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For more great commentaries on 1 Peter check:
Commentaries on the General Epistles, Commentaries on All the Epistles, Commentaries on the Whole New Testament & Whole Bible Commentaries
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Subsection
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Order of Contents
Best 8
Commentaries 16
Early & Medieval 5
Chapters 6
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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… (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. 1, 2 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 & Second Epistles General of Peter (1658)
*** – ‘A judicious and gracious Scotch commentary, after the style of Dickson and Hutcheson.’ – Spurgeon
Rogers, John – A Godly & 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 & Essays (London: Macmillan, 1946) 530 pp. ToC 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 & Devotional Commentary (1904) 350 pp.
“A practical and devotional exposition.” – Cyril J. Barber
Adams, Jay – Trust & Obey: a Practical Commentary on 1 Peter (Baker, 1979) 154 pp. ToC
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Intermediate
1900’s
Lumby, Joseph Rawson – The Epistles of St. Peter in The Expositor’s Bible (1908)
“Like Lumby’s other writings, is worth consulting.” – Cyril J. Barber
Kelly, J.N.D. – A Commentary on the Epistles of Peter & Jude in Harper’s New Testament Commentaries (Harper & Row, 1969) 400 pp. ToC 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 – The First Epistle General of Peter: a Commentary in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Eerdmans, 1959) 190 pp. ToC
“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: the Way of the Cross in The Bible Speaks Today (1988) 234 pp. ToC
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 & Second Peter) Buy (Trinity Foundation, 1993) 250 pp.
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Advanced
1700’s
Benson, George – A Paraphrase & Notes on the First Epistle of St. Peter in A Paraphrase & Notes on the Seven Catholic Epistles, Attempted in Imitation of Mr. Locke’s Manner (1742), pp. 137-320
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 & Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles of Peter & St. Jude in The International Critical Commentary (1901)
“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
Compilations
ed. Bray, Gerald – Commentary on 1 Peter in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude Pre Buy (IVP, 2000), pp. 65-128
ed. Skaggs, Rebecca – 1, 2 Peter & Jude Through the Centuries Pre (2020) 312 pp. ToC
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Individuals
Clement of Alexandria – On 1 Peter at Patristic Bible Commentary
Ambrosiaster – On 1 Pet. 2:21 at Patristic Bible Commentary
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Medieval Church
Bede – Commentary on the Seven Catholic Epistles Ref (Cistercian Publications, 1985) 284 pp.
Bede (672/3 – 735)
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On Chapters in 1 Peter
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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’ in Rich Gleanings after the Vintage from “Rabbi” Duncan (1864; London: Jarvis, 1925), 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 & 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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