A History of Christian Publishing

This essay will address the histories of four major publishing companies in Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Baker, Eerdmans, and Kregel. These publishing companies, through their individual and interwoven histories have shaped and sustained the publishing industry in the Midwest, and Grand Rapids in particular. These publishing houses are significant to the history of books and publishing because, for roughly a century, these publishing houses have been producing Bibles and other evangelical materials that are educating people the world over, from the youngest Sunday school pupils to the oldest seminarian. Finally, the paper will discuss the impact these companies had collectively on the world of theological books and publishing, and will briefly touch on the state of each company today