The First Epistle of Peter (The New International Commentary on the New Testament | NICNT)
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
The First Epistle of Peter constitutes an important work of New Testament theology and pastoral care, serves as an example of how the early church applied Jesus’ sayings and the Old Testament writings to contemporary concerns, and presents some extremely useful perspectives on living the Christian life today. This commentary by Peter Davids does an excellent job of mining the rich wealth of instruction to be found in this very significant section of Scripture.
Davids’ commentary contains several notable features: a unique grasp of 1 Peter’s structure, a systematically arranged introduction that summarizes the commentary proper, a perceptive excursus on suffering in 1 Peter and the New Testament, Davids’ own study translation, thorough and incisive comments on each verse of the text, frequent parallels to ancient literature, an exceptionally clear and lively writing style, and one of the most comprehensive bibliographies on 1 Peter available anywhere.
With Logos, the NICNT will integrate into the Passage Guide. Whenever you enter your passage and click go, results from the NICNT will appear on the text you’re studying. This gives you instant access to exactly what you’re looking for—in far less time than it would take you to walk over to the bookshelf and begin flipping through a print volume, let alone find the information you need.
Key Features
- Verse-by-verse commentary
- In-depth discussion of textual and critical matters
- Introduction to the authorship, date, purpose, structure, and theology of 1 Peter
Top Highlights
“While the Christians’ adversaries might destroy all they have in this world, there is a reward that no force on earth can touch. This inheritance should give them hope in the darkest times.” (Page 53)
“The knowledge that they do not belong does not lead to withdrawal, but to their taking their standards of behavior, not from the culture in which they live, but from their ‘home’ culture of heaven, so that their life always fits the place they are headed to, rather than their temporary lodging in this world.” (Page 95)
“It was, then, in his postresurrection state that Christ went somewhere and preached something to certain spirits in some prison. All these terms call for an explanation.” (Page 138)
“We conclude that Peter cites a proverb in general use to point out that love will forgive or overlook the faults of others in the church and thus is a most valuable virtue in a community that needs to preserve its solidarity in the face of persecution.” (Page 158)
“Peter does not focus on the past, the new birth itself, but on the future, for the goal of this regeneration is ‘a living hope’; that is, it points to a bright future ahead, which will be discussed in the next verse. This fits the birth analogy in that birth, while wonderful, does not exist for itself but rather to start a child on its way to maturity and adult life. Pastorally this future orientation is important for our author, for a suffering people who may see only more pain and deprivation ahead need to be able to pierce the dark clouds and fasten on a vision of hope if they are to stay on track. This hope is not a desperate holding-on to a faded dream, a dead hope, but a living one, founded on reality, for it is grounded in ‘the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.’” (Page 52)
Praise for the Print Edition
Davids’ commentary is well researched, conversationally written, and exegetically helpful. It is particularly perceptive in its treatment of ‘the spirits in prison’ (3:19), the preaching to those who have died (4:6), and the role of Silas as Peter’s secretary (5:12). Especially useful for seminary students and intelligent laity, this book is a worthy addition to a distinguished series.
—E. Earle Ellis, research professor of theology emeritus, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
A comprehensive, up-to-date, and well-balanced presentation. This commentary adopts a moderate but enlightened approach to the interpretation of 1 Peter and will be a boon to all students of the New Testament, to teachers, and to pastors.
—Joseph A. Fitzmyer, professor emeritus of biblical studies, Catholic University of America
Not often will a biblical commentary offer both scholarly discussion and easy accessibility for nonspecialists, but Peter Davids on 1 Peter does just that. Scholars will profit much from his commentary. Pastors and serious-minded laypeople will profit equally much.
—Robert H. Gundry, professor emeritus of New Testament and Greek, Westmont College
Product Details
- Title: The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The First Epistle of Peter
- Author: Peter H. Davids
- Series: The New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT)
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Publication Date: 1990
- Pages: 288
About Peter H. Davids
Peter H. Davids is a professor of biblical theology at St. Stephen’s University in St. Stephen, New Brunswick. He is also the co-editor of Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments.
Reviews
6 ratings
carl stults
7/28/2023
Faithlife User
2/8/2018
Unix
3/16/2017
The five-star rating stands for now and I've given it thought, until something better comes out. I have this particular volume under OIiveTree in order to read through it on my BlackBerry Playbook tablet with Playbook OS 2.0, this hardware has a better user interface, for a tablet. Under Verbum You shouldn't get disapointed. This is one of the few academic scholarly volumes that doesn't directly deny the authenticity of 1 Pt, and it's not overpriced. The individual volume may be on a sale some time in the future, although rarely. I've rated the Hermeneia -volume by Achtemeier 3 stars because it's not supportive of Peter having had anything to do with how 1 Pt came to be but for the few parts of 1 Pt where You can ignore that bias, the Hermeneia -volume could be used to complement what You have. Or wait for something newer. There is a forthcoming volume on 1 Pt by David A. DeSilva in the Eerdmans Critical Commentary (ECC) -series. If You like that series, wait for that volume to be produced under Verbum! David G. Horrell has authored a print commentary volume in the Epworth -series in 1998, and a great monograph that works like an introduction, in the Sheffield/T & T Clark New Testament Guides -series in 2008, and there is a forthcoming volume by him in the International Critical Commentary (ICC) -series: https://www.bookdepository.com/1-Peter-David-G-Horrell/9780567030573 which can be pre-ordered for £53.70 and is expected to arrive in 2018. Conclusion: If this NICNT -volume is up-to-date enough for You, use it or what David G. Horrell authors. For the very cheapest option, go with Epworth. For grammatical-historical backing and more, wait for the 2018 ICC -volume. Don't wait for the Sheffield/T & T Clark New Testament Guides -volume from 2008 to be produced under Verbum, buy it in print or under Kindle to be used on a Kindle Paperwhite.Brian A. Clark
12/15/2016
Robert Polahar
1/29/2015
Samuel Cerny
1/13/2015
