument of the Epistle is indicated in 1 Peter 1:13, τελείως ἐλπίσατε ἐπὶ τὴν φερομένην ὑμῖν χάριν ἐν ἀποκαλύψει Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, fully hope ye for the grace that has been brought to you in the revelation of Jesus Christ. It is given with even greater clarity in 1 Peter 5:12, by Silvanus I have written briefly to you, παρακαλῶν καὶ ἐπιμαρτυρῶν ταύτην εἶναι ἀληθῆ χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰς ἣν ἑστήκατε, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. Partly, therefore, he teaches that the doctrine of the Gospel concerning the grace of God through Christ, which they had embraced, and in the faith and profession of which they were standing, is true and infallible: partly he exhorts with gravity, that they lead a life worthy of that profession, showing that the truth of the Gospel is according to godliness; and that accordingly, just as faith of the truth is prime in conversion before God, so it is fertile for furnishing all fruit on conversion to God.