Zondervan: Encyclopedia II - Zondervan - History

Zondervan - History

Zondervan was founded in 1931 in the suburb of Grandville, by brothers P.J. (Pat) and Bernie Zondervan, who were the nephews of publisher William Eerdmans. The company began in the Zondervans' farmhouse, and originally dealt with selling remainders and reprinting public domain works. It eventually developed a list of its own, in 1960 acquiring Halley's Bible Commentary, and going on to publish the Amplified Bible and the NIV Bible translation. The NIV was first published in partnership with the International Bible Society in 1973 and the complete NIV Bible appeared in 1978.

Zondervan also publishes many other books by Christian authors and focusing on topics of interest to Christians, and in the 1970s it produced the best-selling US published book of the decade: The Late Great Planet Earth by controversial writer and evangelist Hal Lindsey. That book was one of several dispensationalist and anti-Communist works that the company brought out, but it is also known for inspirational titles: Joni by quadriplegic Joni Eareckson Tada is perhaps the best-known. Most recently, it has had great success with Baptist minister and author Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "History", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki