1 Corinthians

Summary

1 Corinthians is both bracing and strangely familiar. The church is gifted, active, and chaotic. They confess Christ, yet they import the world’s instincts about status, freedom, and wisdom into the life of the congregation. Paul writes to correct them, but he does it with a gospel centre. He does not merely hand out rules. He calls them back to Christ crucified, the wisdom of God that overturns human boasting, and the love that builds up the church. Preaching 1 Corinthians well requires both careful exegesis and pastoral wisdom, because the letter touches sensitive issues and real church wounds.

David E. Garland’s technical commentary aims to serve that need. It is not a light overview, and it is not simply a collection of background notes. It is designed to help the reader follow Paul’s argument through each section and to handle the letter’s difficult passages with care. 1 Corinthians includes texts that are often mishandled, either through over confidence, or through evasion. A technical guide slows us down and forces us to ask what Paul is actually doing in context.

The letter moves through divisions, sexual sin, lawsuits, conscience matters, worship order, spiritual gifts, and resurrection hope. Yet the issues are connected. The Corinthians are living as if the cross is a useful symbol rather than the defining reality. Paul insists that the cross shapes wisdom, ministry, community, and ethics. That is why a commentary that keeps the cross at the centre is so valuable. If we preach 1 Corinthians as mere church management, we will produce either pride or despair. If we preach it as gospel driven re formation, we will call the church to repentance and to renewed love.

Garland helps by taking the text seriously. He pays attention to the flow of thought, the rhetorical moves, and the pastoral intent. That means he can help us resist turning isolated verses into weapons. He also helps us avoid making the ancient setting so strange that we cannot apply Paul. Paul wrote for the building up of the church. The details matter, but the aim is always the health of Christ’s people.

Strengths

One strength is guidance through the letter’s pastoral logic. Garland helps us see how Paul’s corrections fit together, and how recurring themes resurface across different issues. That supports coherent preaching. It also supports wise application, because it shows us what the root problems are. The Corinthians do not only need better policies. They need a deeper grasp of the gospel and a humbler understanding of themselves.

A second strength is careful handling of contested passages. 1 Corinthians contains texts that affect worship practice, church discipline, marriage and singleness, and the use of spiritual gifts. These topics can produce heat quickly. Garland helps by clarifying context, weighing interpretive options, and keeping attention on Paul’s purpose. That supports pastors who want to speak with conviction while also caring for tender consciences.

A third strength is the way Garland shows theology driving practice. Paul’s ethics are not detached from Christ. The church is the temple of the Spirit, purchased by Christ, called to holiness, and shaped by love. Garland repeatedly draws out those connections. That helps us preach holiness without moralism, and freedom without selfishness. It also helps us preach love as obedience to Christ rather than as vague niceness.

Finally, this commentary is particularly useful for training. Pastors in training need models of how to handle a complex letter with both rigour and pastoral sensitivity. Garland’s approach encourages careful reading and honest reasoning, rather than quick confidence based on tradition or preference.

Limitations

The main limitation is the time required. Technical discussion can be dense, and we must decide what belongs in the sermon versus what remains in the study. Another limitation is that a technical commentary will not always provide ready made homiletical phrasing. That is not a defect. It simply means the preacher must still do the work of proclamation, bringing Paul’s word to the church with clarity, warmth, and courage.

How We Would Use It

We would use Garland as a primary technical reference in a 1 Corinthians series, especially for planning coherent sermon units and handling difficult texts responsibly. Week by week, we would consult it to confirm our reading, to avoid common missteps, and to ensure our application reflects Paul’s priorities. We would also use it for elder training, because 1 Corinthians is a powerful school for shaping a church culture that values holiness, unity, and love.

Closing Recommendation

This is a substantial technical commentary that supports faithful preaching and careful pastoral application. For those who want to handle 1 Corinthians with seriousness and clarity, Garland is a strong companion.