Customer Reviews

Paul for Everyone: 1 Corinthians

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I have read a lot of N T Wright but never a commentary. I purchased this little commentary on 1 Corinthians for a series I am teaching through the book using very technical commentaries. I feel like I have found a real treasure. Wright is a world class scholar but this series is written for anyone - even a brand new Christian - to understand. I am sure I will purchase all of this series. No one will be disappointed if they invest in Wright's successful attempt to explain the Bible in a way that anyone can understand and enjoy. Practical, easy to understand, true to the text, but still exposing the profound message of Paul's letter to the Corinthians.

The Everyone Series once again stays true to its name with this work on First Corinthians by Tom Wright. Tom give his translation, followed by an antecdote of some kind that illustrates the point, and then he gets down to interpretation. The entire commentary was good, but the strongest section for me was his work on the resurrection of Jesus in chapter 15. He also has interesting insight into the meaning of more complex issue like the role of women in the church and the Lord's supper. I am a Pentecostal and was worried that Wright might take a harsh view against speaking in other tongues, but he does not at all do so. This is the type of commentary that a pastor could recommend to his congregation to read without the worry of tough technical language or complex phillosophical discussions. Wright keeps it simple and interesting throughout.
There is also an excellent glossary of terms at the back of each of these books that can be really helpful.

For those unfamiliar with Wright's "______ for Everyone" series, they are a series of commentaries on the New Testament books by Bishop Wright based on his extensive historical scholarship. He provides his own translation (based on his study of the source languages) which is a very engaging paraphrase. The text is divided up into chronological topic-based segments, followed by a 2-3 page sermonette/commentary based on that section.

In this volume, Wright gives interesting background about what Paul faced in dealing with the Corinthian church and the issues that were going on at the time. For instance, Wright points out clues in the text that suggest that Corinth was going through a famine and that many in that church were in poverty. There is also a possible indication that Paul was a widower. Wright's discussion of the text provides a helpful exposition of many important passages such as Paul's instructions about marriage, men and women in the church, communion, church fellowship, and the resurrection.

Wright begins each segment with an interesting illustration or parable-like story. These illustrations are entertaining and enjoyable in their own right.

This little book (256 pages long but small in dimensions) by Tom (also known as N.T.) Wright really is for everyone. Although it is "approachable and anecdotal in style", even those who have read the bigger commentaries would benefit from this book.

Wright manages to combine personal anecdotes, exegesis, exposition and even a bit of Greek word study in an oblique way for every passage of 1 Corinthians. This is quite masterful.

He has written his own translation for the whole book of 1 Corinthians. Here is an example of 2:14-3:4:

"Someone who is merely human doesn't accept the things of God's spirit. They are foolishness to such people, you see, and they can't understand them because they need to be discerned spiritually. 15 But spiritual people discern everything, while nobody else can discern the truth about them! 16 For `Who has know the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of the Messiah.

3:1 In my own case, my dear family, I couldn't speak to you as spiritual people, but as people who were all too obviously merely human, little babies in the Messiah. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, because you weren't able to take it -- and you still can't, even now! 3 You're still determined to live in the old way! Yes, wherever there is jealousy and quarrelling, doesn't that mean you're living in the old way, behaving as any merely human being might do? 4 When someone says `I'm with Paul!', and someone else says `I'm with Apollos!' are you not mere humans?"

That gives you an idea of how long each section of Scripture is. The exposition is typically about four pages.

His translation, like his exposition, is also a mixture of sorts being somewhat literal, dynamic and paraphrastic all in one where appropriate. One little annoyance is he says you see in almost every passage.

Another small annoyance is as he is wont to do, he let's his political and social comments slip in now and then but it's very infrequent and not very obvious.

This book is very well put together and although it's very accessible for everyone, it's deep and insightful enough to truly be for everyone.

There is a helpful glossary in the back of the book where he provides a paragraph description of select terms. I especially liked "kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven".

I think it would be great if there were Bible study guides to go along with these for group Bible study.

Great commentary but it doesn't read like any other commentary I have found. Wright does an excellent job of presenting the big picture in Paul's letter to the Corinthians. He doesn't jump on any hobby horse issues as would be easy in this letter, rather he is very faithful to the text. I would recommend this to anyone interested in personal bible study or with anyone preparing a teaching or sermon series. Also, as the other reviewers mentioned, Wright brings out some excellent illustrations. I definitely recommend this to anyone and am looking forward to using the rest of the series.

This was very fast service, i recommend this seller to anyone and the book was in excellent shape brand new and packaged well. the price was great and i couldnt be happier.

Now I know why Paul is such a huge figure. He explains it to the masses.
I will be getting more works from author Wright.

Great for people who have never studied Scripture before.

One drawback for me though was that this author does not speak American-English because he's from Britain. That being said there were some terms, etc., that were used which were difficult to follow/understand at times. All in all though, an enjoyable read.