Believers Church Scholars Participate in Writers Workshop for Bible Commentary Series
by Loren L. Johns
Nineteen scholars met recently at a writers workshop for persons writing commentaries in the Believers Church Bible Commentary series. On November 17, 2006 , meeting in conjunction with the Society of Biblical Literature annual meeting in Washington , D.C. , the workshop brought together those who had already written commentaries published in the series with those who are working on upcoming volumes.
The series originated when a Bible commentary series in Papua , New Guinea , caused Mennonite publishers Ben Cutrell to ask, “Might the Mennonites in North America do something similar?” Since then, Mennonite Church Canada , Mennonite Church USA , the Church of the Brethren, the Brethren in Christ, and the Brethren Church have partnered to develop a commentary series that asks writers to represent the best of current scholarship while writing primarily for the church. The series is written for Sunday school teachers, pastors, and others who teach in the congregation. An editorial council of scholars representing each of these church groups meets annually.
The workshop featured the personal experiences of commentary writers—how they went about the process of research, writing, and rewriting. Several reflected on the challenge of finding the right balance between technical or historical-critical background and contemporary appropriation in ways that communicate compellingly. This has always been a key challenge for the writers, editors, and editorial council. Writers have generally kept discussion of critical issues, whether historical or literary, to a minimum or relegated them to explanatory essays at the back. Another challenge writers have faced is being relevant without writing things that become quickly dated. Two key features of the series, which have begun to show up in other commentary series, are the sections, “The Text in Biblical Context” and “The Text in the Life of the Church.” A third challenge has been finding the right balance between how the text has functioned in the life of the church and how it might function in the life of the church. The commentaries have been received well so far in critical reviews.
The Believers Church Bible Commentary (BCBC) series began 20 years ago with the publication of Elmer Martens’ Jeremiah (1986). Martens served for many years as Old Testament editor. Since 1986, 19 additional commentaries have been published, making a total of 20 commentaries in 20 years. The editorial council hopes to complete the series by 2020. Douglas B. Miller (current Old Testament Editor, Tabor College ) and Gordon Zerbe (previous New Testament Editor, Canadian Mennonite University ) planned the writers workshop. Howard Charles and Willard Swartley served previously as New Testament editor; Loren Johns (Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary) is the current New Testament editor.
Commentaries already published include Genesis, by Eugene F. Roop (1987); Exodus, by Waldemar Janzen (2000); Judges, by Terry L. Brensinger (1999); Ruth, Jonah, Esther, by Eugene F. Roop (2002); Psalms, by James H. Waltner (2006); Proverbs, by John W. Miller (2004); Jeremiah, by Elmer A. Martens (1986); Ezekiel, by Millard C. Lind (1996); Daniel, by Paul M. Lederach (1994); Hosea, Amos, by Allen R. Guenther (1998); Matthew, by Richard B. Gardner (1991); Mark, by Timothy J. Geddert (2001); Acts, by Chalmer E. Faw (1993); Romans, by John E. Toews (2004); 2 Corinthians, by V. George Shillington (1998); Ephesians, by Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld (2002); Colossians, Philemon, by Ernest D. Martin (1993); 1 and 2 Thessalonians, by Jacob W. Elias (1995); 1–2 Peter, Jude, by Erland Waltner and J. Daryl Charles (1999); and Revelation, by John R. Yeatts (2003). Genesis has been translated into Russian and the series is now available electronically through NetLibrary, Logos Bible Software, and iPreach.