1 Peter, Volume 49 (49)

Word Biblical Commentary #49

by J. Ramsey Michaels, John D.W. Watts (Series Editor), Ralph P. Martin (Series Editor)

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.


Overview of Commentary Organization



Introduction—covers issues pertaining to the whole book, including context, date, authorship, composition, interpretive issues, purpose, and theology.
Each section of the commentary includes:
Pericope Bibliography—a helpful resource containing the most important works that pertain to each particular pericope.
Translation—the author’s own translation of the biblical text, reflecting the end result of exegesis and attending to Hebrew and Greek idiomatic usage of words, phrases, and tenses, yet in reasonably good English.
Notes—the author’s notes to the translation that address any textual variants, grammatical forms, syntactical constructions, basic meanings of words, and problems of translation.
Form/Structure/Setting—a discussion of redaction, genre, sources, and tradition as they concern the origin of the pericope, its canonical form, and its relation to the biblical and extra-biblical contexts in order to illuminate the structure and character of the pericope. Rhetorical or compositional features important to understanding the passage are also introduced here.
Comment—verse-by-verse interpretation of the text and dialogue with other interpreters, engaging with current opinion and scholarly research.
Explanation—brings together all the results of the discussion in previous sections to expose the meaning and intention of the text at several levels: (1) within the context of the book itself; (2) its meaning in the OT or NT; (3) its place in the entire canon; (4) theological relevance to broader OT or NT issues.

General Bibliography—occurring at the end of each volume, this extensive bibliographycontains all sources used anywhere in the commentary.

Genres: Biblical Studies, Reference, Theology, Nonfiction, Church

416 pages, Hardcover

First published June 17, 1988

Reviews

[Fred Kohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really surprised that a couple reviewers complained about the format of the World Biblical Commentary series because I really like it. So when I had questions about 1 Peter I turned to this commentary. Mainly I was wondering about the writer's audience. Does the phrase sojourners in the dispersion mean the addressees were Jews? According to Michaels the author sends mixed signals. Like most commentators he decides on the basis of such passages as 1.14, 18, 21; 3.18; and 4.3-5 that they were in all probability gentiles. I think to these can be added 3.6 in which Christian women *become* Sarah's children, they are not her children by birth. This can be compared to Galatians 3.29 where Christians become Abraham's children by faith.

Another passage I found interesting was 3.19 where Michaels prefers the idea of Christ making proclamation to spirits in refuge rather than spirits in prison. I can find no translation, ancient or modern, that translates the passage this way. But it is true that the Greek word can mean either. The idea is that evil spirits have taken refuge from God's immediate judgement in various places, but their time of being safe has now ended.

One thing that did occur to me as I was reading this book is that it may prove to be tough going for those unfamiliar with Greek. Michaels makes frequent reference to technical aspects of Greek grammar, some of which I had to brush up on. So if your Greek is lacking, you may want to find a different commentary.

[Michael Sanelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great details for exegesis. Technical but reachable for those trained in Greek. If you can stomach the format of the WBC series, I️ recommend this book. Michaels leaves very few rocks unturned.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Word Biblical Commentaries are very technical. Not all of them are "good commentaries", but this one was really helpful for preaching through 1 Peter. I wish there was more exposition.

[Jeff Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite commentary on 1 Peter by far. Highly recommended!

[Dan Glover · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have 4 stars because the content was good, but the frustrating format of the WBC series brings this down a star in my books.

[Bfleegs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid commentary on I Peter which deals with most possible interpretations and textual problems.