The First Letter of Peter: A Commentary on the Greek Text

Feldmeier’s commentary is one of the best integrations of close Greek exegesis and theological interpretation available for 1 Peter. His controlling concept is Christian “foreignness,” which he connects closely with rebirth, hope, suffering, and eschatological existence. Rebirth means that eschatological renewal has already taken place in believers even while they continue to inhabit an unredeemed world, enabling present joy to anticipate and participate in future glory. His treatment of the overlapping present and future is particularly insightful: Peter’s readers understand present suffering through the future already secured in Christ. Feldmeier therefore brings considerable coherence to themes that other commentators sometimes treat separately. His authorship conclusions and occasional historical judgments will not persuade everyone, but the commentary is consistently stimulating and theologically rich.