1 Corinthians : A Commentary

This volume presents, in published form, the detailed commentary work of E. Earle Ellis on Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. At the time of his death Ellis had been working for many years on a volume for the International Critical Commentary on the epistle. Because Ellis was unable to complete the volume before his passing and had left instructions that it should not be completed, Terry Wilder instead presents Ellis' profound exegetical insights in the form of his completed commentary sections on 1 Corinthians, with minimal editorial intervention.

In addition to collating Ellis' detailed critical commentary on 1 Corinthians chapters 1-13, with edited notes on chapter 14, Wilder has also completed an original editorial essay that provides a synthesis of Ellis' notes and thinking on chapters 15 and 16. Closely assessing the letter's address, salutation and thanksgiving and Paul's words on true and false wisdom, sexual relationships, liberty's boundaries and the regulation of church services, Ellis' final work is a crucial resource for a core New Testament text.

“The founder of the Institute of Biblical Research, E. Earle Ellis was a pioneer of evangelical New Testament scholarship, especially of the study of Paul's letters. The belated appearance of his incomplete commentary on 1 Corinthians is an exciting development and a welcome reminder of his astute and judicious scholarship. The book is a treasure trove of historical, exegetical and theological insights.” —Brian S. Rosner, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia

“Earle Ellis's commentary on 1 Corinthians provides a crisp, engaging, in-depth guide to Paul's thought, which one would expect from a master of the art of exegesis who has earned international renown. He combines a depth of scholarship with a wealth of inspiring and judicious insights that are moored by his evangelical commitments, keeping him from being swept off course by the tides of the latest scholarly fashions. The commentary is unfinished, but pastors, teachers, and researchers are indebted to Terry Wilder for editing it and to the publisher for publishing it a decade after Professor Ellis's death rather than leaving it, the work of a lifetime of study, interred in some dusty file cabinet. This commentary ranks with so many unfinished works in history that nevertheless are regarded as stunning successes.” —David E. Garland, Baylor University, USA

“This commentary by Ellis is an excellent work that could not be completed due to his death. Although some pieces are missing or need to be glued together, it is full of fresh and unique exegetical insights and theological perspectives. Reading this commentary is like walking into a master carpenter's workroom and discovering how skillfully he cuts wood and puts pieces together to create a masterpiece. Readers will not only gain great insights for the study of 1 Corinthians but also learn exegetical skills from a master exegete. They will also find interesting and helpful the author's identification of various preformed traditions in 1 Corinthians and his interpretation of several key passages and expressions in light of his unique understanding of Corinthian contexts and Apostolic missions and of his particular view of man as a whole person and as a corporate and individual being in God's salvation history.” —S. Aaron Son, Former NT professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, USA