Summary
We find Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner help us read 1 Corinthians as a pastoral letter driven by the gospel and shaped by Scripture. They keep the church situation in view, but they never let the situation become the meaning.
Their work is strong on the letter’s use of the Old Testament and on the way Paul forms a holy people in a compromised culture.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
We should own this volume when we need depth for a difficult letter. 1 Corinthians is full of sharp edges, and Ciampa and Rosner help us handle them without panic or harshness.
They clarify Paul’s argument on division, sexual ethics, worship, spiritual gifts, and resurrection, and they repeatedly show how the cross reorders the church’s values and practices.
For pastors facing modern confusion, this is a weighty, reliable guide that strengthens faithful teaching and wise shepherding.
Closing Recommendation
We recommend this as a strong advanced commentary for preaching and teaching 1 Corinthians, particularly for those who want thorough exegesis joined to clear theological direction for church life.
As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.
Roy E. Ciampa
Roy E. Ciampa is an American New Testament scholar of the contemporary era, writing within conservative evangelical scholarship with a particular interest in Scripture’s unity.
He is best known, alongside Brian Rosner, for a major commentary on 1 Corinthians, where he highlights Paul’s biblical and Jewish foundations and shows how gospel shaped holiness addresses real church disorder. Ciampa’s work often draws careful lines between Old Testament themes and New Testament instruction without slipping into forced connections.
He remains valued for careful argument, theological steadiness, and an evident concern for the church’s maturity. Recommended titles include The First Letter to the Corinthians, his published studies on the Old Testament in the New Testament, and his work in translation and biblical studies.
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical