The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship.
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
J. Ramsey Michaels' commentary on 1 Peter is one of the most comprehensive, reliable works on this importnat letter of the New Testament. For review, let me begin with a few weaknesses before turning to the strengths and ultimately, a recommendation.
Weaknesses
First, like all commentaries in the Word series, the reader needs to endure the pages and pages of background information (e.g., the Qumran community) on every verse and word. A summary of this information would have been helpful to see the point of some of this research.
Second, there is not much theological reflection or interaction. For example, what are the implications of 2:4-10 in terms of the identity of the Israel of God in the Scriptures? (pp. 92-113) And what did this mean for Peter's audience, assuming they were primarily Gentiles? (contra Karen Jobes' recent thesis)
Third, there is no homiletical interaction during the comments or after, as this is left to the reader/preacher to take the loads of information, and craft it into a sermon (for this, see Clowney, who does not exegete the text verse by verse, but offers a sermonically outlined analysis).
Strenghts
In terms of strengths, there are many. I will name only three, as these illustrate this books' usefulness:
First, Michaels' commentary is as thorough as they come on 1 Peter in giving textual critical, grammatical, linguistic, and background analysis of the Greek text.
Second, his emphasis on Septuagintal references and allusions is extremely helpful for interpretation and preaching. Not only does this help the preacher choose an Old Testament lesson to read along with the reading from 1 Peter (a practice too many of us do not do), this also brings out the redemptive-historical and practical aspects of the text. For example, in 2:18-25, Peter begins by addressing servants who suffer for doing good, but quickly switches apply this to all Christians. At the end of the pericope, then, he refers to and applies Isaiah 53:5b-6. Yet whereas the Hebrew and LXX say, "All we like sheep have gone astray...," Peter adds the clause, "But [you] have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." In the fulness of times, Isaiah's statement about Israel's unfaithfulness and exile turns into an opportunity for Peter to express the work of Christ in gathering his people, of which his people should be assured.
Third, over and over again Michaels points out allusions and references to the Gospel tradition and the words of our Lord, especially his teaching on suffering for righteousness' sake. One particularly amazing example is how Peter uses a verb in 1:12, which is only used three other times in the New Testament to speak of how he stooped down to look into the tomb. Now, Peter says, the angels "long to look" (ESV) into the things we hear in the preaching of the Gospel.
Overall Recommendation
The conclusion, then, is that Michaels' work ranks at the top of commentaries on 1 Peter. As I began to delve into the Greek text and use several commentaries at the beginning of my series, texts such as I. Howard Marshall (IVP NT Commentary Series) and Peter Davids (NICNT) soon became obsolete, as I found myself turning to Michaels over and over again at the end of my exegetical work to check myself with this competent conversation partner.
Weaknesses
First, like all commentaries in the Word series, the reader needs to endure the pages and pages of background information (e.g., the Qumran community) on every verse and word. A summary of this information would have been helpful to see the point of some of this research.
Second, there is not much theological reflection or interaction. For example, what are the implications of 2:4-10 in terms of the identity of the Israel of God in the Scriptures? (pp. 92-113) And what did this mean for Peter's audience, assuming they were primarily Gentiles? (contra Karen Jobes' recent thesis)
Third, there is no homiletical interaction during the comments or after, as this is left to the reader/preacher to take the loads of information, and craft it into a sermon (for this, see Clowney, who does not exegete the text verse by verse, but offers a sermonically outlined analysis).
Strenghts
In terms of strengths, there are many. I will name only three, as these illustrate this books' usefulness:
First, Michaels' commentary is as thorough as they come on 1 Peter in giving textual critical, grammatical, linguistic, and background analysis of the Greek text.
Second, his emphasis on Septuagintal references and allusions is extremely helpful for interpretation and preaching. Not only does this help the preacher choose an Old Testament lesson to read along with the reading from 1 Peter (a practice too many of us do not do), this also brings out the redemptive-historical and practical aspects of the text. For example, in 2:18-25, Peter begins by addressing servants who suffer for doing good, but quickly switches apply this to all Christians. At the end of the pericope, then, he refers to and applies Isaiah 53:5b-6. Yet whereas the Hebrew and LXX say, "All we like sheep have gone astray...," Peter adds the clause, "But [you] have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." In the fulness of times, Isaiah's statement about Israel's unfaithfulness and exile turns into an opportunity for Peter to express the work of Christ in gathering his people, of which his people should be assured.
Third, over and over again Michaels points out allusions and references to the Gospel tradition and the words of our Lord, especially his teaching on suffering for righteousness' sake. One particularly amazing example is how Peter uses a verb in 1:12, which is only used three other times in the New Testament to speak of how he stooped down to look into the tomb. Now, Peter says, the angels "long to look" (ESV) into the things we hear in the preaching of the Gospel.
Overall Recommendation
The conclusion, then, is that Michaels' work ranks at the top of commentaries on 1 Peter. As I began to delve into the Greek text and use several commentaries at the beginning of my series, texts such as I. Howard Marshall (IVP NT Commentary Series) and Peter Davids (NICNT) soon became obsolete, as I found myself turning to Michaels over and over again at the end of my exegetical work to check myself with this competent conversation partner.
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
Stephen Neill once characterized 1 Peter as "the storm centre of New Testament studies" (The Interpretation of the New Testament 1861-1961 [London: Oxford UP, 1964], 343). Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
household duty code, diversified grace, holy wives, flawless lamb, diaspora letter, direct literary relationship, brotherhood throughout the world, glorious delight, duty codes, psalm quotation, various ordeals, disobedient spirits, show respect for everyone, entire epistle, few minuscules, imperishable quality, aorist imperative, fellow elder, gospel tradition Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Jesus Christ, Asia Minor, Holy Spirit, Wisd Sol, Spirit of God, God the Father, Domestic Code, Textual Commentary, New Testament, Holy One, Roman Empire, Lord Christ, Clement of Alexandria, God of Israel, Jewish Christian, Bible Studies, Karà Oeóv, Dionysius of Corinth, First Peter, Grand Rapids, John the Baptist, John's Gospel, Justin Martyr, Let Wives Be Submissive, Lord's Prayer New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Stephen Neill once characterized 1 Peter as "the storm centre of New Testament studies" (The Interpretation of the New Testament 1861-1961 [London: Oxford UP, 1964], 343). Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
household duty code, diversified grace, holy wives, flawless lamb, diaspora letter, direct literary relationship, brotherhood throughout the world, glorious delight, duty codes, psalm quotation, various ordeals, disobedient spirits, show respect for everyone, entire epistle, few minuscules, imperishable quality, aorist imperative, fellow elder, gospel tradition Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Jesus Christ, Asia Minor, Holy Spirit, Wisd Sol, Spirit of God, God the Father, Domestic Code, Textual Commentary, New Testament, Holy One, Roman Empire, Lord Christ, Clement of Alexandria, God of Israel, Jewish Christian, Bible Studies, Karà Oeóv, Dionysius of Corinth, First Peter, Grand Rapids, John the Baptist, John's Gospel, Justin Martyr, Let Wives Be Submissive, Lord's Prayer New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 39
books:
See all 39 books this book cites
- Bible Studies: Contributions Chiefly from Papyri & Inscriptions to the History of Language, Literature & the Religion of Hellenistic Judaism & Primitive Christianity - 1988 Facsimile of 1901 Edition by G. Adolf Deissmann on page 24, page 54, and page 57
- Peter in the New Testament by Raymond Brown in Front Matter, and page 274
- Disobedient Spirits and Christian Baptism by Reicke on page 181, and page 192
- Perspectives on First Peter (Nabpr Special Studies Series, No 9) by Charles H. Talbert in Front Matter, and page 13
- The Letters to Seven Churches: Updated Edition by W. M. Ramsay on page 8
See all 39 books this book cites
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
