Journal (n)
A newspaper or periodical.
Journal Information
- About the journal
- Function and Purpose
- Content and Submissions
- The Peer Review Process
- Abstracts Archive
- Journal History
- Subscription & Contact Information
A newspaper or periodical.
The Christadelphian e-Journal of Biblical Studies is a free, purely electronic journal, published periodically via the Internet. Distribution is via PDF files sent as email attachments to those who have subscribed to the journal. Material will be published when it becomes available, with a minimum of 2-4 publications per annum. The e-journal provides an opportunity for:
This is achieved by:
PDF file reader software is required in order to read or print the e-journal. Adobe's free Acrobat Reader is available here. Information on why we are using PDF files is available here.
A journal has no direct scriptural basis. However, since it is a vehicle which facilitates speaking "as and from the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11) "one to another" (Malachi 3:16) "unto edifying" (1 Corinthians 14:3-5,12,26), albeit in a non-ecclesial context, its existence is justified.
The manner in which the journal is put together reflects scripture's teaching that we being "many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Rom 12:5) and consequently we must "speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another" (Eph 4:25), following the example set by the work of the holy spirit in the first century ecclesia, "as every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Pet 4:10): thus the journal is accomplished by brethren and sisters working together to produce material, which (re)commended by peer review, will be edifying and uplifting.
The journal is therefore the production of fellowlabourers in the gospel that we might all be of the same mind (Phil 4:2,3).
All material should be submitted electronically. Full colour can be used for text and graphics. Copyright will remain with authors; a separate copyright notice will be given for each published item.
Material for publication is not restricted to text based articles. For example, pages of graphically presented (including hand drawn material scanned in) connections, with arrows showing links between passages and ideas, not written up, or written out can be offered. The only textual requirement is the composition of an abstract (a short paragraph which summarises the content of submitted material).
Authors should make no assumptions as to the level of readership. However, to save repetitious explanation authors can refer to previously published work.
If in doubt, send it in. The journal is intended as a vehicle to allow brethren and sisters to share ideas (milk or meat) and speak one to another.
As previously stated, one of the aims of the journal is to provide a way of enabling brethren and sisters to speak to one another in the spirit of Malachi 3:17. Submitting work to the journal allows this to happen in two stages, or at two levels:
The entire process of submitting a piece of work is transparent. The receipt of work sent in will be acknowledged by an email. The author will be kept updated as to the progress of their work as it goes through the peer review process.
As stated below, authors are responsible for what they have written. All correspondence should be sent direct to authors as the e-Journal is not a vehicle for public debate. However, if authors and those corresponding with the authors agree that other readers would benefit from sharing the discussion, such discussion can be submitted for publication.
Authors who submit work to the e-Journal must be able to agree with the following conditions, that submitted material:
If submitted material is a revision of previously published (copyrighted) work, then its history should be acknowledged. If material is offered as a reprint, or copy of a previously published article, proof that the previous publishers have given permission for a reprint must be provided.
The e-journal does not have an editor. Instead there is a coordinator who is responsible for liaising with authors and referees and compiling the journal. Editorial function, in terms of deciding whether submitted material is suitable for publication, is provided by the peer review process. This decision on suitability for publication is the only editorial function that is performed by the peer review process. Published material will entirely be the work of the author. Each item submitted to the journal will be peer reviewed by a minimum of three referees who indicate whether they approve material for inclusion in the journal using the following guidelines:
Agreement between two or three (2 Corinthians 13:1) referees determines whether submitted material is published.
Material submitted to the coordinator is passed anonymously to referees to remove the possibility of personal prejudice and ensures referees act without respect of persons (James 2:17). Referees who return a negative result are required to provide edifying feedback as to why the submitted material should not be published in its present form. All review comments should be written in the spirit of being "kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another" (Romans 12:10) and "meekness" (Ephesians 4:1-3, Colossians 3:12 & 2 Timothy 2:25).
Feedback from referees is passed back to authors by the coordinator. If necessary it would contain edifying advice as to how the material should be modified to make it suitable for publication. Feedback will not be anonymous, allowing authors to contact referees direct if clarification is required.
The peer review process is exactly that - an opportunity to review material from a peer and then comment on it. The scope of "peer review" does not include editing someone's work (material for review will be passed to referees as a PDF file). Each published item will reflect the differing styles of different contributors.
Authors who have material published may be asked to act as a referee. Authors who referee material can therefore participate in the process of speaking one to another unto edification.
It is hoped that authors who are asked to referee will help the journal function by agreeing to do so. The peer review process should not be seen as a burden, but as a privilege which aids the edification of both reviewer and author alike.
Given that copyright will remain with authors, they are responsible for what they have written. All correspondence should be addressed to them.
A number of experienced elders (1 Timothy 5:17) have agreed to submit material and/or act as referees for the first issue.
Please send any questions or comments to the coordinator (Bro. Jered Bolton, Glasgow Kelvin , Scotland). If you have a question about the journal itself then you may find it answered here.
To subscribe to the journal please send an email to the above address with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. Please state your full name and ecclesia in the body of the email.
To un-subscribe from the journal please send an email to the above address with the word "un-subscribe" in the subject line.