The First Epistle of Peter (New International Commentary on the New Testament)

Rating:
Summary: 1 Peter commentary by Davids
Review: I recently read the 1 Peter commentary by Davids. The text is quite readable. He presents opposing viewpoints well and fairly. He lets you know the likely best interpretation of controversial phrases and verses. My only criticism is that I wish he had spent a little more time on 1 Peter 3:21. Overall though, I learned a lot reading this book. Despite the fact that I have read 1 Peter in the Bible well over 20 times, my understanding of that book is now greatly enriched. You won't regret buying Davids commentary.

Rating:
Summary: A decent commentary in series that deserves slightly better
Review: The NICNT series has some very distinguished volumes (most notably Fee on 1 Corinthians), and most of them represent a good value for most pastors. Davids' volume on 1 Peter is a good volume, but not a great one. I am a pastor currently preaching through 1 Peter and I find that Davids' work is always reliable, but not especially incisive. It seems to me that the author did not have quite enough time to put into the commentary as he might have liked (he admits as much in the preface), and so we are left with a decent contribution, but not one of my top choices on 1 Peter. I am sorry to say this, since I am such of fan of the NICNT series as a whole. Davids work suffers in comparison with other available commentaries on 1 Peter: Grudem in the TNTC series is less than half the price, written with more verve, and almost as long; Kelly's 30 year old work in the BNTC series is still my top choice for overall value (it covers 1 & 2 Peter, and Jude for less $ than Davids); Michaels commentary in the Word series sells for about the same price as Davids, but it is at least twice as full, giving much more detail (sometimes too much)and has some really excellent exegesis of the Greek text; Achtemeier's more recent contribution to the Hermenia series is the fullest yet, but also the most expensive by far (twice as much as Davids or Michaels). While being a fine work, it does not break new ground, and is no more insightful that Michaels. In conclusion, I would like to see Davids' volume on 1 Peter revised in the near future and have about 50-75 pages added and more interaction with recent authors. If this is done, and the price remains the same, Davids may be in the running.