http://bible.org/article/non-pauline-epistles
From 1st Peter:
While 1 Peter touches on various doctrines and has much to say about Christian life and Christian responsibilities, the theme and purpose of 1 Peter centers around the problem of suffering—particularly suffering in the form of persecution for one’s faith. It has been described as a manual or handbook showing Christians how they are to live as temporary resident and ambassadors of Christ in an alien and hostile world.
It sounds a little strange, but I think we have lost the aspect of “suffering” which is dealt with many times in the NT. Our attitude now seems to be that we need to make the world conform to us, and our needs and desires. That seems like a far cry from the suffering for Christ’s sake that Peter talks about.