An Update on Pr. Koontz's Family Bible Commentary
The Family Bible Commentary is on track for shipping the first volume this December.
It has been a month since The Family Bible Commentary, authored by Rev. Dr. Adam Koontz, was announced. The project has been well received and is edging ahead of initial sales goals, with mostly full sets sold to date rather than individual volumes or partial sets. As a result, the New Testament volumes are fully funded, and progress is starting on funding the Old Testament volumes.
We appreciate the support and prayers, and it was a pleasure to meet so many current and prospective buyers at the recently concluded LCMS Synod Convention. Ad Crucem relies heavily on word-of-mouth marketing, which is apparent in how customers came to The Family Bible Commentary. Likewise, it has been humbling to receive tips and supplementary purchases to help the project to completion. These are greatly appreciated.
God’s providence alone has made the project possible, and we pray that it will be a true blessing to you, your family, and your church.
Design
Ad Crucem has contracted with Lutheran artist Sam Novak for cover design and artistic direction, and we’re pleased to share the approved jacket and a glimpse of some of the interior pages.
Sam executed the design brief flawlessly, creating an “approachable” look and feel that will be a handsome and immediately recognizable addition to any family, church, or pastor’s library. The design will also appeal to children, in keeping with the writing that will be friendly and engaging for them too.
The acorn and oak leaves reference Isaiah 61:3 and will be repeated as a design motif in the interior, such as the title page below.
Copyright
Dr. Koontz has agreed to a Creative Commons License (CCL: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) for the project rather than imposing the traditional lawyerly copyright since the goal is to have the books used and applied as widely as possible.
This creates potential financial risks for Ad Crucem if the CCL is abused, but we trust it won’t be. It’s not a naïve trust but borne out by the initial response to - and takeup of - the books. Buyers greatly trust Ad Crucem and Dr. Koontz by buying full sets with long-dated delivery dates and without being able to read, feel, and test the final product. It is a very non-traditional way for LCMS Lutherans to buy books!
Doctrinal Review
We have received some questions about doctrinal review for the project. The books are written by a recognized and appointed teacher of the evangelical Lutheran church who is also an active parish pastor. The work is being directed to students of Scripture with copious use of the Lutheran Confessions. The books are meant for Bereans (Acts 17:10-15 - believers who examine what they hear by testing it against the Scriptures, or as Dr. Koontz writes in the forthcoming chapter on Acts 17. “…in Berea, the listeners check the Scriptures to ascertain the truthfulness of Paul’s preaching.”).
Terms and Conditions
If unforeseen circumstances cause any volume of the set not to be published, pre-orders will be refunded pro-rata, less a three-and-a-half (3.5%) percent transaction fee. Refunds may take up to 90 days to complete.
The Ad Crucem coupon will be included with the first book shipped. The coupon is valid for single use.
If publication costs rise unexpectedly, the publisher reserves the right to switch to a softcover version and defer or cancel the hardcover versions.
If the author is incapacitated and unable to complete one or more of the volumes on time, the publisher has the right to defer delivery to a date suitable to the author’s circumstances.
If pre-orders exceed expectations, the publisher may reduce prices and offer partial refunds or store credits to pre-order customers.
The offer expires Friday, December 1, 2023.