The First Epistle to the Corinthians (New International Greek Testament Commentary)

This new volume in the NIGTC series provides the most detailed, definitive, and distinctive commentary on 1 Corinthians available in English to date. Written by Anthony Thiselton, one of the world’s most respected Christian theologians, this commentary provides in-depth discussion of the language of 1 Corinthians—based on Thiselton’s own translatio— traces the main issues of interpretation from the Church Fathers to the present, and highlights topics of theological, ethical, and socio-historical interest today.

No other commentary on 1 Corinthians embodies the wealth and depth of detail presented in Thiselton’s work, informed as it is by the wide body of scholarly literature on 1 Corinthians and incorporating substantial bibliographies keyed to each section or chapter of the text. Thiselton addresses the highest possible level of scholarship but also keeps in mind the needs of pastors and teachers. The result is a fresh, learned, and at times original contribution to our understanding of this major epistle and its contemporary relevance.

---

All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Great scholarship, 2007-12-11
The breadth and depth of this commentary does its author great justice, and it is a worthy addition to the NIGTC series. Thiselton shows tremendous scholarship and knowledge of both primary and secondary sources in covering a wide variety of topics and issues in dealing with the text of 1 Corinthians. He even presents possibly the most cogent explanation of "being baptised on behalf of the dead" (1 Cor 15:29) that I have read, and his elucidation on the meaning of 1 Cor 14:31 "for you can all prophesy one by one" is equally compelling.

On rare occasions, he does promote his own opinion with slightly less than adequate consideration of other opinions, such as the nature of prophecy being equivalent to inspired preaching, but it is by no means a completely unreasonable position.

While no commentary can hope to cover everything that might be discussed or be of interest, this one covers more than most. The only short coming might be that a doctoral level of Greek and exegesis is required to get the most out of it.

Nevertheless it remains an outstanding example of contemporary New Testament scholarship.


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Immense, 2007-02-01
The scholarship in this commentary is immense. You will not find a more exhaustive commentary on 1 Corinthians. The writing can be highly technical which is good if you are an exacting scholar and preacher. If you would like stories, illustrations and pastoral comments I would check out the commentary by Gordon Fee, which is also excellent.


6 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

A good commentary flawed by a strong Calvinist bias, 2006-10-02
The ideal exegete in the also ideal Sola Scriptura traditio is one that leads the Holy Text in the original greek take him wherever it leads him, just like Jesus inviting us to deny ourselves and follow him. According to the calvinist ideal (see the Westminster Confession) the Bible in the original languages is the ultimate judge. Thiselton is a good exegete but when it comes to certain verses that uncover the anti biblical side of his calvinist tradition, Thiselton with all the naturality simply gives us his calvinist translation, and even tough he says that "linguistics and semantics has to have the control". A crystal clear example is 1 Cor 6:9-10. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God".

In this verses Paul says clearly that if we, christians, commit adultery, drunkness etc we won`t inherit the Kingdom of God. Paul wrote the crucial phrase "inherit the Kingdom" using twice the verb "inherit" in the future, once before the list of vices and once more at the end of the list. It is is obvious that a christian, a real one can lose salvation and justification and Paul reinforces this writing "Don`t deceive yourselves" (See also Eph 5:5). What Thiselton does is: 1) He tells us that Paul has his own "grammar". Thiselton translates the first "inherit" using the present time, instead of the future as the greek demands and he does that in order to save the calvinist "perseverance of the saints" doctrine. The calvinist doctrine that Thiselton follows teaches that when the Bible talks about judgment is talking about the genuiness of the person judged: If that person was real christian or not.
Thiselton tells us that the "inherit concept" in the Bible has present and future implications, and he wants to shift our attention from the future judgment, to the present (are you a real christian?). But the one who has to tells us when God is talking about the future implication of the "inherit" concept is the Sacred Author. A good exegete follows the greek text, Thiselton changes the future for the present, pointing to a differente direction than Paul the Apostles.
The real grammar Thiselton follows is not "Paul`s grammar", and he admits that he is not following greek grammar in 1 Cor 6:9. He is following Calvin`s grammar. Yes, he talks about "new hermeneutics" but he writes as an old fashion good calvinist.
This commentary is a good one (I love his treatment about the so called Spirit Baptism), but remember Thiselton is calvinist and he is not Matthew Henry, who was also a calvinist, but Henry honesty followed the truth even when the Bible took him away from Calvin`s errors. Read The Believer's Conditional Security : Eternal Security Refuted



8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

Perhaps the best written on 1 Cor, 2006-07-19
It is virtually unanimous among those involved in biblical studies that Gordon Fee's NICNT volume is the best commentary written on 1 Corinthians or, for that matter, perhaps on any book. I will whole heartedly agree with that statement. This commentary by Thiselton is not a competitor but a complement to Fee's work. The NICNT volume is based on the NIV, with corrections made by Fee where appropriate. Comments on the Greek text are minimal and usually only found in the footnotes. Fee's comments are clear and concise, even if a bit underdeveloped for the needs of scholars and Greek students. Perhaps the best feature of Fee's volume is his wonderful introductions and summaries found at the opening and closing of each section of the book. This is especially important when discussing an epistle and conveys Fee's understanding that, despite the proliferation of word studies and word-by-word commentaries, words can only be understood in light of their entire context. Fee does all of these things wonderfully, and even includes helpful insights into modern application and contextualization.
I have included all of this about Fee, so that the work of Thiselton can be seen for the gem that it is. This volume is massive (almost one-hundred pages devoted to each chapter). For some, this is a problem. However, as one who as actually read the commentary (many reviewers have only read a few pages of the book they review), the bulk is absolutely necessary. In the preface Thiselton says that it was his intention to answer every question a responsible scholar might bring to the text. As he says, "I am keenly aware of the sense of disappointment so often experienced when readers take up a substantial, scholarly commentary only to find that in the end it has failed to address precisely the questions to which they are seeking some kind of answer" (xvi). If you have every experienced this frustration, you won't find it here.
Thiselton is a Greek scholar, an accomplished linguist, philosopher and theologian. This background makes this the most thorough commentaries I have ever read. Having been through the entire commentary, I can say, there is no question that he does not address. This is not to say that I agree with all of his solutions, but at least he attempts an answer. He pays close attention to the Greek text, addressing text critical issues where appropriate as well as syntactical issues.. He gives sociological and rhetorical criticism sufficient weight, without allowing these more subjective disciplines to run away with the clear sense of the text. He carefully traces the flow of argument in the epistle, and like Fee, introduces and summarizes every major section of the letter so as to keep the entire argument in focus as the commentary progresses. He offers many special studies into particular sticking points of the letter--the point of rhetoric in 1:10-4:21, the possible source of the divisions, the meaning of sophhia and teleios, divorce, Paul's use of the OT and MUCH more. As I said, every responsible question is addressed. As a counterpart to Fee's not to present day application, Thiselton includes a substantial section on the history of interpretation and wirkungsgeschichte after each chapter.
So, is this commentary worth the money? First ask, what are your needs? This commentary, despite the claims of the NIGTC editors, is not altogether suited for those just beginning Greek student, and certainly not for those unfamiliar with the language. These two groups could still utilize certain sections, but would miss many of Thiselton's careful points. If, though, you are skilled in Greek and fed up with commentaries that go on and on about simple points and never address the challenges of the text, this is for you.


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Putting Hermeneutics into Practice, 2006-06-15
Thistleton has written much about the art/science of hermeneutics. In this work, he has scientifically applied his hermeneutical principles to First Corinthians, carrying the principles with artistic grace and humility to their logical conclusions, leaving the reader with a depth of understanding that facilitates depth of love for First Corinthians. Yet he has done this without the dogmatism that is normally associated with such detailed work. Bravo!

Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon website at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.