I. Salutation (1:1-2)
II. Thanksgiving and Prayer (1:3-12)
A. Faith in Persecution (1:3-4)
B. The Righteous Judgment of God (1:5-10)
C. Prayer (1:11-12)
III. Second Coming of Christ (2:1-17)
A. False Claims about Second Coming (2:1-2)
B. False Claims Refuted (2:3-12)
C. Reassurance and Exhortation (2:13-15)
D. Prayer (2:16-17)
IV. Prayer for Evangelism and Deliverance (3:1-5)
V. Command against Idleness (3:6-12)
A. Command on Idleness and Tradition (3:6)
B. Tradition and Imitation (3:7-10)
C. Exhortation against Idleness (3:11-12)
VI. Conclusion (3:13-18)
A. Instruction to Believers (3:13-15)
B. Benediction and Closing (3:16-18)
Sources used for Commentary:
William R. Nicoll, Expositor's Bible Commentary.