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Believers Church Bible Commentaries

The Believers' Church Bible Commentary Series is a cooperative project of Brethren in Christ Church, Brethren Church, Church of the Brethren, Mennonite Brethren Church, and Mennonite Church.

"This readable commentary series is for all who seek more fully to understand the original message of Scripture and its meaning for today-Sunday school teachers, members of Bible study groups, students, pastors, and other seekers." —From the Series Foreword

Most of volumes of the BCBC series are available on CD from Logos Software.

History and Background

The Believers Church Bible Commentary Series is published for all who seek more fully to understand the original message of Scripture and its meaning for today. The series is based on the conviction that God is still speaking to all who will listen, and that the Holy Spirit makes the Word a living and authoritative guide for all who want to know and do God's will.

Each volume illuminates the Scriptures; provides historical and cultural background; shares necessary theological, sociological, and ethical meanings; and, in general, makes "the rough places plain." Critical issues are not avoided, but neither are they moved into the foreground as debates among scholars. The series aids in the interpretive process, but it does not attempt to supersede the authority of the Word and Spirit as discerned in the gathered church.

Overall Outline

The commentaries are organized into sections according to the major divisions of the text. Each section comprises five parts: (1) an introductory preview, (2) a summary outline of the section, (3) explanatory notes, (4) the text in its biblical context, and (5) the text in the life of the church.

The two focused articles at the end of each chapter, "The Text in Biblical Context" and "The Text in the Life of the Church," are unique features of this series. Especially in the latter, believers church perspectives come through clearly. These include believers baptism, commitment to the Rule of Christ (Matthew 18:15-20) as part of the meaning of church membership, belief in the power of love in all relationships, and a willingness to follow the way of the cross of Christ.

There are comprehensive outlines, biographical aids, helpful charts, indexes, maps, glossaries, and essays on points that need further development.

For more information, please see the BCBC Writers Handbook. and view the Scripture Indexes List.

Editorial Council and Series Editors

The writers have done the basic work for each commentary, but not operating alone, since "no . . . Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation" (2 Pet. 1:20; cf. 1 Cor. 14:29). They have consulted with select counselors during the writing process, worked with the editors for the series, and received feedback from another biblical scholar.

In addition, the Editorial Council, representing six believers church denominations, reads the manuscripts carefully, gives churchly responses, and makes suggestions for changes. The writer considers all this counsel and processes it into the manuscript, which the Editorial Council finally approves for publication. Thus these commentaries combine the individual writers' own good work and the church's voice.

Editorial Council
David W. Baker, Brethren Church
Derek Suderman, Mennonite Church Canada
Richard B. Gardner, Church of the Brethren
Eric A. Seibert, Brethren in Christ Church
Gordon H. Matties, Mennonite Brethren Church
Paul M. Zehr (chair), Mennonite Church USA

Old Testament Editor
Douglas B. Miller, Tabor College, Hillsboro,
dougm@tabor.edu

New Testament Editor
Loren Johns, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana
ljohns@ambs.edu

The Uniqueness of This Series

These commentaries, informed by recent scholarship, are not overburdened with detail. They are written for lay leaders, teachers, pastors, college and seminary students, and all those searching the Bible for truth and life.

The writers place each section of Scripture in the perspective of the whole Bible and bring it into conversation with the past and present experience of God's people in the world. The format is unique: Preview, Outline, Explanatory Notes, Text in Biblical Context, and Text in the Life of the Church-thus providing a fine balance of exegesis, theological reflection, and life appropriation.

The BCBC series represents the Anabaptist believers church tradition as a key perspective for interpretation.