Commentaries on 1 Peter

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 James  ⇐ ⇒  2 Peter

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For more great commentaries on 1 Peter, be sure to check:
Commentaries on the General Epistles, Commentaries on All the Epistles, Commentaries on the Whole New Testament & Whole Bible Commentaries

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Order of Contents

The Best Commentaries  8
Commentaries  16
Early Church  1
Chapters in 1 Peter
Life & Letters of Peter

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The Best Commentaries on 1 Peter

1500’s

Luther, Martin – A Commentary or Exposition upon 1 Peter  d. 1546

***  “In Luther’s racy style.  One of his best productions.  Copies are scarce as white elephants, and consequently expensive.” – Spurgeon

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1600’s

Dickson, David – An Expositon of all St. Paul’s Epistles together with an explanation of those other epistles of the apostles St. James, Peter, John & Jude, wherein the sense of every chapter and verse is analytically unfolded and the text enlightened  (Romans-Jude)  Buy  1659  

Dickson was a prominent Scottish covenanter.  Note that the Banner of Truth reprint contains Dickson’s commentary on less books than the original.

*** – ‘Dickson is a writer after our own heart.  For preachers he is a great ally.  There is nothing brilliant or profound; but everything is clear and well arranged, and the unction runs down like the oil from Aaron’s head.  In this volume the observations are brief.’

Leighton, Robert – A Practical Commentary on 1 Peter, vols. 12   Buy  d. 1684

Leighton (1611-84) was an evangelical Scottish bishop.  His commentary is very good and is full of heart religion.

*** – “Dr. Henry Mills thus wrote of Leighton’s works: ‘There is a spirit in them I never met with in any other human writings, nor can I read many lines in them without being moved.’  We need scarcely commend this truly heavenly work.  It is a favorite with all spiritual men.” – Spurgeon

“One of the best expository works on I Peter. Leighton provides his reader with the results of his vast learning without ostentation; his theology is accurate and his eloquence unmatched. Devotional. Anglican.” – Cyril J. Barber

Nisbet, Alexander – A Brief Exposition of the First and Second Epistles General of Peter  Buy  1658

*** – ‘A judicious and gracious Scotch commentary, after the style of Dickson and Hutcheson.’ – Spurgeon

Rogers, John – A Godly and Fruitful Exposition upon all the First Epistle of Peter  d. 1636

***  “Rogers was a true Boanerges [son of thunder].  His style is earnestly practical and wisely experimental.  This is one of the scarcest and liveliest of the Puritan expositions.” – Spurgeon

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Intermediate, 1800’s

Brown, John – Expository Discourses on 1 Peter, vols. 1 (1-2:15), 2 (2:16-3:22), 3 (4-End)

***  “The epistle is divided into paragraphs, and these are made the themes of discourses.  Thus Dr. Brown produced what is substantially a commentary, and one of the best.  It affords us a grammatical interpretation, together with an exposition, at once exegetical, doctrinal and practical.  It is a standard work, and the indices increase its value.” – Spurgeon

“Has stood the test of time. Full and complete. Indispensable to the expositor.” – Cyril J. Barber

Lillie, John – Lectures on the First and Second Epistles of Peter

***  “Dr. Schaff says: ‘Though very different from the immortal work of Archbishop Leighton on the First Epistle of Peter, these lectures breathe the same reverential spirit and devotional fervor, while they are much more full and thorough as an exposition.” – Spurgeon

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Advanced

Selwyn, Edward Gordon – The First Epistle of St. Peter: the Greek Text with Introduction, Notes and Essays  Buy  1946  Reprinted by Baker in the Thornapple Commentary series

“A brilliant work which is regarded by many as the finest treatment of the Greek text extant.” – Cyril J. Barber

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Commentaries on 1 Peter

1500’s

Alley, William – The Poor Man’s Library Rapsodiæ: G.A. Bishop of Exceter upon the First Epistle of Saint Peter, read publicly in the cathedral church of saint Paul, within the city of London  1560

**  “A curious old Black Letter Folio.  The exposition on Peter is mainly occupied with the questions and controversies of the Reforming period.  Do not buy it.” – Spurgeon

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1600’s

Ames, William – An Analytical Exposition of both the Epistles of the Apostle Peter  1641

**  “Too much divided and subdivided, chopped up and cut into dice pieces and laid in order; for after all, there is very little meat in it.  It is an analysis, and little more.” – Spurgeon

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Simple, Practical & Devotional

1800’s

Arnot, William – ‘Readings in First Peter’  1884  120 pp.  in The Lesser Parables of our Lord, pp. 261-382

Arnot was a minister in the Free Church of Scotland.

Meyer, F.B. – Tried by Fire.  Expositions of the First Epistle of Peter  n.d.  236 pp. 

Meyer (1847–1929) was an English, baptist pastor who wrote numerous, very good devotional works.

Mackenzie, Lachlan – ‘Lectures on 1 Peter’  in The Happy Man, pp. 165-236  Buy

Lachlan (1754-1819) was a faithful Scottish minister in the Highlands.

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1900’s

Jowett, John H. – The Epistles of St. Peter: a Practical and Devotional Commentary  1904  350 pp.

“A practical and devotional exposition.” – Cyril J. Barber

Adams, Jay – Trust and Obey: a Practical Commentary on 1 Peter  Buy  1978  154 pp.

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Intermediate

1900’s

Lumby, Joseph Rawson – The Epistles of St. Peter  1908 in The Expositor’s Bible

“Like Lumby’s other writings, is worth consulting.” – Cyril J. Barber

Kelly, J.N.D. – A Commentary on the Epistles of Peter and Jude  Buy  Reprinted by Baker in the Thornapple Commentary series

Kelly (1909–1997), the noted Early Church historian was an Oxford scholar.  He has a few liberal tendencies.

“A scholarly, comprehensive treatment. Does not adhere to the Petrine authorship of the second epistle, and lacks the dynamic conviction so evident in Kelly’s treatment of the Pastoral Epistles.” – Cyril J. Barber

Stibbs, Alan – 1 Peter  Buy  in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries

“Prefaced with a brilliant introduction by Arthur F. Walls. The exposition is representative of the finest evangelical scholarship. Both men occupy honored positions in the Church of England.” – Cyril J. Barber

Clowney, Edmund – The Message of 1 Peter  Buy  1988  234 pp.  in The Bible Speaks Today

Mounce, Robert H. – Born Anew to a Living Hope: a Commentary on 1 & 2 Peter  Buy  1982  150 pp.

Clark, Gordon – New Heavens, New Earth (First And Second Peter)  Buy

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Advanced

1700’s

Benson, George – The Epistles of Peter in A Paraphrase and Notes on the Seven Catholic Epistles, Attempted in Imitation of Mr. Locke’s Manner  1742

Benson (1699-1762) began as a fervent and orthodox English Presbyterian though later became a Socinian.

**  “The author was an Arian.  ‘Benson possessed considerable learning, but no great portion of genius.’  This is a paraphrase with notes.” – Spurgeon

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1800’s

Steiger, Wilhelm – Exposition of 1 Peter Considered in Reference to the Whole System of Divine Truth, vol. 1, 2  1836  The translator, Patrick Fairbairn, is not the person of the same name from the Free Church of Scotland.  The work is dedicated to the Evangelical Society of Geneva.

**  “Steiger was a sound German divine.  His criticism is good, but like all the Germans he is far too fond of dragging in learned names.” – Spurgeon

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1900’s

Bigg, Carl – A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles of Peter & St. Jude  1901  in The International Critical Commentary

“The introductory material is helpful and informative. Second Peter is dated after the closing of the canon and, while looked upon as having practical value, is not regarded as authentic. The exposition of the Greek text has been well done.” – Cyril J. Barber

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The Early Church

ed. Bray, Gerald – Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude  Buy

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1 Peter 1-3

Byfield, Nicholas – A Commentary upon 1 Pet. 1-3:11  d. 1622 

**  “Byfield is an able and pious divine, but he is not very vivacious, and neither in manner nor matter is he at all original.” – Spurgeon

Duncan, John ‘Rabbi’ – ‘Expository Lectures on 1 Peter 1-2:6’  1864  120 pp.  in Rich Gleanings from Rabbi Duncan  Buy  pp. 149-270

Rabbi Duncan was an eminent minister and Hebrew professor in the Free Church of Scotland.

Hort, F.J.A. – The First Epistle of St. Peter 1:1-2:7, the Greek Text with Introductory Lecture, Commentary and Additional Notes  1898  212 pp.

Hort was a liberal.

“A critical and exegetical study.” – Cyril J. Barber

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1 Peter 4

Pigg, Oliver – A Comfortable Treatise upon 1 Pet. 4:12-19  1582  87 pp.

Pigg (b. 1551) was an English puritan.

Kohlbrugge, H.F. – Sermons on 1 Peter 4  1853

Kohlbrugge (1803-1875) was an idiosyncratic Dutch, Reformed minister.  His life’s theology centered around Rom. 7:14, which he understood as the Christian saying: ‘but I am carnal, sold under sin.’  He interpreted this in an absolute way without the other qualifications of Scripture, and hence had a deficient view of God’s Law in relation to Sanctification.

**  “Strictly orthodox and deeply spiritual.  No German neology may be expected from this author.  He is very happy in his practical remarks.” – Spurgeon

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1 Peter 4-5

Luther, Martin – A Word in Season: being the Commentary of Dr. Martin Luther on Three Selected Psalms: viz. the 124th, 125th & 129th, with his Commentary on some part of the Fourth & Fifth Chapters of the First Epistle of St. Peter. Being of special use for the Present Times.  (London, 1685)

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The Life and Letters of Peter

The Life and Letters of Peter

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Related Pages

Whole Bible Commentaries

Old Testament Commentaries

New Testament Commentaries