# Zondervan

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{{Short description|Christian publishing company}}
{{For|people named Zondervan|Zondervan (surname)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox publisher
| image        = alt=
| parent       = [HarperCollins](/source/HarperCollins)
| status       = 
| founded      = 1931
| founder      = Peter Zondervan<br>Bernard Zondervan
| successor    = 
| country      = United States
| headquarters = [Grand Rapids, Michigan](/source/Grand_Rapids%2C_Michigan)
| distribution = 
| keypeople    = 
| publications = Books, Textbooks, Reference, Digital Books, Video 
| topics       = Christianity, Religion, Inspirational, Personal Growth, Self Help
| genre        = Various
| imprints     = Zondervan Academic, Zondervan Reflective, Zonderkidz
| revenue      = 
| owner          = [News Corp](/source/News_Corp)
| numemployees = 100+
| nasdaq       = 
| url          = {{Official URL}}
}}
'''Zondervan''' is an international [Christian media](/source/Christian_media) and publishing company located in [Grand Rapids, Michigan](/source/Grand_Rapids%2C_Michigan), United States. Zondervan is a founding member of the [Evangelical Christian Publishers Association](/source/Evangelical_Christian_Publishers_Association) (ECPA). It is a part of  [HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc](/source/HarperCollins). and has multiple imprints including Zondervan Academic, Zonderkidz, Blink, and Editorial Vida.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.harpercollinschristian.com/zondervan/|title=Zondervan {{!}} HarperCollins Christian Publishing|website=www.harpercollinschristian.com|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref> Zondervan is the commercial rights holder for the [New International Version](/source/New_International_Version) (NIV) Bible in North America. According to the Zondervan website, it is the largest Christian publisher.

== History ==
Zondervan was founded in 1931 in [Grandville, MI](/source/Grandville%2C_MI), a suburb of [Grand Rapids](/source/Grand_Rapids), by brothers Peter ("P.J.", "Pat") and Bernard (Bernie) Zondervan, who were the nephews of publisher [William B. Eerdmans](/source/William_B._Eerdmans).<ref>{{Cite book|first1=Charles L. |last1=Cohen|first2= Paul S. |last2=Boyer|title=Religion and the Culture of Print in Modern America|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press|location=USA|year=2008|page=32}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|first1=Elmer J. |last1=O'Brien|title=The Wilderness, the Nation, and the Electronic Era: American Christianity and Religious Communication, 1620-2000: An Annotated Bibliography|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=USA|year=2009|page=593}}</ref> The company began in the Zondervans' farmhouse and originally dealt with selling [remainders](/source/Remaindered_book) and publishing [public domain](/source/public_domain) works.

The first book it published was ''Women of the Old Testament'' by [Abraham Kuyper](/source/Abraham_Kuyper), in 1933.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Company/History.htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan |title=Zondervan History |publisher=Zondervan.com |access-date=July 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225145015/http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Company/History.htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan |archive-date=February 25, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Within a few years it developed a list of its own, and began publishing [Bible](/source/Bible) editions.  The [Berkeley Version](/source/Berkeley_Version) appeared in 1959, and the [Amplified Bible](/source/Amplified_Bible) in 1965.  The [New International Version](/source/New_International_Version) New Testament was published in partnership with the [International Bible Society](/source/International_Bible_Society) in 1973, and the complete NIV Bible appeared in 1978.<ref>{{Cite book|first1=James |last1=Ruark |first2= Ted |last2=Engstrom|title=The House of Zondervan|location=Grand Rapids|publisher=Zondervan|year=1981}}</ref>  The company was bought by [HarperCollins](/source/HarperCollins), a division of [News Corp](/source/News_Corp), in 1988, and is the company's principal Christian book publishing division.<ref>{{Cite book|first1=Jim |last1=Ruark|title=The House of Zondervan: Celebrating 75 Years|publisher=Zondervan|location=USA|year=2011|page=200}}</ref> [Scott Macdonald](/source/Scott_Macdonald) was appointed president and CEO in May 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2011/05/christian_publishing_house_zon.html|title=Christian publishing house Zondervan announces new CEO and president|website=MLive.com|publisher= Advance Local Media LLC|first1=Shandra|last1=Martinez|date=May 4, 2011|access-date=April 26, 2012}}</ref>

Zondervan also publishes many other books by [Christian authors](/source/Christian_literature) focusing on topics of interest to Christians. In the 1970s it published ''[The Late, Great Planet Earth](/source/The_Late%2C_Great_Planet_Earth)'' by [Hal Lindsey](/source/Hal_Lindsey), which has sold more than 30 million copies. The publisher is also known for the Bible storytelling books of [Ethel Barrett](/source/Ethel_Barrett), ''Joni'' by [quadriplegic](/source/quadriplegic) [Joni Eareckson Tada](/source/Joni_Eareckson_Tada), Baptist minister and author [Rick Warren](/source/Rick_Warren)'s ''[The Purpose Driven Life](/source/The_Purpose_Driven_Life)'', which has sold more than 35 million copies, and ''Sacred Marriage, ''by [Gary Thomas](/source/Gary_Thomas_(author)). In 2004, Zondervan expanded to include [Renee Altson](/source/Renee_Altson), [Shane Claiborne](/source/Shane_Claiborne), Sarah Raymond Cunningham and [Margaret Feinberg](/source/Margaret_Feinberg), authors writing for [young readers](/source/Young_adult_literature).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/NewsRoom/NewsReleases/Zondervan+Signs+Four+Twenty-something+Authors.htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan |title=Zondervan Press Release |publisher=Zondervan.com |access-date=July 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217001519/http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/NewsRoom/NewsReleases/Zondervan+Signs+Four+Twenty-something+Authors.htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan |archive-date=February 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The children's arm of the company [Zonderkidz](/source/Zonderkidz) published ''[The Jesus Storybook Bible](/source/The_Jesus_Storybook_Bible)'' in 2007, written by [Sally Lloyd-Jones](/source/Sally_Lloyd-Jones) and illustrated by [Jago](/source/Jago_(Illustrator)). It has sold in excess of 2 million copies in 19 languages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blackchristiannews.com/news/2013/08/the-jesus-storybook-bible-tops-1-million-units-sold.html |title='The Jesus Storybook Bible' Tops 1 Million Units Sold - BCNN1 |first=Jeremy |last=Burns |work=blackchristiannews.com|date=August 16, 2013|access-date=August 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002100446/http://www.blackchristiannews.com/news/2013/08/the-jesus-storybook-bible-tops-1-million-units-sold.html |archive-date=October 2, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/religion/article/69357-jesus-storybook-bible-sells-two-million-copies.html|title = 'Jesus Storybook Bible' Sells Two Million Copies|date=  February 10, 2016|first1=Emma|last1=Koonse|website=Publishers Weekly|publisher=PWxyz, LLC}}</ref>

The NIV Zondervan Study Bible was released in 2015 during the 50th anniversary of the New International Version (NIV) translation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/niv-commission-for-an-accurate-understandable-version-of-the-bible/|title=The Commission for an Accurate, Understandable Bible Version|date=March 26, 2015}}</ref> The [study Bible](/source/study_Bible), edited by Dr. D. A. Carson, features over 60 evangelical contributors from multiple denominations.

On 11 March 2019, Zondervan announced the formation of two new imprints, Zondervan Reflective and Zondervan Academic.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.zondervan.com/blog/2019/03/11/zondervan-officially-launches-two-imprints-zondervan-reflective-and-zondervan-academic/ | title=Zondervan officially launches two imprints: Zondervan Reflective and Zondervan Academic | date=March 11, 2019 }}</ref> Although both imprints ran informally at Zondervan for several years this announcement formalised their public brand.

Zondervan Reflective focuses on publishing books discussing the relationship between faith and culture, leadership, and how Christians can lead biblically faithful lives privately and in the public square. Noted authors include [Andy Stanley](/source/Andy_Stanley), Clay Scroggins, J.D. Greear, Colin Hansen, Tim Challies, Michael Horton, Jared Wilson, John Lennox, Jemar Tisby, and Peter Scazzero. On 28 June 2020, Jemar Tisby's ''The Color of Compromise'' reached #13 on the ''New York Times'' Best Sellers list.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.zondervan.com/blog/2020/06/23/jemar-tisbys-the-color-of-compromise-hits-the-new-york-times-best-sellers-list/ | title=Jemar Tisby's the Color of Compromise Hits the New York Times Best Sellers List | date=June 23, 2020 }}</ref>

Zondervan Academic publishes reference volumes, textbooks, and monographs, for both use in schools and by many pastors. It is widely known for its biblical language resources, including the bestselling textbooks ''Basics of Biblical Greek'', ''Basics of Biblical Hebrew'', and many others. The imprint also publishes several popular commentary series, including the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary, Story of God Bible Commentary, and Word Biblical Commentary. Noted authors include [N.T. Wright](/source/N._T._Wright), [Douglas Moo](/source/Douglas_J._Moo), [Scot McKnight](/source/Scot_McKnight), [Michael Bird](/source/Michael_Bird_(theologian)), [John Walton](/source/John_H._Walton), [Michael Horton](/source/Michael_Horton_(theologian)), [Dan Wallace](/source/Daniel_B._Wallace), [Bruce Waltke](/source/Bruce_Waltke), [Tremper Longman](/source/Tremper_Longman), Thomas Kidd, [Craig Keener](/source/Craig_S._Keener), Thomas Schreiner, [Nijay Gupta](/source/Nijay_Gupta), [Lynn Cohick](/source/Lynn_H._Cohick), and [D.A. Carson](/source/D._A._Carson).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Word Biblical Commentary |url=https://zondervanacademic.com/products/series/word-biblical-commentary |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=Zondervan Academic |language=en}}</ref>

== Recording business ==
Zondervan was in the Christian [record](/source/Gramophone_record) business for many years with the Singspiration and Zondervan Victory labels in the 1960s, Singcord in the 1970s, and the Milk & Honey Records label, starting in the late 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bookdownloading.com/article/detail/zondervan-victory-singspiration-singcord-milk-honey/ |title=Zondervan, Singspiration, Singcord, Milk & Honey |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915221241/http://www.bookdownloading.com/article/detail/zondervan-victory-singspiration-singcord-milk-honey/ |archive-date=September 15, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1980, Zondervan and Paragon Associates bought Christian record label [Benson Records](/source/Benson_Records) in a partnership to own and operate for $3 million.<ref name="CCM_3_4">{{cite journal |date=October 1980 |title=Zondervan-Paragon Pact Carved Out New Benson Co |journal=[CCM Magazine](/source/CCM_Magazine) |volume=3 |issue=4 |page=32 }}</ref> The resulting company was (measured by sales) one and a half times the size of its closest competitor, [Word](/source/Word_Records).<ref name="CCM_3_4"/> Zondervan bought out Paragon in 1983, and eventually sold Benson to [Zomba Label Group](/source/Zomba_Label_Group) in 1993, now a part of [Sony BMG Music Entertainment](/source/Sony_BMG_Music_Entertainment).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mymusicway.com/labels/benson.html |title=Benson Music |access-date=July 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726182226/http://www.mymusicway.com/labels/benson.html |archive-date=July 26, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Pradis ==
Pradis was the trademarked name for Zondervan's native format for biblical software. On September 22, 2009, [Logos Research Systems, Inc](/source/Faithlife_Corporation),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.logos.com/press/releases/logos-bible-software-announces-zondervan-partnership |title=Logos Bible Software Announces Zondervan Partnership - Logos Bible Software |first=Ryan |last=Burns |work=logos.com |year=2013 |access-date=September 28, 2013 |archive-date=April 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406033129/http://www.logos.com/press/releases/logos-bible-software-announces-zondervan-partnership |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Zondervan announced a new partnership, and the retirement of Pradis.<ref>[http://www.zondervan.com/Software]{{dead link|date=July 2014}}</ref> Thirty-one titles were slated for availability in "early 2010" in the [LOGOS Bible Software](/source/LOGOS_Bible_Software) format.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/Software/Logos.htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan |title=Zondervan.com |publisher=Zondervan.com |access-date=July 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217001711/http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/Software/Logos.htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan |archive-date=February 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
* {{Open Library publisher|Zondervan|Zonderkidz|Zondervan Academic}}

{{HarperCollins}}
{{Contemporary Christian Music}}
{{Authority control}}

Category:Zondervan books
Category:Book publishing companies based in Michigan
Category:Evangelical Christian publishing companies
Category:Companies based in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Category:Publishing companies established in 1931
Category:1931 establishments in Michigan
Category:HarperCollins books
Category:Protestantism in Michigan
Category:News Corporation subsidiaries
Category:Religion in Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zondervan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zondervan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zondervan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.