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New Testament For Everyone #11
Paul for Everyone: 1 Corinthians
Making use of his scholar's understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Tom Wright shows us the liveliness of cosmopolitan Corinth and reveals the wisdom and challenge of Paul's writing, bringing out the pastoral sensitivity and deep insight that make this letter one of Paul's crowning achievements.
Tom Wright has undertaken a tremendous task: to provide guides to all the books of the New Testament, and to include in them his own translation of the entire text. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion, with background information, useful explanations and suggestions, and thoughts as to how the text can be relevant to our lives today. A glossary is included at the back of the book. The series is suitable for group study, personal study, or daily devotions.
Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition of ISBN 0664227910 here.
Tom Wright has undertaken a tremendous task: to provide guides to all the books of the New Testament, and to include in them his own translation of the entire text. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion, with background information, useful explanations and suggestions, and thoughts as to how the text can be relevant to our lives today. A glossary is included at the back of the book. The series is suitable for group study, personal study, or daily devotions.
Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition of ISBN 0664227910 here.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
123 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Tom Wright
182Ìýbooks219ÌýfollowersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ database with this name.
He also publishes under N.T. Wright.
He also publishes under N.T. Wright.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 20, 2021
I struggle a bit with 1 Corinthians. I like it, of course, but it’s not my favorite of Paul’s letters. I find much of it pretty easy to understand, but then some sections are total puzzles. I also feel like Paul is more long-winded in this letter than in some of the others. Maybe because of that, I also feel like N. T. Wright’s commentary is a little wordier than in some of his other For Everyone volumes. From the commentary, I learn that a lot of the sections that confuse me just are confusing. And for the other sections, I don’t need quite as much help as in some other books of the New Testament—it seems straightforward.
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July 25, 2022Another one of the commentaries I read throughout a 45 part sermon series I did in the book of 1 Corinthians. Wright is a gifted writer in his ability to speak to many different kinds of audiences. This is him at his most accessible, working hard to make this letter approachable and understandable. I especially loved his sections on 1 Corinthians 15.
May 23, 2024
A helpful, very accessible look through 1 Co. Particularly useful to unravel some of the more complex passages and I really enjoyed Wright's exposition of chapter 7.
Evangelicals must just ignore the sentence where he says that Jesus could never have foreseen the situation Paul was dealing with...
Evangelicals must just ignore the sentence where he says that Jesus could never have foreseen the situation Paul was dealing with...
January 15, 2024
Chock full of great contextual information and explanations for some tough and touchy passages. Wright has a way of explaining hard to grasp concepts that I’ll be referencing.
October 4, 2012
The kindle version of the book had some typos, which was anooying to decipher and sort through while trying to read. I've read some of N.T. Wright's other work, and he's certainly done better. I stopped reading the book with only two chapters remaining. That atypical for me. I prefer his writings on Acts over this particular book on 1 Corinthians. His interpretations were vague or confusing. Parts of the book that I had wished he'd attempt to expand on, he frequently brushed over them or mentioned them briefly. There are some key passages in 1 Corinthians that certainly needed, begged for more attention. I will most likely read another commentary for 1 Corinthians.
April 12, 2017
I can often be quite critical of Tom Wright, but here, I'm glad to say, he is on top form. He does an excellent job of demonstrating the narrative flow of the letter, and making the importance of each issue raised clear, even while explaining the historical context care and learning.
April 16, 2025
Book Review: Paul for Everyone: 1 Corinthians by Tom Wright (N.T. Wright)
Tom Wright’s Paul for Everyone: 1 Corinthians is an excellent pastoral commentary on a peculiar, specific, and often misunderstood epistle of Scripture. Wright brings his characteristic clarity and deep scholarship to bear in a way that is accessible and spiritually enriching. Reading this volume has helped me, for the first time, truly appreciate the historical context and the cultural shift that the Apostle Paul was shaping through his apostolic mission and pastoral leadership.
Wright skillfully explains Paul’s complex arguments and often confrontational tone in 1 Corinthians, situating them within the dynamics of a young Christian community struggling with identity, morality, and worship. He offers pastoral insights that speak directly to contemporary church life, bridging the gap between ancient Corinth and today’s congregations.
Two quotes from the glossary stand out as especially helpful for church ministry:
Baptism � "Literally, 'plunging' people into water. From within a wider Jewish tradition of ritual washings and bathings, John the Baptist undertook a vocation of baptizing people in the Jordan, not a one ritual among others but as a unique moment of repentance, preparing them for the coming of the kingdom of God. Jesus himself was baptized by John, identifying himself with this renewal movement and developing it in his own way. His followers in turn baptized others. After God resurrection, and the sending of the Holy Spirit, baptism became the normal sign and means of entry into the community of Jesus’s people. As early as Paul it was aligned both with the Exodus from Egypt (1 Corinthians 10:2) and with Jesus’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:2-11)." (p241)
Eucharist � "The meal in which the earliest Christians, and Christians ever since, obeyed Jesus’s command to 'do this in remembrance of him' at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The word 'eucharist' itself comes from the Greek word for 'thanksgiving'; it means, basically, 'the thank-you meal', and looks back to the many times when Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, broke it, and gave it to people (e.g. Luke 24:30, John 6:11). Other early phrases for the same meal are 'the Lord's supper' (1 Corinthians 11:20) and 'the breaking of bread' (Acts 2:42). Later it came to be called 'the Mass' (from the Latin word at the end of the service, meaning 'sent out") and 'Holy Communion' (Paul speaks of 'sharing' or 'communion' in the body and blood of Christ). Later theological controversies about the precise meaning of the various actions and elements of the meal should not obscure its centrality in earliest Christian living and its continuing vital importance today." (p242)
This book is a valuable resource for anyone engaged in preaching, teaching, or lay study. It brings theological depth together with pastoral warmth—something rare and much needed.
Tom Wright’s Paul for Everyone: 1 Corinthians is an excellent pastoral commentary on a peculiar, specific, and often misunderstood epistle of Scripture. Wright brings his characteristic clarity and deep scholarship to bear in a way that is accessible and spiritually enriching. Reading this volume has helped me, for the first time, truly appreciate the historical context and the cultural shift that the Apostle Paul was shaping through his apostolic mission and pastoral leadership.
Wright skillfully explains Paul’s complex arguments and often confrontational tone in 1 Corinthians, situating them within the dynamics of a young Christian community struggling with identity, morality, and worship. He offers pastoral insights that speak directly to contemporary church life, bridging the gap between ancient Corinth and today’s congregations.
Two quotes from the glossary stand out as especially helpful for church ministry:
Baptism � "Literally, 'plunging' people into water. From within a wider Jewish tradition of ritual washings and bathings, John the Baptist undertook a vocation of baptizing people in the Jordan, not a one ritual among others but as a unique moment of repentance, preparing them for the coming of the kingdom of God. Jesus himself was baptized by John, identifying himself with this renewal movement and developing it in his own way. His followers in turn baptized others. After God resurrection, and the sending of the Holy Spirit, baptism became the normal sign and means of entry into the community of Jesus’s people. As early as Paul it was aligned both with the Exodus from Egypt (1 Corinthians 10:2) and with Jesus’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:2-11)." (p241)
Eucharist � "The meal in which the earliest Christians, and Christians ever since, obeyed Jesus’s command to 'do this in remembrance of him' at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The word 'eucharist' itself comes from the Greek word for 'thanksgiving'; it means, basically, 'the thank-you meal', and looks back to the many times when Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, broke it, and gave it to people (e.g. Luke 24:30, John 6:11). Other early phrases for the same meal are 'the Lord's supper' (1 Corinthians 11:20) and 'the breaking of bread' (Acts 2:42). Later it came to be called 'the Mass' (from the Latin word at the end of the service, meaning 'sent out") and 'Holy Communion' (Paul speaks of 'sharing' or 'communion' in the body and blood of Christ). Later theological controversies about the precise meaning of the various actions and elements of the meal should not obscure its centrality in earliest Christian living and its continuing vital importance today." (p242)
This book is a valuable resource for anyone engaged in preaching, teaching, or lay study. It brings theological depth together with pastoral warmth—something rare and much needed.
July 2, 2018
1 Corinthians is a beautiful letter and contains some of our most beloved scriptures, about love, about the Spirit, about wisdom, as well as some controversial verses (women should remain silent).
Tom Wright starts the book with a short introduction and then weaves out the themes by going over the text paragraph by paragraph, first presented by his own translation (very fresh and captivating). He always start with an example of what we read in the passage, helping us understand what Paul would sound like in our age, and frankly, he succeeds well at this. His examples are short, too the point, and not cheesy. The explanation are solid, and slowly driving home the main theme and main argument of Paul in this letter, putting everything Paul comments on in its context.
An easy read, and very accesible, confirming the aptly title of the series. Very much suitable for personal studying this letter as a whole, and a good resource to go when you are trying to understand and make sense of Paul's letter in our time.
Tom Wright starts the book with a short introduction and then weaves out the themes by going over the text paragraph by paragraph, first presented by his own translation (very fresh and captivating). He always start with an example of what we read in the passage, helping us understand what Paul would sound like in our age, and frankly, he succeeds well at this. His examples are short, too the point, and not cheesy. The explanation are solid, and slowly driving home the main theme and main argument of Paul in this letter, putting everything Paul comments on in its context.
An easy read, and very accesible, confirming the aptly title of the series. Very much suitable for personal studying this letter as a whole, and a good resource to go when you are trying to understand and make sense of Paul's letter in our time.
October 15, 2023
I just finished reading N.T. Wright's study of 1 Corinthians. Aside from the writing (pun unintended) which is always stellar, the different sections and passages were analysed and explained in light of the entire epistle.
Like in his other writings, Wright brings you into the world of the New Testament and helps you see nuances which one ordinarily would not have perceived. He brings such a deep understanding of the first century world to the text that it opens up the message to one's modern mind. Reading this commentary was like taking a journey through the chapters with a colleague of Paul, who points out the flow of the epistle and highlights the thinking of Paul at different turns. And he writes with such grace and warmth that, even when God rebukes you through a verse or a passage, it comes forth with pastoral wisdom.
It was a joy to read, and I heartily recommend it to anyone seeking a better understanding of this important letter.
Like in his other writings, Wright brings you into the world of the New Testament and helps you see nuances which one ordinarily would not have perceived. He brings such a deep understanding of the first century world to the text that it opens up the message to one's modern mind. Reading this commentary was like taking a journey through the chapters with a colleague of Paul, who points out the flow of the epistle and highlights the thinking of Paul at different turns. And he writes with such grace and warmth that, even when God rebukes you through a verse or a passage, it comes forth with pastoral wisdom.
It was a joy to read, and I heartily recommend it to anyone seeking a better understanding of this important letter.
October 12, 2023
If you're looking for an accessible guide to 1 Corinthians that you can read cover to cover in bite-sized chunks, look no further! Fantastic metaphors, and the book really gets to the heart of the letter. That said, the Acts volume in this series felt more thorough (granted, it was in two volumes), and I wish he had more space in this book to tackle the tough passages with more detail. Recommended nonetheless!
April 29, 2020
Un bon commentaire, à la fois facile et plutôt agréable à lire. Wright ne nous donne pas les détails de son exégèse mais son talent pour trouver des illustrations rend sa pensée très simple à saisir. Il ne se perd pas dans les débats théologique ni dans dans un trop plein d'informations mais reste au contraire collé au texte.
July 28, 2020
Neat and tidy layperson commentary on Paul’s first epistle to the church in Corinth. I enjoy Wright’s illustrations that lead-off his comments in each section. It’s helpful that he admits where translations and interpretations are difficult. Good to compare his own translated passages with others.
March 24, 2020
I love these books because Wright, one of the worlds most respected Paul scholars, is also able to communicate these big truths in such easy and understandable ways. He always starts with a personal story, making the whole section relatable. I also find his translation quite refreshing.
December 9, 2021
This entire series of brief but insightful and clear notes for the average person to be able to grasp and apply scripture is a treasure. What I like best is the lead-in stories and illustrations into each and every section of teaching.
January 7, 2022
I read through these commentaries by Wright regularly. First Corinthians is a difficult letter of Paul's and Wright writes with accessibility and a fair amount of depth of wisdom. Having finished this, I am heading into Second Corinthians and a kind of 'sequel'!
May 1, 2024
I really appreciate The New Testament for everyone series. Each of these books breaks down the scriptures with commentary that explain concepts and historical significance. Highly recommend this series!
November 15, 2017
Paul is tough material. I used this book as a sort of devotional and it was okay, but it seemed actually a little bit dated already. Well written, but found myself wandering.
January 11, 2020
Excellent. Read 'em all.
May 6, 2021
Pretty solid. It helped me get a firmer grasp of the overall flow of 1 Cor.
September 8, 2023
Another banger by the g himself
February 15, 2025
Interesting and thought prpvoking
February 26, 2017
N. T. Wright has a great way of writing that doesn't water down theology, yet is understandable for normal people. I've been studying the book of I Corinthians by reading through it 20 times, outlining chapters, writing down the theme of each chapter, etc. But there are a lot of complicated things going on in I Corinthians and I felt that I needed some good explanations that would be both expository and understandable, but not watered down. I was not disappointed in this book and will be using more of N.T. Wright's books as Bible study commentaries.
September 8, 2014
1 Corinthians is a challenging book because of how messed up the church in Corinth was at the time this epistle was written and how many issues the apostle Paul had to address. It has also been misread at times to say things that Paul probably wasn't saying such as women should always stay silent in church and not take any major roles in the church as a modern reading of ch. 14 would have us think. Mr. Wright's great gift throughout all of his writings is his ability to put the New Testament in its original context and, thus, glean new insights out of the text for us. And in this book he shows that he can put Paul's letters in their correct Greek context as much as he could put other scriptures, like the Gospels, into their correct Jewish context. Mr. Wright's interpretations of difficult chapters, like the aforementioned ch. 14 and others, are great and helped me see the text in a new light as well as to question practices of the church in a modern context. This is one of Mr. Wright's best commentaries in the series so far and I highly recommend this book to all my brothers and sisters in Christ whether they are new converts or have been a part of the faith for a while.
March 22, 2016
Commentaries are often extremely detailed, hard to read, and used only as a resource for answers to specific questions. They are immensely helpful in this respect. But it is also of value to have commentaries that are readable, engaging, and readily applicable--this commentary by N.T. Wright is of this second kind. Though he addresses tough issues in the text, this is a commentary that can be read beginning to end (especially because he includes his translation of the text before each section) to great benefit for the reader. Wright has an engaging style and uses good illustrations and stories to help readers understand the point of the text and its significance for the Christian life.
April 22, 2022
Enjoyable, but verbose and over-long. Most of the section could have been cut down by about 30% without significant loss. My wife and I were reading it together in our devotions and we found the discrepancy between the length of the Scripture passages and the length of the comments rather telling! However, as always, we enjoyed Wright's knowledge of the culture and world of the time hugely enjoyable.
February 16, 2017
As always, NT Wright's work does not disappoint. His "For Everyone" series is great for any person who wants a better grasp of the Bible. I could see pastors use them, as Wright manages to write as both a scholar and a pastor with each chapter sounding like a good sermon. But small groups or individual Christians could benefit as well. All in all, very good.
July 2, 2019
There were definitely some parts that made me think and things he said that I didn't read in any other commentary. The particular translation that he used was his own translation which also gave another new aspect.
There was nothing bad about this book but unfortunately nothing great about it as well.
There was nothing bad about this book but unfortunately nothing great about it as well.
July 16, 2009
Tom (N.T.) Wright is a staggering genius and this is his "dumbed" down work... in other words perfect for me.
November 18, 2010
Helpful on context and application.
December 8, 2013
Very helpful, easy to read!
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