Terrance D. Callan

A text-based commentary on 1 and 2 Peter.

The First Peter commentary is written with a view toward Peter as the author in Peter's context, and the substance of the commentary does well at setting forth the flow of the narrative, making good sense of the text in context, and, true to the Paideia series, assists the reader in understanding the historical, cultural, but especially literal and rhetorical context of the book. Nevertheless, when it comes to modern application, the author frequently chooses modern cultural norms over the perspective provided within the text itself.

The Second Peter commentary is written with a view toward Peter not being its author but as a testament under the assumption that such is what Peter would say; the author argues that the book should be accepted as inspired because of its canonical status, not based on its authorship, and the reader is expected to be content with that. It is also written with a view of the book as written in the early to mid second century, with the reader to be expected to be content with that as well. The Second Peter commentary seems to get lost in the discussion of rhetorical devices and the nature and quality of the Greek, although the theological section is more fleshed out and less distance is placed between text in context and modern application.

A useful commentary in terms of understanding 1 Peter in context and the many rhetorical devices and structure in 2 Peter. Other aspects of the commentary prove less useful.

**--galley received as part of early review program… (lisätietoja)