Reading Corinthians: A Literary and Theological Commentary

Talbert is one of the most rewarding compact treatments of the Corinthian correspondence, particularly because of his sensitivity to literary structure, argumentative flow and ancient patterns of reasoning. He regularly detects connections obscured in larger technical commentaries—for example, the way Paul’s relinquishment of apostolic rights functions within the larger argument concerning idol food, or how warning examples, exhortation and theological reasoning form carefully structured argumentative units. Talbert is less comprehensive technically and historically than the major critical commentaries, but his insight-per-page ratio is exceptional. It is especially valuable as a complementary commentary after consulting a more exhaustive exegetical work.