Those who wish to submit MSS to be considered for publication in The Gospel Journal are asked to consider carefully our editorial aims and to send us only material that is completely consistent with them. If you do not personally uphold these aims—even if you believe that the content of your MS is conformable to them—please reveal your convictions when you write. It might be reasonable for us to disclose your position to our readers who might otherwise conclude that you agree with our aims.

• Exalt the Biblical Godhead as mankind's only lawful ultimate Head
• Exalt the Bible as the only inerrant, inspired revelation from God
• Advance that revealed Truth and thus the borders of the one church
• Positively set forth the New Testament pattern for the church of Christ
• Oppose and expose both doctrinal and practical error from all quarters
• Serve as a strong counter-voice to the change-agent forces in the church
• Provide a source of edification for all, at every level of spiritual maturity
• Serve as a major voice for spiritual Truth and Biblical righteousness
• Present all of the above to the reader each month in an attractive package

You, the writer, are the lifeblood of this publishing venture. Your carefully-chosen words are the means by which we hope to help thousands of saints to come to partake of the Bread of Life more fully. Your infectious love for the Truth, for brethren, and for the lost, as conveyed by your words, may have profound influence upon the hearts of people you will never meet. Your disdain for evil and error will help others come to share such a disposition with you and with our Lord (Psa. 97:10; 119:104, 128; Pro. 8:13; Amos 5:15; Rom. 12:9) when you good-heartedly show them from the Scriptures the way God views such things. Your demeanor as a Christian gentleman (or lady) will help the weak and uninformed to give careful consideration to matters of eternal importance that they might otherwise tend to dismiss without thoughtful attention.

With these thoughts in mind we ask as you write to:

1. Labor at being bold without the appearance of making boldness your aim
2. Be compassionate and loving without affecting these qualities merely for the sake of evoking some desired result (Rom. 12:9)
3. Be honest in dealing with people and with Biblical texts without making the mere impression of honesty your goal (Luke 8:15; Acts 6:3; Rom. 12:18; 13:13; 2 Cor. 4:2; 8:21; 13:7; Phi. 4:8; 1 The. 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:2; Heb. 13:18; 1 Pet. 2:12)
4. Be a meticulous Bible student without aspiring to impress readers, fellow-writers, or editors with your personal scholarship (2 Tim. 2:15; Rom. 14:18; 1 Tim. 4:13); and
5. Write that which our readers need to read above that which you want to be seen as promoting

The editors, board of directors, and writers, are in this work together. Our lives, collectively and individually, are short. Let us prayerfully and circumspectly work to do the very best that we can with the opportunity God has given us through this medium. God is watching, as are many of our brethren who are yearning to learn and grow in Christ.

We are hopeful that a wide range of brethren will be reading what we write and publish. We desire to interest every category of reader in THE GOSPEL JOURNAL: babes in Christ, mature saints, faithful preachers, faithful elders, careful Bible students, confused brethren, false teachers, those under the influence of false teachers who do not at all understand the issues, those who have recently left some human denomination, and even non-Christians and sectarians. All should benefit from the clearest possible teaching of God's Word.

When you write for THE GOSPEL JOURNAL, please keep this variety of readers in mind. We fully recognize that false and dangerous doctrines are worthy of contempt and that those who persist in pressing them need to be revealed and challenged. We also recognize that a great many novices who might believe things that are not correct are honestly bewildered and are willing to be taught. An article that simply teaches the Truth on some particular subject in a clear and unambiguous manner can serve as a rebuke for the false teacher while gently instructing the sincere Bible student. You might write, at times, with the thought in the back of your mind of the way your sound preaching brethren will read what you write, which is probably healthy and normal. We hope, however, that when writing for THE GOSPEL JOURNAL, this thought will not be your primary consideration. Remember that Aunt Sally, who does not always "get it" right away, will be reading. Old brother Jones, who struggles a bit to understand difficult concepts, will be trying to follow what you write. Brother and sister Smith, who know that their liberal-minded preacher is a nice fellow, but know little Bible (yet), will be taking in what you write. Theodore, the studious young man in the university who has decided to explore the various claims of different religions, will be scrutinizing your words. If you write with any one of these in mind, please also keep in mind that the others will be reading.

While there will likely be other categories of articles that we have not included here (and that would likely be valuable for us to publish), the following suggestions will provide some idea as to what we hope to publish. Many articles will likely contain several of these elements, while others may be more specifically aimed. We hope to attract readers who are like the Bereans of Acts 17, and we want to supply them with clear, accurate, well-written, and well-reasoned material.

Simple expositions of Biblical texts that show our readers what the Scriptures teach (and the process by which we arrive at their meaning) will always be welcomed. Small doses of hermeneutical principles (while teaching about specific passages and topics) will help our readers learn the mechanics of careful Bible study. Articles showing the applications of revealed Truth to the real world and to modern situations will be very helpful to our readers. Bible teaching regarding any topic addressed by the Scriptures is always welcome.

Suggestions for Bible class teachers that might help them to teach the Truth more effectively will have practical value. Effective ways to carry out the great commission without going beyond what God has authorized can be profitably addressed. Down-to-earth material regarding the work and life of the local churches can be beneficial. Material on basic Christian living, family, marriage, child-rearing, the home (especially Bible principles regarding these, but also practical suggestions consistent with Bible Truth), will be welcomed. Moral issues need to be examined in the light of Truth. Our brethren need help with difficult decisions in the modern world, and we can help them by applying Biblical principles to these decisions. Christian evidences, simply expressed, but without loss of substance, will go far in building sure faith in our readers. Church history—restoration history in particular —will be useful studies, especially when they help put current developments in the church in their proper perspective. We want our writers to nourish our readers with a monthly feast of both milk and meat (Heb. 5:13-14) by means of these and similar subjects.

The careful and sensitive writer can point out the falsity of the doctrines taught by some without causing the less-informed to feel personally insulted. Often this can be best accomplished without mentioning names or even suggesting that anyone in particular has taught error. Simple, careful Bible study on a given subject may do more good for more readers than the untimely naming of those who may be guilty of teaching error concerning it. However, brethren most definitely need to be warned, as occasion demands, of specific persons, congregations, or institutions that are persistently pressing ideas and practices which are contrary to the doctrine of Christ. When such are exerting a wide influence upon the Lord's people, it is our duty to warn them. THE GOSPEL JOURNAL will not be reluctant to do so. We cannot mark them with invisible ink and brethren cannot avoid nameless sources of error.

On the other hand, we need to proceed slowly and carefully concerning those who may have merely had a slip of the tongue or a brief lapse in judgment that is not generally characteristic of what they teach or believe. Such are generally eager to correct their momentary mistakes, and we can often best assist them by approaching them privately. Their self-correction helps them and us to preserve their reputations for the future good of the kingdom. If their tongue-slips or judgment-lapses have occurred in public or if they have become matters of public concern, then we will deem it appropriate to publicly call such to their attention when it seems necessary and reasonable to do so.

Please observe this caution: If you wish to quote or cite some error a brother has taught or a congregation or a school has practiced, take time to measure your comments. Make sure that you understand the distinction between vengeance and correction. The former belongs to the Lord alone (Rom. 12:19). The latter is our responsibility (2 Tim. 4:1-4). Make doubly sure that the person you name has actually taught or said what you are claiming or that the congregation or school has actually done what you are asserting. Take care not to exaggerate or distort the facts in any way. If the error is known only to a few and its source is not persisting in pressing the matter further, make every effort to help him/it among those few before asking us to help you attempt to expose the error publicly in our pages. If you indicate that someone has implied or insinuated a thing, be able to show precisely how this was done. If there is the slightest room for doubt or if there are alternative ways that a statement or practice can be reasonably understood, be perfectly fair about it. When there is uncertainty, it would be best to address the subject without noting that some particular individual has taught an erroneous doctrine. Of course, we all know that some can be expected to claim that their words have been "taken out of context" when, in fact, they have not. Make sure, however, that this claim cannot be justifiably made by the one you are quoting. We hope to spend very little time apologizing for unfair or inaccurate statements printed in THE GOSPEL JOURNAL. Let no one, however, interpret the foregoing cautions as a timid, namby-pamby, or soft attitude toward error or its proponents.

• Place Scripture citations in parentheses in body of MS after the quotation.
• Place all other documentation in endnotes.

• Use KJV or ASV (1901) as your standard text for quotations. Use other versions only to show corroboration, comparison, contrast, and such like.
• Clearly identify any versions cited besides KJV or ASV.

• MS must be written on computer (preferred) or typewriter.
• MS should generally be 3-4 pages (maximum), double-spaced, 10 point type in a sans-serif/block font (e.g., Helvetica) on computer or elite type on typewriter.
• Divide MS into smaller sections by means of subheadings.
• Computer users have the options of submitting their MSS by either of the following, but the MS should be submitted in printed form by regular mail as well.
  • E-mail as an attachment saved in Microsoft Word, RTF, or ASCII format to editors@thegospeljournal.org
  • 3.5" floppy disk by snail-mail, saved in one of the aforementioned formats.

• Place all commas and final periods inside closing quotation marks. Place all other punctuation marks outside closing quotation marks, unless they are part of the material being quoted.
• Punctuate Scripture citations as follows: "Jesus wept" (John 11:35).
• Capitalize all references to Deity, both nouns and pronouns.
• Put only one space between closing punctuation mark and the beginning of the next sentence.
• Use bold type for emphasis; reserve italicized type for book titles and Anglicized words.

• Avoid overuse of Hebrew or Greek terms—please do not use them gratuitously.
• When using them, do not bog the reader down with unnecessary parsing unless such actually bears upon the meaning of a word or text.
• Spell Hebrew and Greek words in English letters only. Underline or italicize Anglicized words rather than putting them in quotes.
• Bear in mind that you are mainly writing for the "rank and file" reader—not for academia.

• Please send a reproducible photo and a brief autobiographical sketch with your MS.
• If your MS has been previously published or submitted to another publication but not yet published, please indicate when and in what publication(s). MSS not immediately used may be filed for future use, but in no case will they be returned. Therefore, make a copy of your MS before submitting it.
• Submission of a MS to THE GOSPEL JOURNAL constitutes permission for said material to be reproduced in other formats besides THE GOSPEL JOURNAL (e.g., booklets, THE GOSPEL JOURNAL Online, et al.) without specific approval of or remuneration to the writer.
• MSS conforming to these "Suggestions" and "Guidelines" will stand a better chance of being published.