AUGUST 22, 2025 — Thomas Nelson celebrates as Max Lucado’s recent release, Tame Your Thoughts: Three Tools to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life, lands the No. 3 spot on Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous on the New York Times bestsellers list.

“I’m deeply grateful to see my books on The New York Times bestseller list,” says Max Lucado. “Any recognition like this is not about me, but about the timeless hope of God’s Word reaching hearts. I’m thankful beyond words Tame Your Thoughts is helping people win the battle in their minds.”

With Lucado’s story-telling skill and pastoral insight, Tame Your Thoughts explores three key thought management tools and then applies them to the most common thought problems: worry, guilt, anxiety, and other types of mental quicksand that threaten to trap us.

• Tool 1: Practice Picky Thinking – Guard your thoughts
• Tool 2: Identify UFOs – an Untruth creates a False narrative that leads to an Overreaction
• Tool 3: Uproot + Replant – Weed out your most unhealthy thought patterns

Adds Max: “God loves us too much to let us lead a life marked by poor thinking. He made our brains; he can retrain our brains. God has not left us alone in this battle of the mind.”

“We couldn’t be more delighted that Tame Your Thoughts is a New York Times bestseller,” says Nelson Books VP & Publisher Andrew Stoddard. “Max Lucado brings transformative and timeless truths to life, and we’re thrilled to see readers responding so wholeheartedly.”

With more than 150 million products in print, Max Lucado is known for combining poetic storytelling and homespun humor with the heart of a pastor. His trade books all begin as sermon series at Oak Hills Church, and his sermons all start with Max asking himself this question: “What can I say on Sunday that will still matter on Monday?” He’s been dubbed “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today, “The Best Preacher in America” by Reader’s Digest, and the “Ted Lasso of Pastors” by the Dallas Morning News. Max Lucado has penned more than 40 works of adult nonfiction, standing alongside dozens and dozens of bestselling children’s books, gift books, Bible studies, commentaries, and collections. His books have been published in 56 languages worldwide and regularly appear on bestseller lists, including The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today. Learn more at www.MaxLucado.com.

Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content, providing readers with quality inspirational products for more than 200 years. With over 250 new, original books and Bibles published each year and distributed in more than 100 countries, translating content in more than 65 different languages, Thomas Nelson is committed to one central mission: inspiring the world by meeting the needs of people with content that promotes biblical principles and honors Jesus Christ. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curricula, and digital content. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.ThomasNelson.com.

Contact:  Jana Muntsinger, MMPR, 832-247-9308 or jana@mmpublicrelations.com

August 13, 2025 — GRAND RAPIDS, MI — On Sunday, August 10, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association announced the winners of the 17th annual Golden Scroll Awards and the 6th annual Christian Market Book Awards. Three Kregel titles are winners.

An Invitation to Experience Literature’s Power to Transform Lives and Deepen Faith in an Age of Distraction

New Book Explores How Reading Is More Than a Pastime —It’s a Spiritual Practice

Orleans, MA – August 6, 2025 — Why should we read? It’s a question Jeff Crosby both poses and beautifully answers through engaging personal stories, literary reflections, and spiritual insights in World of Wonders: A Spirituality of Reading. In an era dominated by screens and information overload, where attention spans are shrinking and deep reading is on the decline, this rich, thought-provoking book makes a compelling case for reading as a transformative spiritual discipline.

Studies show that immersive, intentional reading is linked to improved empathy, greater mental clarity, and deeper self-reflection. Crosby argues that reading isn’t just an intellectual exercise or an escape—it’s a sacred practice that opens the door to spiritual renewal, personal growth, and divine connection.

Drawing on the wisdom of C. S. Lewis, Dostoyevsky, Maya Angelou, and other literary greats, Crosby explores how books bridge differences, cultivate wonder, and illuminate the presence of God in everyday life. Each chapter includes curated book recommendations, guiding readers toward literature that has the power to shape both heart and mind.

In her foreword, Dr. Carolyn Weber, author of Surprised by Oxford, calls the book “a beautiful illumination of what God has in store for us, and in story for us.”

Brent Bill, author of Holy Silence, adds, “World of Wonders is itself a wonder—showing us how reading deepens our spiritual lives, even when we don’t realize it.”

With the resurgence of faith-based literature and a growing movement toward “slow reading” as a counterbalance to digital fatigue, World of Wonders is a timely, much-needed invitation to reclaim the joy, wisdom, and sacredness of the written word.

Jeff Crosby is the president and CEO of ECPA, the trade association of Christian publishing, and has worked in bookselling and publishing roles for more than four decades. Among cherished books on his personal library’s “shelf of honor” you would find books by Dostoyevsky, John Steinbeck, Maya Angelou, Kent Haruf, Marilyn McEntyre, Frederick Buechner and Luci Shaw, among others. He resides in the Chicago area with his wife, Cindy Crosby.

Media Contact:  Danielle Bushnell, danielleb@paracletepress.com

Praise for World of Wonders

“This beautiful book illuminates what God has in store for us, and in story for us. With Jeff Crosby as our guide, we see how best to number our days along with the pages. The wonder of reading unfurls the glory of God – a God who is lo! with us always – to the very last page.” — Dr. Carolyn Weber, author of Surprised by Oxford (from the foreword)

“World of Wonders is itself a wonder. In this delightful and inspiring book, Jeff Crosby shows us how reading deepens our spiritual lives, even when we may not initially be aware of it doing so. While reading it, I was reminded of so many books and writers who have influenced me over my life. Crosby’s clear and wise writing illuminates, as do the vignettes from other authors sprinkled throughout the book. And the reading lists for each section are delightful. As we Quakers say, this book speaks to my condition. I’m sure it will yours as well.” — J. Brent Bill, author of Holy Silence and Amity: Stories from the Heartland

“C.S Lewis wrote, ‘Heaven, once attained, will work backward.’ In that sense, Jeff Crosby’s book is heavenly, as it works its way backward in your life, revealing that your reading was really a companioning, with the great Companion from whom all creativity comes. After reading World of Wonders, I no longer see the books on my shelf as a home library; I see them as a spiritual record of my time here. What a gift.” — Dr. Kelly Flanagan, author of The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell and True Companions

“As I read through World of Wonders, it created two surprising images for me. First, I felt like I was with Earnest Shackleton sailing the infamous Drake Passage, battling hurricane force winds and waves over a hundred feet high and like him, telling myself, ‘No doubt Providence guided us.’ Second, I felt a kinship to John Muir strapped to a California Sierra Douglas Spruce during a violent December storm. Muir said, ‘Never before did I enjoy so noble an exhilaration of motion.’ Crosby’s book brought me to the Southern Ocean and to the California Sierra. Good books and good reading do that. Crosby’s book is rightly named and an adventure worth taking. Read this book. Go exploring. ” – J. K. Jones, author of Reading with God in Mind and A Soul’s House

“World of Wonders is a heartfelt tribute to the transformative power of reading. Crosby’s depth and breadth of personal vignettes is deftly woven with profound insights, making a compelling case for reading as a spiritual discipline. From soulful reflections on spiritual growth to prescriptive tools, this book is a treasure trove for anyone seeking to deepen their faith through literature. It’s more than just a guide—it’s also an invitation to embark on a lifelong journey of wonder, curiosity, and connection. A must-read for avid readers, would-be readers, and spiritual seekers alike.” — J. Dana Trent, author Between Two Trailers

“Most book lovers love that genre of writing — books about books. They are beloved and often influential. World of Wonders is one that is unlike any other in this field, a truly lovely, easy-to-read, utterly delightful, deeply spiritual book that indeed makes you want to read more. It helps you realize God’s presence as you turn the pages and guides you to encounter the world of wonder that is discovered in an open-hearted reading life. No stuffy tome for only the erudite experts, this is a book for you, me, your neighbors, friends, and even those who may not (yet) love to read. This book is a gift. Read and share.” — Byron Borger, Hearts & Minds Books, Dallastown, Pennsylvania

“Crosby’s book not only traces the way the magic of reading captured his own imagination, setting him on a lifelong career in the book industry. More than that, his exploration of reading as an act of worship, a form of liturgy, and even a spiritual discipline, summons all of us, calling us forth from the frenzy and fragmentation of modern life to the sacred and healing ground of getting lost in a book. It is a stream of shining waters for a fatigued and thirsty soul.” — Wendy Murray, journalist and author of Clare of Assisi, Gentle Warrior and Inner Healing the Franciscan Way.

“Having been an English teacher and language arts administrator on both high school and college levels during my 40-year career in education, it is easy for me to say that our national education community would greatly benefit from Jeff Crosby’s refined celebration about the mesmerizing holiness of reading. I highly recommend World of Wonders!” — Christopher de Vinck, contributing columnist for The Dallas Morning News, author of Things That Matter Most

“In World of Wonders, Crosby has given us a wonderfully written, intimate bit of memoir.  Woven throughout are excerpts from great writers, across all genres. With these quotes, we are shown the way in which reading has been formational in this author’s journey and discover the joy to be found within our own pages.” — Rick Lewis, Logos Bookstore, Dallas, Texas

“If spiritual disciplines are practices to help us encounter God’s grace, then Jeff Crosby is onto something important. What’s more, he’s the consummate storyteller who brings decades of experience reading, writing, editing, selling, and publishing a variety of books and genres. His wisdom is as evident as his breadth of reading in these pages, gently pointing us toward grace in the various seasons of life.” — Mark R. McMinn, co-author of An Invitation to Slow

“Jeff Crosby appropriately begins his exploration of reading with a quotation from C. S. Lewis’s brilliant Experiment in Criticism, which, with the perceptive precision typical of Lewis, perfectly describes why we read: ‘We want to see with other eyes, to imagine with other imaginations, to feel with other hearts, as well as with our own.’  World of Wonders is intended to help us do just that.  Despite his immersion in every aspect of book reading and publishing, Jeff is an unintimidating, disarmingly gentle and humble guide for readers of every level of proficiency and every type of reading intention, whether it’s for sheer entertainment or deepest spiritual discipline.  And don’t miss the dozen reading lists, reflecting decades of experience of a veteran reader and publisher.  Pure gold.” — Warren Farha, founder and owner, Eighth Day Books, Wichita, Kansas

“Jeff Crosby invites me to step away from my fragmented life of screens, information, images and opinion, and he returns me to earlier days when I dwelled in books, when I lost track of time, when the now-rare experience of “presence” was as natural as reading.  Where researchers fail to spark a change in my habits (despite their evidence of my changing brain and shrinking capacity for attention), World of Wonders speaks to my soul through literary quotes, intriguing books lists, practical strategies, and stories of people who call me back to what I once knew – that to read deeply is to inhabit the world more fully and to encounter the God who is there.” — Karen Wright Marsh, author of Wake Up to Wonder and Vintage Saints and Sinners, and executive director of Theological Horizons.

With compassion and candor, Daniel K. Eng presents a robust defense of God’s goodness and righteousness shown in the epistle of James. Grappling with the trials and tests we face today, he teaches us how the teachings of James are a guide to how to live with our eyes on eternity. This book goes on sale from Hodder Faith on August 19, 2025.

Engage with the latest theological thinking in this new, readable exposition of the Bible in 50 volumes. Covering all books of the Bible and including the full Anglicised New International Version (NIV) text, the Hodder Bible Commentary series makes connecting scripture and scholarship easier than ever.

DANIEL K. ENG is a husband, father, and Associate Professor of New Testament at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is a graduate of Talbot School of Theology and the University of Cambridge. He is the editor of the Tyndale House Greek New Testament, Guided Annotating Edition and the author of Eschatological Approval: The Structure and Unifying Motif of James.

Contact:  kaitlyn.shokes@johnmurraypress.co.uk

August 13, 2025 — Elk Lake Publishing took home ten Golden Scroll and Christian Market Book Awards at the recent Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) convention including Pebbles Wireman’s Finding Faith in the Storm Golden Scroll for Memoir of the Year and Joan C. Benson and Marjorie Wingert winning the Christian Market Children’s Book of the Year for Wonder of Life, illustrated by Holly Pallett.

The complete list of Elk Lake winners follows:

Golden Scroll Award

• The Memoir of the Year was awarded to Pebbles Wireman for Finding Faith in the Storm
• Second place for Christian Living Book of the Year went to Evelyn Johnson Taylor for In & Out of Season
• Second place for Inspirational Gift Book of the Year went to Donna Wyland for Last Best Year: A Short Guide to a Grateful Life
• Third place for Historical Novel of the Year went to Rebecca Price Janney for East of the Sun
• Third place for Romance Novel of the Year went to Kristen Terrette for Morning Star

Christian Market Book Award (CMBA)

• The CMBA Children’s Book of the Year was awarded to Joan C. Benson and Marjorie Wingert, illustrated by Holly Pallett, for Wonder of Life
• Third place for the CMBA Children’s Fiction Book of the Year went to Joan C. Benson and Marjorie Wingert, illustrated by Holly Pallett, for Who Am I?
• Second place for the CMBA Novel of the Year was awarded to Claudia LeBoeuf for Fields of Prosperis
• Third place for the CMBA Novel of the Year went to Kristen Terrette for Morning Star
• Second place for CMBA Devotional Book of the Year went to Sheri Schofield for Sunflower Love 

Contact:  Deb Haggerty, Deb@ElkLakePublishingInc.com

Frankfurt, Germany – Bookwire announces “All About AI”, a forward-thinking virtual conference dedicated to helping publishing professionals unlock the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 9, at 3 PM (CET) / 9 AM (ET) and will bring together industry leaders and AI innovators to share practical strategies, case studies, and emerging opportunities for the publishing sector.

“Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept – it’s shaping publishing today,” said John Ruhrmann, Co-CEO & Co-Founder of Bookwire. “This event will give publishers the tools, insights, and confidence they need to integrate AI into their strategies in a meaningful way.”

Exploring AI’s Impact Across Publishing

Attendees will gain first-hand insights into the many ways AI is already reshaping the publishing industry. From licensing and monetization, where publishers can learn how to license book content for AI model training and tap into new revenue streams, to marketing and automation, where cutting-edge tools are expanding audience reach and engagement, AI is driving innovation at every stage. The event will also explore the latest developments in narration and synthetic voices, offering a glimpse into what’s next in voice technology, as well as the role of AI-generated metadata in boosting discoverability and sales. Participants will see how AI-enabled multilingual publishing can unlock new markets with scalable translation solutions, and gain an understanding of how AI-driven pricing models, already transforming other industries, could redefine book pricing in the years ahead.

Expert Speakers

The conference will feature renowned voices from the AI and publishing landscape:

• Nadim Sadek, Founder & CEO, Shimmr AI
• Dustin Blank, Head of Partnerships, elevenlabs
• Hannah Johnson, Chief Customer Officer, Veristage
• Dr. Alexander Franck, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, goaudio
• Sebastian Heinz, Founder & CEO, Statworx

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Time: 3 PM (CET) / 9 AM (ET)
Format: Virtual Conference

Registration for “All About AI” is now open.
For more information and to secure your place, visit https://www.all-about-ai-in-publishing.com/  

About Bookwire & “Bookwire OS – One Solution”
Bookwire was founded in Frankfurt in 2010 as a service provider for publisher distribution of eBooks and digital content. It has since become one of the leading international businesses in digital publishing technology. Bookwire currently employs 160 people in Germany, the UK, Spain, France, Brazil, Italy and the USA, who take care of more than 3,500 publishers in the fields of eBooks, audiobooks, podcasts and Print-on-Demand. The pioneering software “Bookwire OS – One Solution” delivers, analyzes, and markets around 1,300,000 eBooks and 300,000 audiobooks in all relevant distribution channels. In addition to the latest customer analytics and pricing technology, publishing clients of Bookwire also have access to individual support from account & marketing managers who look after the clients from end to end. Bookwire is led by the founders Jens Klingelhöfer (CEO) and John Ruhrmann (Co-CEO), as well as by Christian Lindemann (COO), and has branches in Barcelona, London, Milano, São Paulo, New York and Paris, in addition to the company headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and the “Development Hub” in Dortmund.

For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact:
Jan Stausberg
Corporate PR Manager, Bookwire
jan.stausberg@bookwire.de

August 12, 2025 — For anyone who struggles to focus while reading the Bible, the new Clear Focus Bible uses the award-winning Bionic Reading® typography to help readers stay engaged and absorb the information without losing focus. In a new partnership with Zondervan and Bionic Reading®, the Bible will be available with the revolutionary layout for the first time with multiple versions releasing August 12, 2025.

Developed from cognitive science and Swiss design, the Bionic Reading method highlights, in bold letters, the portion of each word the brain needs to recognize it without reading every letter. The eye is guided from word to word over the text enabling readers to read more with greater comprehension. Readers can focus more easily and read more content in the same amount of time. The Bionic Reading method has also been known to be helpful for readers with dyslexia and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

“Our goal at Bionic Reading is to promote reading and content comprehension in a way that cuts through the noise,” said Renato Casutt, Bionic Reading’s CEO, founder and inventor. “Our patented reading systems allows reader’s eyes to skip over words and text, like a surfboard that glides on the top of a wave, creating a smooth and more-focused reading experience.”

“The Clear Focus Bible can help readers stay focused and truly absorb what they’re reading,” said Laura Bartlett, Associate Publisher for Zondervan Bibles. “When we can remove the distraction and replace it with engagement and comprehension, we’re not just changing how people read the Bible—we’re opening new pathways for them to connect with their faith. This is exactly the kind of innovation that can transform lives and bring more people into a meaningful relationship with the Bible.”

The NIrV Clear Focus Bible for Kids is specifically geared towards young readers who get easily distracted or frustrated by helping them recognize familiar words faster and stay focused on the story. Each page features generous line spacing, dark gray text and simplified page elements, which can help children who face reading challenges, including dyslexia or ADHD, have a more enjoyable reading experience and boost the reader’s confidence. The Bible uses the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), which is based on the bestselling NIV, and written for a third grade reading level.

The Clear Focus Bible will be available in four different translations: New International Version (NIV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), 1995 Text, New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) in adult and children’s editions, and a digital release of the NVI Biblia Enfoque Claro in Spanish.

Laura Bartlett, Associate Publisher for Zondervan Bibles, is available for interviews on the innovative new Bible. Possible interview topics include:

• Breaking Down Barriers: How the Bionic Reading system can transform Scripture reading
• Serving Every Reader: The importance of this inclusive Bible serving the ADHD and dyslexic faith community
• From Frustration to Joy: Helping kids with learning differences connect with God’s word
• Innovation Meets Tradition: How cutting-edge typography technology is revolutionizing one of the world’s oldest texts

Laura Bartlett is Associate Publisher for Zondervan Bibles, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. She leads the Bible editorial team, acquires and develops new products, and helps manage the business operations of one of the largest Bible publishers in the world. Laura has worked in the publishing industry for 22 years, previously in academic publishing.

Press kit: HERE
Layout samples & Images: HERE
Review copies available by request:  https://www.zondervan.com/p/clear-focus-bible/

New International Version (NIV)
Hardcover, $39.99, 978-0310465515
Charcoal Brown Leathersoft, $49.99, 978-0310465553
Pink Leathersoft, $49.99, 978-0310465546
eBook, $31.99,9780310465577

New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
Hardcover, $44.99, 978-0310465522
Navy Leathersoft, $54.99, 978-0310465614
eBook, $35.99,9780310465638

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Hardcover, $44.99, 978-0310465539
Charcoal Brown Leathersoft; $54.99, 978-0310465591
Pink Leathersoft, $54.99, 978-0310465584
eBook, $35.99, 9780310465607

NIrV Clear Focus Bible for Kids
New International Reader’s Version
Blue Leathersoft, $49.99, 978-0310467588
Pink Leathersoft, $49.99, 978-0310467595

NVI Biblia Enfoque Claro
Nueva Versión Internacional
eBook, $27.99,9780829773729

Ada, Mich. (August 14, 2025)—On Sunday, August 10, four Baker Publishing Group authors celebrated a triumphant evening at the 2025 Golden Scroll Awards banquet held at the Gas South Convention Center in Duluth, Georgia. The Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) sponsored the banquet and announced this year’s award winners.

Among the evening’s winners, Revell author Lynette Eason stood out with an impressive five recognitions, including three first-place awards: Novella of the Year for In the Dark (part of the Cornered Collection), Christian Market Suspense Novel of the Year for Double Take, and Christian Market Novel of the Year for Serial Burn. Eason rounded out her successful night with a second-place finish in the Mystery/Suspense Novel of the Year category for Double Take and an honorable mention in the same genre for Target Acquired.

Bethany House author Karen Witemeyer also claimed multiple accolades, earning both the Western Novel of the Year award for If the Boot Fits and the Historical Novel of the Year Award for Cloaked in Beauty.

Baker Books authors Kristin Faith Evans and Dr. Todd Evans shared second place in the Parenting Book of the Year category with their collaborative work How to Build a Thriving Marriage as You Care for Children with Disabilities.

This is the seventeenth year that AWSA has presented the Golden Scroll Awards, which recognizes excellence among AWSA’s membership of more than 1,100 writers and speakers. In addition, the Christian Market Book Awards are in their sixth year and honor outstanding work from all authors publishing in the Christian market. For a complete list of winners, please visit 2025 Golden Scroll and Christian Market Awards.

Baker Publishing Group extends congratulations to all winners and appreciation to AWSA founder and CEO Linda Evans Shepherd for her distinguished leadership and ongoing encouragement to association members.

Baker Publishing Group (Bethany House, Revell, Baker Books, Chosen, Brazos Press, and Baker Academic) publishes high-quality writings that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers.

Contact:  Karen Steele, (616)676-9185 x100, ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com

Ada, Mich. (August 14, 2025)—Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is delighted to announce that ECPA bestselling author Dani Pettrey has reached a momentous sales milestone. Since her debut novel Submerged released in 2012, she has published over fifteen novels with more than one million copies sold.

Winner of Christian Retailing’s Best of Suspense award, Pettrey has thrilled readers with her heart-pounding adventures across Alaskan landscapes and perilous coasts, all while offering themes of resilience and redemption. Her bestselling series include Jeopardy Falls, Coastal Guardians, and Chesapeake Valor, among others. Her newest novel, Two Seconds Too Late (Bethany House; ISBN 9780764238499; paper; 320 pp; $17.99), released in April 2025.

Dani Pettrey has received extensive recognition for her achievements, including two HOLT Medallion awards, two Carol awards, a Daphne du Maurier Award, the AWSA Golden Scroll, and the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence. Her novels have garnered favorable reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal. She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Florida, where she lives with her husband.

Jessica Sharpe, Senior Acquisitions Editor, said, “Dani is such an integral part of the Bethany House fiction program, and we are thrilled to be celebrating this milestone achievement with her. It’s clear that readers can’t get enough of her books!”

Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, has been publishing high quality books for more than 50 years. Recognized as the pioneer and leader in Christian fiction, Bethany House publishes over 75 new fiction and nonfiction titles annually. Each Bethany House publication reflects relevance, integrity, and excellence.

Contact:  Karen Steele, (616)676-9185 x100, ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com

August 2025 | LISLE, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) has contracted with four New Testament scholars for the second edition of one of IVP Academic’s foundational reference books, the Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments. Volume editors for the new edition include Shane J. Wood, Madison N. Pierce, Dennis R. Edwards, and Michael F. Bird.

Edwards said, “A new generation of Bible readers needs to become familiar with the growing body of scholarship—particularly from women and other minoritized researchers—that addresses writings and topics distinct from yet in continuity with the Gospels and Pauline literature. An updated edition of the Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments will assist pastors, students, scholars, and all interested readers in their quest to better understand the New Testament.” Dennis Edwards is associate professor of New Testament as well as vice president for church relations and dean of North Park Seminary, Chicago.

Originally published in 1997, the Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments, was added to what were known affectionately as the “Black Dictionaries” for their cover design. The first edition was edited by Ralph P. Martin and Peter H. Davids and included expert contributors like Darrell Bock, George R. Beasley-Murray, I. Howard Marshall, Ben Witherington III, and James D. G. Dunn. Wide-ranging articles spanned from the books of James and Jude to household codes, from the Roman emperor cult to Gnosticism and Docetism, questions of canon to second-century church leaders like Ignatius and Polycarp.

Rachel Hastings, the project editor for the dictionary, said, “IVP Academic has a rich legacy of publishing reference works that are rigorous in their scholarly approach while being accessible to pastors and students alike. These dictionaries are a key piece of that legacy. We have a stellar team of volume editors who will support this new edition, and I’m thrilled to be working alongside them on the second edition of the Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments.”

For decades the Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments, along with IVP Academic’s Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels and Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, have presented mature evangelical scholarship—committed to the authority of Scripture, utilizing the best of critical methods, and maintaining a dialogue with contemporary scholarship and the challenges facing the church.

Michael Bird, academic dean and lecturer in New Testament at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia, said, “The Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments was a landmark publication that contained a fantastic compilation of articles on the General Epistles, Revelation, and early Christianity. The ‘Black Dictionaries’ are SHEER GOLD for pastors, professors, and seminary students. I am elated to be part of the team creating a second edition of this dictionary and I know that it will be a vital resource for decades to come.”

Similar to the second edition of the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, which released in 2023, this updated dictionary will essentially be a new volume, including revised articles and new articles. The second edition of the Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments is tentatively scheduled to release in Spring 2032.

Madison Pierce, associate lecturer at the University of St Andrews, said, “This valuable resource is the first that many pastors and students pick up when working on Acts, Hebrews through Revelation, or the second century. These are difficult texts, and having a reliable introduction is of the utmost importance. Our hope with the second edition is to build on this foundation by updating some entries and adding new ones that reflect recent developments in scholarship and incorporate a new generation of scholars representing diverse perspectives. We also hope that this resource equips pastors and students for decades to come.”

Designed to bring students, teachers, pastors, and general readers up to date and up to speed, this one-of-a-kind reference volume will once again present more information than any other single work—dealing exclusively with the theology, literature, background, and scholarship of the later New Testament and the apostolic church.

“A new edition of any work assumes a strong foundation, updating and expanding, enriching and unfolding an already formidable legacy,” said Shane Wood, professor of New Testament and Its Origins at Ozark Christian College. “For thirty years, IVP’s Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments has blessed the church and the academy, shaping sermons, scholarly papers, and the minds of anyone desiring to dive deep into the Word of God and its world. Over that same time, scholarly conversations and insights have deepened in exciting and fresh ways. Our hope with this new edition is to breathe fresh life into this valuable resource to serve pastors and professors for the next generation.”

Contact:  Krista Clayton | kclayton@ivpress.com