Read the series.
Nearly all the commentaries below come to supersessionist conclusions in regard to 1 Peter 2:4-5 but since 1 Peter is such a great discipleship letter there is a lot of very worthwhile material in them. Another thing to watch for is egalitarianism/feminism in chapter 3. Some of these entries may surprise you, but I stand by my selection.
- Thomas R. Schreiner – Those accustomed to Schreiner’s mix of thoughtful exegesis and solid theological reflection will not be disappointed by this NAC commentary which includes 2 Peter and Jude.
- D. Edmond Hiebert – Hiebert’s commentaries are all good. They are not exegetical in the way those by Cranfield, Marshall, and Schreiner are, but they are solid and reliable expositions based on sound exegesis. The layout is also not enticing. However, pushing past these superficial matters one will find Hiebert to be a very helpful guide on this book. Good on the Church – Israel issue. This is paired with his expositions of 2 Peter & Jude.
- Peter Davids – Davids is an acknowledged authority on the Petrine literature. He is a good writer, who provides fine exegesis and great observations, especially on suffering. The one thing I don’t like is the author’s liberal leanings. Egalitarian.
- Wayne Grudem – An excellent contribution to the Tyndale series.
- Edmund Clowney – A very accessible and sure-footed contribution. Not a detailed work, but for the most part exceptional remarks on the Letter.
- John Brown – This 19th century author wrote a number of excellent commentaries on NT books and a 3-volume survey of Christ’s discourses. This large exposition was originally in 3 volumes. It is perhaps his best work Brown wrote. The content is very solid and edifying.
- Timothy Miller & Bryan Murawski – I’m not a big fan of the Kerux series because often the homiletic helps are anything but. However, Miller is something of a specialist on this letter and his comments are well worth the purchase.
- I. Howard Marshall – An excellent shorter commentary by a master exegete. Egalitarian.
- Karen Jobes – Jobes is recognized for her expertise in the LXX and General Epistles. Her work is highly recommended in most lists. She defends Petrine authorship well. I hold that women should not be teaching men (which Jobes did as a NT professor and conference speaker), so I am not going to recommend it. Hate me if you wish. I believe feminism to be the biggest threat to the Church in our day. Egalitarian.
- Paul Achtemeier is good on the theology of the letter but, like many critical scholars he rejects Petrine authorship. However, his is acknowledged as an essential commentary for a deep dive into 1 Peter.
As for other works, Craig Keener is not quite as good as I expected. For instance, the many background notes are not as pertinent as in previous books by the author. They tend to suffocate the comments on the text itself. Egalitarian. I’m not a fan of John Elliott’s heavy use of social backgrounds. That, together with his critical stance on the letter, puts me off. It’s also really expensive. Joel Green contributes the Two Horizons volume. It’s worth picking up. Richard Lenski is a good preachers commentary. Some of the exegesis needs to be checked with a more modern work, but the thought is very helpful for Christian discipleship. Robert Leighton’s 17th century classic is worth reading for its devotional fervor and theological insight. Alan Stibbs’s older work in the Tyndale series was replaced by Grudem, this is still well worth your while. J. Ramsey Michaels has a pleasing style and some thoughtful exegesis, but his presuppositions intrude into the work. The exposition by Alexander Nisbet published by Banner of Truth is worth having.
