History

How did this get started?

Before 2007, I wrote occasionally on the topic of Bible design on a blog I used to maintain that was devoted to writing and a variety of related themes. Whenever I posted about Bibles, I received a flood of e-mail from people around the world who shared my interest. Eventually that writing led Crossway to reach out to me, and during my first visit two projects catalyzed. First, I pitched an idea to them that eventually led to the original Journaling Bible. Second, they expressed interest in publishing my theological tome Rethinking Worldview.

When that book came out, I decided it was time to move all the Bible content from my main blog to a dedicated site. In a fit of uncreativity, I named it Bible Design Blog. After all, it was a blog about Bible design. Much to my surprise, the blog exploded. It turned out there were a lot more people interested in Bible design — and in my approach to it — than I’d ever imagined. From 2007 to 2015, I did everything I could to advocate for better, more readable Bibles, from writing and reviewing to behind-the-scenes consultation to fostering a wider community. Several times during that period I explored the possibility of working with a publisher to design Bibles reflecting my own sensibility. And thanks to my writing, a lot of Bibles began to do that without my involvement. A new era seemed to be dawning, and I wanted to be part of it.

What happened?

Then something unexpected happened: I was called into pastoral ministry. In the middle of 2015 I found myself leading a church plant, finishing an M.Div., and coming to terms with the demands of this new calling. On February 14, 2017, I was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. As a result, my available bandwidth shrunk considerably, and I had a lot less time to write than before. From 2015 to the end of 2019, I did the best I could to contribute new content to the site.

And then 2020 arrived. The less said about that the better, but unlike some people, who found themselves with more time on their hands, I ended up with a lot fewer hours in the day to devote to, well, anything.

Now what?

Frankly, I didn’t know what to do next. On the one hand, I felt a profound desire to contribute something valuable to this new period of Bible publishing. The unlikely flourishing I had dreamed of and advocated for had suddenly appeared, and I wanted to help. On the other, I had to ask myself what my best contribution might be.

A series of developments marked the way forward. First, there was the Bible Study magazine feature, followed closely by an invitation from 2K/Stories to write something different, a kind of think piece full of autobiographical insight attempting to explain the golden age we find ourselves in. After that came an invitation from Klaus Krogh and the Museum of the Bible. A new organization, the Society of Bible Craftsmanship, was being launched to promote all the design values I had championed for so long. Would I be willing to serve on the advisory board, and chair the SoBC’s award committee? The answer was yes.

Going forward here at Lectio, I will keep posting new features related to every aspect of Bible craftsmanship, doing my best to think deeply about what’s going on and what it means for the future. I will use the site — and the newsletter — to keep you up to date on my work. And I will keep the whole archive of Bible Design Blog posts available to read (and perhaps add new ones, as well).