Editorial

Abstract

The current issue is devoted to the Protestant Reformation as part of a series of essays for the 2017 AHAS annual Seminary forum. In early 2016, Nikolaus Satelmajer and I began to collaborate on some ideas for the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation and, specifically, how to relate these ideas to Seventh-day Adventism. As a result, we came up with a forthcoming book titled Here We Stand: Luther, the Reformation, and Seventh-day Adventism. Together with the book, there will be a series of academic conferences of which two are connected specifically with the book and take place about a month apart. The first will occur at Andrews University from Oct. 12-14, 2017, and the second at AIIAS on Nov. 9-11, 2017. The book will be released in conjunction with these two conferences, and some presenters will present at one or the other of the two conferences, and a few will present at both. As part of this celebration, this issue features the work of several of the presenters who will speak at the AHAS Seminary forum and whose work will be forthcoming eventually as part of the book.

One of the challenges that the editorial team has faced is how to make sure that the current volume of publication matches the year of publication. In light of this fact, we have decided to publish the next two issues as double issues. Subscribers should take note that this will be treated as a single subscription, and it will help us by making the journal current. We plan to have these two next out in quick succession. In light of this fact, we have decided to forego any book reviews in this issue.

The Reformation means many different things for many different people. For Seventh-day Adventists, I believe the Reformation represents a desire to stand upon the authority of Scripture. Yet as part of this process, the Reformation has always represented the best of biblical scholarship. Most of the Reformers were university professors, and they drank deeply from the well of ad fo11tes-the desire to return to the original sources. This involved textual criticism, learning biblical languages, and vigorous study of the Bible. It is in this spirit that this issue (and eventually the book) is being sent forth to help better understand the nature of this relationship, and its legacy, for Seventh-day Adventists today.