1 Peter

Thru the Bible #54

by J. Vernon McGee

Radio messages from J. Vernon McGee delighted and enthralled listeners for years with simple, straightforward language and clear understanding of the Scripture. Now enjoy his personable, yet scholarly, style in a 60-volume set of commentaries that takes you from Genesis to Revelation with new understanding and insight. Each volume includes introductory sections, detailed outlines and a thorough, paragraph-by-paragraph discussion of the text. A great choice for pastors - and even better choice for the average Bible reader and student! Very affordable in a size that can go anywhere, it's available as a complete 60-volume series, in Old Testament or New Testament sets, or individually.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1920

About the author

John Vernon McGee was born in Hillsboro, Texas, in 1904. Dr. McGee remarked, "When I was born and the doctor gave me the customary whack, my mother said that I let out a yell that could be heard on all four borders of Texas!" His Creator well knew that he would need a powerful voice to deliver a powerful message.

As a student pastor, Dr. McGee's first church was located on a red clay hill in Midway, Georgia. It was there that he received his greatest compliment: "It was from a country boy wearing high buttoned, yellow shoes. After a morning service he came to speak to me. He groped for words, then blurted out, 'I never knew Jesus was so wonderful!' He started to say more but choked up and hurried out of the church. As I watched him stride across the field, I prayed, 'Oh, God, help me to always preach so that it can be said, I never knew Jesus was so wonderful.'"

After completing his education (earning his A.B. from Southwestern University in Memphis, Tennessee; his B.D. from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia; his Th.M. and Th.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas), and after pastoring Presbyterian churches in Decatur, GA, Nashville, TN, and Cleburne, TX, he and his wife came west, settling in Pasadena, where he accepted a call to the Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church. He recalls this period as the happiest in his life, with a young family and a young congregation whom he loved.

Dr. McGee's greatest pastorate was at the historic, Church of the Open Door in downtown Los Angeles, where he served from 1949 to 1970. There he began a daily radio broadcast called "High Noon Bible Class" on a single station.

Dr. McGee began teaching Thru the Bible in 1967. After retiring from the pastorate, he set up radio headquarters in Pasadena, and the radio ministry expanded rapidly. Today the program airs on over 400 stations each day in the United States and Canada, is heard in more than 100 languages around the world and is broadcast worldwide via the Internet.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous commentary from J. Vernon McGee

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: My own opinion is that Simon Peter never did go to Rome. I think he was in Asia Minor, the great heart of the Roman Empire, but he was not the apostle who opened up that territory. I think he followed Paul. Paul would not have gone to Rome if Peter had already been in Rome preaching the gospel there, because Paul made it very clear that he went into places where the gospel had not been preached before.

I am reading the Bible in 2020 using the daily M'Cheyne (Robert Murray M'Cheyne) plan. I thought it would add a layer of substance to in addition to the four chapters a day, to also read commentaries for those chapters. For that I am using Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible. But the plan goes through the New Testament (and Psalms, I believe) twice. So now that I've finished Henry's commentary for the New Testament, I am tackling the New Testament commentary section of J. Vernon McGee's series.

This is not my first time reading J. Vernon McGee. I've read probably thirty or so of his commentaries. Most recently James.

I really am LOVING McGee. This has been the best idea--to correspond my Bible reading with commentary reading.

I mentioned that James had a big, big bite--that its small size doesn't mean it doesn't pack a hard-hitting punch. Same true of 1 Peter. McGee has a LOT to say about this little book.

I really truly thought this would be a commentary discussing both 1 Peter and 2 Peter--but both epistles have their own commentaries by McGee.

[Rodney Tripp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing but the best in a quick summary style commentary. Not technical.

[Margaret J Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up listening to J Vernon McGee and when I lead a Bible Study, I always use his commentary first before other resources.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I like that the author goes over each verse separately, but I try to steer away from commentaries usually. He had some good insights, but seemed a little too old-fashioned, if that is even a valid complaint. I believe this small book was taken from his radio commentary series, so that would help explain some of the randomness (i.e. Peter says to greet each other with a kiss, but McGee suggests handshakes instead). I'm still keeping this in my library, though.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading McGee's commentaries for the Minor Prophets last year, this is my one commentary this year. McGee has a folksy Texas background that I like (from Hico which is less than 20 miles from Stephenville). He's not profound, but practical. One thing he encourages is less introspection and more focus on God. "Jesus often spoke of Christianity as a banquet but never as a picnic." "Make sure that those who spek evil of you are in error."