1 CORINTHIANS
Tyndale New Testament Commentaries
By Thomas R. Schreiner
IVP. 337pages. £15.99
ISBN 978 1 783 596 683
This is a replacement for the original Tyndale Commentary by Leon Morris (first edition 1958, second 1985), which the new author (Thomas Schreiner, who teaches NT at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville) describes as irreplaceable.
Actually he is being too modest, because culture, church life and NT scholarship have moved on and a replacement was needed. I am delighted to say that it has been delivered to us, comprehensively. Schreiner’s commentary is almost 30% longer than the second Morris edition and the extra space has been used well. Background, structure and purpose are nicely dealt with in an introduction which includes a full and rich thematic analysis of the theology of the letter.
Learned and judicious
The commentary itself is learned, wise, sound and judicious, giving reasons for the interpretations suggested, something I appreciated when so many texts are controversial. Each paragraph of Paul’s text is dealt with in three stages 1. Context; 2. Comment; 3. Theology (which includes helpful practical reflections). It would be a strong recommendation for a house group Bible study leader.
It could be used for personal study and devotions – and most preachers will want to use it for their sermons on the letter too.
