Paul Barnett, Bishop of North Sydney and Visiting Fellow in History at Macquarie University, Sydney, and Research Professor at Regent College, Vancouver, has contributed this volume, a commentary on 1 Corinthians, to the Christian Focus series. The series is intended to provide ‘biblically accurate’ popular works for Christian adults and includes commentaries (like this one) as well as biographies, and books on doctrine and Christian living.
This book meets the aims of the series very well. It is written at a popular level, and therefore the material in it is easily accessible. However, this does not mean that it is simplistic. Dr Barnett is clearly familiar with the many scholarly issues involved in the interpretation of 1 Corinthians, and people who are aware of these issues will recognise his knowledge of them. But equally, those who are not aware of these things will not be bothered by unnecessary technical discussions. What is particularly pleasing is that Dr Barnett is not only conversant with the exegetical issues 1 Corinthians presents to interpreters, but he is also aware of the ethical and pastoral issues of our own day, and is able to draw out valuable lessons we have to learn in this regard from the apostle Paul’s response to Corinthian problems.
The book opens with a ten page introduction which briefly describes Paul’s career up until he arrived in Corinth late in AD49; the history ancient Corinth, the culture and religion of the people of Corinth; Paul’s initial mission in Corinth; and his contacts with Corinth thereafter through delegations and letters. The introduction concludes with brief paragraphs describing the fundamental issues which Paul had to address in 1 Corinthians (apostolic authority, eschatology, worldliness and individualism, and scandals).
Dr Barnett’s exposition of 1 Corinthians is set out in sixteen chapters, generally coinciding with the sixteen chapters of 1 Corinthians itself:: Contention in the Church (1:1-17); The Word of the Cross (1:18-2:5); Wisdom Among the Mature (2:6-3:23); Appreciate Your Apostle (4:1-21); Celebrate the Festival (5:1-13); The Church, the World and God’s Timetable (6:1-20); Marriage and Singleness (7:1-40); Caring for Weak Brother 8:1-13); Freedom Forsaken (9:1-27); Flee From Idolatry (10:1-11:1); Traditions Corrupted (11:2-34); Gifts and Ministries in the Body of Christ (12:1-31); The Way of Love (13:1-13); Tongues-Speaking and Prophecy (14:1-40); The Abolition of Death (15:1-58); Future Plans (16:1-24).
I received this book for review when I had begun giving a course of lectures on 1 Corinthians at the Bible College of Victoria. I have found reading through the chapters relating to the passages I am dealing with in class very helpful for two reasons in particular. First, even though this is a popular book I still found fresh insights into the teaching of 1 Corinthians. Second, I found the pastoral and ethical applications of the text to issues facing Christians today related the exposition of 1 Corinthians to the real world in which we live.
Anyone who gets hold of a copy of this book and uses it for personal study, as a basis for group discussion, or in preparation for sermons or addresses will, I think, be delighted with what they discover. The book deserves a wide circulation.
Colin Kruse is a Lecturer in New Testament at the Bible College of Victoria.
