Christianity Today 2004 Book Award Winner

"A substantial piece of work. . . . Garland's commentary will make its most significant contribution in the context of exegesis courses, where it will serve as a fine model and a stimulating conversation partner."--Garwood P. Anderson, Review of Biblical Literature

David Garland has written a major new commentary on Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians. His detailed study of one of the most important epistles in the New Testament is sure to become a standard resource for pastors, students, and scholars.

After an introductory chapter that considers the context of the epistle and what is known about the social setting and cultural world of Corinth, Garland turns to his exegetical study. In order to maintain the overall flow of Paul's thought and show the larger themes more clearly, the verse-by-verse comments are organized in larger exegetical units. For each unit, the author provides a summary that locates it within the broader context of the surrounding material, and he provides his own translation of the Greek text.

The author's wealth of knowledge and exhaustive research is evident in his exposition. To clarify the meaning of the text, he incorporates references from parallel material in the Pauline corpus and from extrabiblical sources that highlight relevant aspects of the religious, cultural, and social context. Throughout his study, Garland interacts with notable previous commentators and provides extensive notes for the reader's consideration and further research. Relevant text-critical issues are discussed in a section labeled "Additional Notes." There biblical scholars will find comments on the more technical aspects of the text, including variant readings and grammatical issues.

As with the other volumes in the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, the author provides a scholarly commentary on the text that will be useful and readable for preachers and thoughtful lay readers. The oft-praised BECNT format and design make the volume even more accessible.