Believers Church Bible Commentary (26 vols.)

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. These commentaries, informed by recent scholarship, are detailed, yet accessible. They are written for lay leaders, teachers, pastors, college and seminary students, and all those searching the Bible for truth and life. 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.

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

Each volume illuminates the Scriptures by providing historical and cultural background, explaining theological, sociological, and ethical meanings, and making “the rough places plain” throughout. Critical issues are also addressed and explained with the lay leader in mind.

The commentaries are organized into sections according to the major divisions of the text. Each section is comprised of five parts in order to provide a balance of exegesis, theological reflection, and life appropriation:

• An introductory Preview
• A summary Outline of the section
• Explanatory Notes
• Text in Biblical Context
• 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.

The BCBC series represents the Anabaptist Believers Church tradition as a key perspective for interpretation.