3rd March 2023, Prague, Czech Republic — Readers of the Bible and followers of Christ can now gain new insights as they study Scripture thanks to a recently launched one-volume commentary on the whole Bible. The Central and Eastern European Bible Commentary (CEEBC) is the result of several years of work from over 100 Bible scholars and theologians from Central and Eastern Europe. Spanning contributions from twenty countries within the region, this is the first work of its kind.
The release of this commentary adds to the growing collection of similar volumes now published or underway in several regions of the world that have been supported by Langham Partnership — a global ministry founded by the late preacher and author John Stott. Their mission is to equip Christian leaders in the Majority World, which is where the majority of Christians reside. Over the last two decades Langham Partnership has fostered this mission through the support of major regional one-volume commentaries. To date, seven regions have produced these commentaries covering Africa, South Asia, the Slavic region, Middle East, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia with many of these regions producing them in multiple languages.
During the launch of the CEEBC at the Církev Bratrská in Prague, attendees, including many contributors, editors, local Christians, and members of the Langham Partnership, celebrated the commentary and recounted its story. Pavel Černy, a former president of the Církev Bratrská and resident of Prague, hosted the event and led the evening’s activities, which included singing, organ performances, and multiple guest speakers.
International Director of the Langham Partnership, Rev. Tayo Arikawe shared:
“It is with joy that we have come to celebrate. I want to welcome on behalf of Langham Partnership International, all the academics who have participated in this commentary, all of the leaders of different churches that have made some effort to be part of it. And the idea that there has been a lot of cross-cultural working together in this process speaks volumes.”
Local church leaders commemorated the work and attendees received a keynote address from Rev. Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright entitled, “The Whole Bible for our Whole Context.” During his speech, he reflected on the importance of the Bible to give us wisdom and lead us to salvation:
“Today, more than ever, we need the voices of all God’s people, sharing their insights, their understanding of the word of God in all its ancient power and contemporary relevance.”
As well as celebrating, it was a time of reflection and remembrance. One of the chief architects and the general editor of the CEEBC, Corneliu Constantineanu, died from COVID-19 in 2021. Dr. Constantineanu, who was loved by many, was described as a bridge builder and advocate for the necessity that Christian academia must be in service of the church, not for the sake of academia. At the time of his death, Dr. Constaneanu had completed two-thirds of his work on the commentary. His place in this project was taken on by one of the CEEBC’s theological editors, Peter Penner, who shared his thoughts on this during the launch:
“This was an attempt, which has been successful, to bring this diverse group, these diverse countries with their very different languages, together. Here Corneliu has been very instrumental in bringing together, bridging, and connecting people. In diversity, to bring unity.
So this is one symbol; I hope it is one big step. And I hope we will follow with some more steps as we continue in this direction.”
The commentary is now available in English, published by Langham Partnership’s official publishing house in their Langham Global Library imprint. Discussions are already underway with partners in the region for possible translations into several languages in the coming years.
- Find out more about the CEEBC,
- See the CEEBC launch on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov1FXlOYZ_A - Get more information about Langham Partnership.
- Download the Media Pack.
- For press related questions and information on the CEEBC, please contact sophia.soloviy@langham.org
Nashville, Tenn., March 2023 – Thomas Nelson, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, in partnership with award-winning illustrator, Butch Hartman, is pleased to announce the release of The Garden Children’s Bible. Hartman is best known for his animated works “The Fairly OddParents” and “Danny Phantom.”
Grand Rapids, Mich., March 2023 – Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is pleased to announce two of its low-cost outreach Bibles have surpassed significant sales milestones: the NIV Economy Bible with three million units sold and the NIV Value Outreach Bible with two million units.
The NIV Value Outreach Bible and the NIV Economy Bible use the New International Version (NIV), the most widely read Bible translation in contemporary English. The NIV is trusted for its combination of accuracy, readability, and beauty.
(Dallas-Fort Worth, TX – March 14, 2023) Gateway Publishing is pleased to announce the release of Let It Rise: Sacred Ingredients for a Life of Prayer by Mary Jo Pierce.
Founder and lead pastor of The Church of Eleven22 Pastor Joby Martin, tackles the question, What happens when the unexplainable intersects the undeniable? In his new book ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE; How Nine Miracles of Jesus Reveal God’s Love for You (FaithWords, March 14, 2023, ISBN: 9781546001690)
March 2023 | Bellingham WA – With great excitement, Lexham Press announces two finalists in the Foreword INDIES awards.Foreword
The Gates of Hell: An Untold Story of Faith and Perseverance in the Early Soviet Union by Matthew Heise. In The Gates of Hell, Matthew Heise recounts the bravery and suffering of German-Russian Lutherans during the period between the two great world wars. These stories tell of ordinary Christians who remained faithful to death in the face of state persecution.
BELLINGHAM, Wash., March 13, 2023 — FatCat, the friendly feline who helps young readers grasp the messages of the Bible, is back with another pawsitively engaging message in “
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For years, Cleere Cherry Reaves has made it her mission to help people recalibrate, refocus, and remember who they are in Christ through her successful gift line brand Cleerely Stated. Now Reaves provides families a message of hope to embrace the everyday miracles and to celebrate life as the greatest miracle of all with her debut picture book, The Miracle of You, releasing March 14, 2023.
March 2023 | WESTMONT, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce that seven IVP titles have been recognized as finalists in the annual
Adult Non-Fiction, Family & Relationships
Adult Non-Fiction, Autobiography & Memoir
Adult Non-Fiction, Business & Economics
Adult Non-Fiction, Multicultural
Adult Non-Fiction, Political and Social Sciences
Adult Non-Fiction, Science & Technology
Carol Stream, Ill. (March 10, 2023) —Tyndale House Publishers, in partnership with 
A Parent’s Guide to Sexual Assault
A Parent’s Guide to Suicide & Self-Harm Prevention
A Parent’s Guide to Depression & Anxiety 




