The best 1 Corinthians commentaries are listed below. The commentaries listed first are those that have received the best reviews. You will also find options for commentaries on 1 Corinthians that help pastors, teachers, and readers with application of the Bible, commentaries that approach the Scripture verse-by-verse, classic Christian commentaries, and much more. (See more about the scholars, pastors, ministries, and schools whose commentary reviews are being utilized.)
Best-Reviewed 1 Corinthians Commentaries
The First Epistle to the Corinthians (New International Commentary on the New Testament) by Gordon D. Fee
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Reviews and Accolades:
D. A. Carson: a “best buy” on 1 Corinthians, “Fee’s commentary is lucid, informed, sensible, and written with great verve”
Desiring God: #1 recommended commentary on 1 Corinthians
Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary on 1 Corinthians
Tom Schreiner: recommended; “an outstanding exposition of the letter with attention paid to its relevance to today”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Fee takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Pentecostal and this governs his interpretation of Chapters 12-14. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. Fee is known for his Philippians commentary in the same series. The publisher notes that the NICNT series provides readers “with an exposition that is thorough and abreast of modern scholarship and at the same time loyal to the Scriptures as the infallible Word of God.” See more about the New International Commentary on the New Testament series.
The First Epistle to the Corinthians (New International Greek Testament Commentary) by Anthony C. Thiselton
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Reviews and Accolades:
D. A. Carson: a “best buy” on 1 Corinthians, “the best commentary on the Greek text…Thiselton has outdone himself”
Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a massive and technical commentary for research”
Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary on 1 Corinthians
Keith Mathison: #1 ranked commentary on 1 Corinthians; “the most thorough and complete commentary on this book available in English”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Thiselton takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He associates with the Anglican tradition. Those who have been trained in Greek will maximize this commentary. The publisher notes that “at a time when the study of Greek is curtailed in many schools of theology, we hope that the NIGNT will demonstrate the continuing value of studying the Greek New Testament.” See more about the New International Greek Testament Commentary series.
1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) by David E. Garland
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Reviews and Accolades:
D. A. Carson: a “best buy” on 1 Corinthians; tied with Fee for “best general commentary on this epistle”
Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary on 1 Corinthians
Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a solid exposition of the Greek text”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Garland takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Baptist. This commentary is best of expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. Garland is known for writing the Colossians commentary in the NIVAC series. The publisher notes that the BECNT series combines “scholarly depth with readability, exegetical detail with sensitivity to the whole, and attention to critical problems with theological awareness.” See more about the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series.
1 Corinthians (NIV Application Commentary) by Craig Blomberg
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Reviews and Accolades:
Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a helpful exposition”
Craig Blomberg, etal: a priority commentary on 1 Corinthians
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Blomberg takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He teaches at Denver Seminary, which has a multi-denominational student body, yet is historically Baptist. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. Blomberg is known for writing the Matthew commentary in the NAC series. The publisher notes that NIVAC series helps readers “think through the process of moving from the original meaning of a passage to its contemporary significance.” See more about the NIV Application Commentary series. Also compare NIVAC and IVPNTC commentaries.
The First Epistle to Corinthians (Black’s New Testament Commentary) by C.K. Barrett
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Reviews and Accolades:
Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a brief but helpful exposition”
Keith Mathison: #4 ranked commentary on 1 Corinthians; “should not be missed”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Barrett takes a moderately critical approach to Scripture. He associated with the Methodist church (d. 2011). This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. Barrett is known for writing the Acts commentary in the ICC series. The publisher notes that the BNTC series “has been hailed by both scholars and pastors for its insightful interpretations and reliable commentary.” See more about Black’s New Testament Commentary series.
1 Corinthians (Focus on the Bible) by Paul Barnett
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Reviews and Accolades:
Keith Mathison: #2 ranked commentary on 1 Corinthians; “his insight into the text and its contemporary application is extremely helpful”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Barnett takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He associates with the Anglican church. This commentary is best for individual study, devotional reading, Bible studies, and adult Sunday school classes. Barnett wrote the Romans commentary in the same series. The publisher notes the FOB series consists of “popular level commentaries especially useful for pastors and small group leaders. They are useful for personal devotions and spiritual growth.” See more about the Focus on the Bible commentary series.
1 Corinthians (Tyndale New Testament Commentary) by Leon Morris
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Reviews and Accolades:
Keith Mathison: #5 ranked commentary on 1 Corinthians; “Morris can usually say more in a few pages than most commentators can say in an entire book”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Morris takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He was evangelical and associated with the Anglican church (d. 2006). This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. Morris is well-known for his Galatians commentary. The publisher notes that TNTC commentaries approach the text “section by section, drawing out its main themes. It also comments on individual verses and deals with problems of interpretation.” See more about the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series.
The First Letter to the Corinthians (Pillar New Testament Commentary) by Roy C. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner
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Reviews and Accolades:
Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary on 1 Corinthians
Interview: See Best Bible Commentaries interview with Roy E. Ciampa on this volume
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: The authors take an evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. The publisher notes that the PNTC series combines “rigorous exegesis and exposition, with an eye alert both to biblical theology and the contemporary relevance of the Bible.” See more about the Pillar New Testament Commentary series.
1 Corinthians (Teach the Text Commentary Series) by Preben Vang
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Reviews and Accolades:
Craig Blomberg, etal: a priority commentary on 1 Corinthians
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Vang takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary is best for individual study, devotional reading, Bible studies, and adult Sunday school classes. The publisher notes that this series utilizes “the best of biblical scholarship” and provides “the information a pastor needs to communicate the text effectively.” See more about the Teach the Text commentary series.
1 Corinthians (Hermeneia) by Hans Conzelmann
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Reviews and Accolades:
Tom Schreiner: recommended; “helpful especially in terms of background”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Conzelmann takes a critical approach to Scripture. Those who have been trained in Greek will maximize this commentary. The publisher notes that the Hermeneia series “seeks to offer authoritative interpretation of the earliest texts of the biblical books.” See more about the Hermeneia Bible commentary series.
First Corinthians (Interpretation) by Richard B. Hays
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Reviews and Accolades:
Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a fine brief exposition”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Hays teaches at Duke Divinity School. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. The publisher notes that the Interpretation series “is designed to meet the need of students, teachers, ministers, and priests for a contemporary expository commentary.” See more about the Interpretation commentary series.
1 Corinthians (Crossway Classic Commentary) by Charles Hodge
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Reviews and Accolades:
Keith Mathison: #3 ranked commentary on 1 Corinthians; “filled with valuable insight,” “highly recommended”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: This commentary is best for individual study, devotional reading, Bible studies, and adult Sunday school classes. The publisher notes that the “Crossway Classic Commentaries present the very best work on individual Bible books, carefully adapted for maximum understanding and usefulness for today’s believers.” See more about Crossway Classic Commentaries.
Verse-by-Verse Expository Commentaries
1 Corinthians (New American Commentary) by Mark Taylor
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Taylor takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Baptist. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. The publisher notes that the NIVAC series “has been designed primarily to enable pastors, teachers, and students to read the Bible with clarity and proclaim it with power.” See more about the New American Commentary series.
1 Corinthians (Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Revised) by Veryln Verbrugge
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Verbrugge takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He was a Zondervan editor, teaching pastor, author, and New Testament scholar (d. 2015). This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. The publisher notes that the REBC series is “committed to the divine inspiration, complete trustworthiness, and full authority of the Bible.” See more about the Expositor’s Bible Commentary series.
1 Corinthians (IVP New Testament Commentary) by Alan F. Johnson
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Johnson takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. Johnson is known for writing the Revelation commentary in the REBC series. The publisher notes that commentaries in the IVPNTC series are “informed by the best of up-to-date evangelical scholarship, presents passage-by-passage commentary based on the NIV along with background information on authorship, setting, theme and various interpretive issues.” See more about the IVP New Testament Commentary series.
The Message of 1 Corinthians (The Bible Speaks Today) by David Prior
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Prior takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. The publisher notes the that “the three distinctives of The Bible Speaks Today series are (1) “BST authors are committed to a serious study of the text in its own integrity,” (2) that “expositors should not be antiquarians, living only in the remote past” but suggest application for living, and (3) “each book is intended to be both readable in style and manageable in size.” See more about the Bible Speaks Today commentary series.
1-2 Corinthians (New Cambridge Bible Commentary) by Craig S. Keener
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Keener takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Arminian. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. Keener is well-known for his John commentary. The publisher notes that the NCBC series “intends to provide a fresh look at biblical texts, taking advantage of the growing edges in Biblical Studies.” See more about the New Cambridge Bible Commentary series.
Conflict and Community in Corinth (A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary) by Ben Witherington
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Witherington takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Arminian. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. Witherington also wrote the Mark commentary in the same series. About the SRC series the publisher notes that “using sociorhetorical criticism, the New Testament is interpreted within the context of the world in which it was written and read.” See more about the Socio-Rhetorical Commentary series.
1 Corinthians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) by Paul Gardner
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Gardner takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. The publisher notes that the ZECNT series “was refined over time by an editorial board who listened to pastors and teachers express what they wanted to see in a commentary series based on the Greek text.” See more about the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series. Also see The Visual Aid Pastors Will Love in the ZEC commentary series.
1 Corinthians (Concordia Commentary) by Gregory J. Lockwood
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Theology, Audience, Purpose: Lockwood takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is evangelical and Lutheran. While not technical, the volumes in the Concordia Commentary series reflect seminary-level scholarship. The target audience is pastors, professors, and teachers. The target audience is pastors, professors, and teachers. According to the publisher, authors in the Concordia series “fully affirms the divine inspiration, inerrancy, and authority of Scripture as it emphasizes ‘that which promotes Christ’ in each pericope.” See more about the Concordia Commentary series.
1 Corinthians (Lectio Continua) by Kim Riddlebarger
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Riddlebarger takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Reformed. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. The publisher notes that the Lectio Continua series “seeks to be rigorously exegetical, God-centered, redemptive-historical, sin-exposing, Gospel-trumpeting and teeming with practical application.” See more about the Lectio Continua commentary series.
1 Corinthians (Understanding the Bible Commentary Series) by Marion L. Soards
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Soards takes a moderately evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. The publisher notes that the UBCS series offers “section-by-section exposition of the biblical books with key terms and phrases highlighted…” See more about the Understanding the Bible Commentary Series.
Technical Commentaries
First Corinthians (The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries) by Jospeh A. Fitzmyer
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Fitzmyer takes a critical approach to Scripture. Those who have been trained in Greek will maximize this commentary. Fitzmyer also wrote the Luke commentary in the same series. The publisher notes that the Anchor series “vigorously pursues the goal of bringing to a wide audience the most important new ideas, the latest research findings, and the clearest possible analysis of the Bible.” See more about the Anchor Bible Commentary series.
I Corinthians: A Shorter Exegetical and Pastoral Commentary by Anthony C. Thiselton
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: From the publisher: Anthony Thiselton’s lengthy New International Greek Testament Commentary volume The First Epistle to the Corinthians (see above) has become a standard work on 1 Corinthians. In this shorter commentary, Thiselton draws on his excellent exegesis from that volume, but combines it afresh with keen practical and pastoral application for readers at all levels.
Classic Christian Commentaries
1 and 2 Corinthians (Geneva Series of Commentaries) by Charles Hodge
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Synopsis: From the publisher: Charles Hodge’s work on 1 and 2 Corinthians, which is part of the Geneva Series of Commentaries, forms one of the most significant parts of the plan for a series of popular commentaries on the New Testament. He projected to do this with J. A. Alexander in the 1850s. When the early death of Alexander prevented the completion of the series, the individual volumes were quickly prized in their own right and went through many editions on both sides of the Atlantic.
1-2 Corinthians (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture) edited by Gerald L. Bray
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Synopsis: From the publisher: “The ACCS is a post-critical revival of the early commentary tradition known as the glossa ordinaria, a text artfully elaborated with ancient and authoritative reflections and insights. The vast array of writings from the church fathers—including much that is available only in the ancient languages—have been combed for their comment on Scripture. From these results, scholars with a deep knowledge of the fathers and a heart for the church have hand selected material for each volume, shaping, annotating, and introducing it to today’s readers. Each portion of commentary has been chosen for its salient insight, its rhetorical power, and its faithful representation of the consensual exegesis of the early church.”
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