Best Commentaries on 1 Corinthians

Schreiner’s basic commentary replaces Leon Morris’s earlier work in the series. It’s a helpful exposition of the letter with clear-eyed interpretational work throughout.

Wilson’s expository guide focuses on practical application, showing how grace shapes every church, even one as flawed as the church at Corinth. An excellent guide for personal devotions or a group study.

Barnett helpfully explains the letter’s background and meaning then makes clear, warm-hearted application to the church’s contemporary context.

The great benefit of Keener’s commentary is its lucidness. For the non-specialist, he simplifies complicated passages and arguments within 1 Corinthians. He also draws out the working of the Spirit with balance and grace—neither minimizing the Spirit’s charismatic-like working in Corinth, nor over-reading it for the non-Wesleyan or cessationist reader.

As Derek W. H. Thomas notes, Pratt helpfully blends “exposition, theology, and application.” The commentary includes verse-by-verse descriptions, teaching outlines, and helpful discussion questions.

Built on the more extensive exegetical work from his NIGTC volume (see below), Thiselton engages the context and syntax of Paul’s epistle section by section and provides fresh sections of exposition (not found in the larger work). He shows how 1 Corinthians addresses competition and consumerism in our contemporary church context.

As the most recent of the academic commentaries on this list, it provides a reliable and up-to-date guide to the most of the scholarly literature on the epistle. Gardner’s writing is clear, and his work sheds light on both theology and pastoral application.

Garland’s introductions to each pericope give good insights on significant matters including definitions, passage structure, and text-critical issues. Within the comments on each passage, he draws out stylistic devices evident in the Greek text that aren’t necessarily evident in the English translations.

One of the most thorough treatments of this Pauline epistle. Most reviewers note some weaknesses including his curious treatment of 1 Corinthians 14:33b–35 as an interpolation rather than as authentic to Paul. Fee’s argument for the continuation of miraculous gifts is cogent, even for readers who ultimately reject this interpretation.

Carson describes this volume as “well written, accessible (for readers of this sort of series!), and penetrating.” The lengthy volume includes detailed exegesis and traces the history of the letter’s interpretation from the Church Fathers to today.