IN THIS COMMENTARY, I have tried to limit myself to studies that most of my (imagined) readers would have access to. Hence, I have tried to omit citation of scholarly and foreign language studies. On the other hand, I have compensated for this omission by continually citing the major commentaries so that my readers do not have to look up other viewpoints on a regular basis. Of the works on 1 Peter, my favorites are: Beare (whom I read first, while a seminarian), Selwyn (whose work influenced my first lectures on 1 Peter), Goppelt (who was the first German commentator I read), and Michaels (the most recent comprehensive study). I also found Marshall’s exposition very helpful. Outside the commentary genre, I find Elliott’s book to be profound and nearly irrefutable at the level of his main theses. First Peter has been anointed with an abundance of wonderful commentaries and studies. I am grateful for the many I have been privileged to read.
Beare, F. W. The First Epistle of Peter: The Greek Text with Introduction and Notes. 3d ed. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1970. An insightful, provocative, and suggestive exegesis of 1 Peter. Beare’s commentary is written for those who can read Greek, but, with effort, those without Greek can generally understand his points. Beare accepts the theory that the letter is rooted in a baptismal context. He compares the ideas of Peter with Paul throughout.
Best, E. 1 Peter. NCB. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971. Helpful and charming work on 1 Peter. Best always has one hand on the text and the other on church life. It is only slightly dated.
Bigg, C. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude. ICC. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1902. For six decades, this was the definitive commentary on 1 Peter. Consequently, Bigg shaped the conversation that continues to this day. One departs from old friends only reluctantly. Bigg has always been at my side. This one is only for those with expertise in Greek.
Brox, N. Der erste Petrusbrief. EKKNT 21. Koln: Benziger/Neukirchener, 1979. Exhaustive, comprehensive, critical commentary. It takes into consideration all the latest theories about 1 Peter and the development of early Christian beliefs and practices. Useful for those who can read German, it deserves to be translated into English. Brox is Germany’s leading scholar on pseudepigraphy.
Clowney, E. The Message of 1 Peter. The Bible Speaks Today, ed. J. W. R. Stott. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1988. A readable exposition of the message of 1 Peter. Clowney attempts to synthesize the message of Peter with major themes in the Bible. Unfortunately, he does not give Elliott a careful reading.
Cranfield, C. E. B. The First Epistle of Peter. London: SCM, 1950. This lucid exposition by a brilliant New Testament scholar is unfortunately difficult to obtain. Full of both exegetical and homiletical insights. It is now slightly dated.
Davids, P. H. The First Epistle of Peter. NICNT, ed. G. D. Fee. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990. Solid exegesis of 1 Peter, with helpful introductory essays. Davids’ essays on theology are especially useful for the expositor.
Elliott, J. H. A Home for the Homeless: A Social-Scientific Criticism of 1 Peter, Its Situation and Strategy. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1990. Scholarly examination of the meaning of 1 Peter in its social context in Asia Minor. This commentary is especially useful for its study of “aliens and strangers.”
Goppelt, L. A Commentary on 1 Peter. Ed. F. Hahn. Trans. J. E. Alsup. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993. Profound commentary by a brilliant German theologian of the previous generation (orig. published in 1978). Though heavily influenced by debates about 1 Peter in Europe, Goppelt’s commentary is still exceedingly useful for the patient reader. Occasionally it relates items in 1 Peter to discoveries of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Grudem, W. 1 Peter. TNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988. A useful exposition of 1 Peter, with special attention to word studies and synthesizing theological themes in their larger context. Grudem offers an extensive additional note that treats the notoriously difficult text on Christ’s preaching to the spirits (1 Peter 3:18–22).
Kelly, J. N. D. The Epistles of Peter and Jude. Black’s NTC. London: Adam & Charles Black, 1969. A brilliant commentary by a patristics specialist, the best one available of those based on English translations. Time and time again, Kelly offers insightful observations on the message and significance of Peter’s theology. He is influenced to some degree by the baptismal theory of 1 Peter’s origins and often finds tantalizing parallels in early Christian writings.
Luther, M. Commentary on Peter and Jude. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1990 [reprint ed.]. The great Reformer’s insights on 1 Peter, though not as profound as his exegesis of Romans and Galatians, are still helpful. This commentary is hard to use because Luther did not make a distinction between an explanation of the text and theologizing for his churches. But that is what made Luther who he was.
Marshall, I. H. 1 Peter. InterVarsity Press NT Commentary, ed. G. R. Osborne. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1991. A lucid, readable commentary that both expounds 1 Peter and applies its message to our world. Marshall is currently the “veteran” of evangelical scholars in Great Britain.
Michaels, J. Ramsey. 1 Peter. WBC 49. Waco, Tex.: Word, 1988. The best scholarly commentary available on 1 Peter today. It is exegetical, comprehensive, and rich in bibliography. Michaels is cautious about the relationship of Peter’s Christians to the Jewish people.
Selwyn, E. G. The First Epistle of St. Peter. The Greek Text, with Introduction, Notes, and Essays. London: Macmillan, 1961. A magisterial commentary, only for those with an ability to use Greek. For years, this was the only serious commentary in English, though it has now been largely replaced by Michaels and Goppelt. It is still of use for the patient observer; his essays are permanently useful.