Elliot Ritzema

Nashotah, WI

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Editing

I have been working as an editor since 2011 in a variety of roles: acquisitions, development, copyediting, and proofreading. In developmental editing, I bring a big-picture lens to a manuscript, giving feedback on how authors can structure their argument to hit their target audience with a compelling message. In copyediting, I zoom in to the paragraph and sentence level, ensuring that prose is consistently interesting, grammatically correct, and strikes the right tone throughout. In proofreading, I give a final polish to a previously edited manuscript, ensuring that it is as error-free as it can be.

The books that I have most often edited are titles in Christian theology, ministry, spirituality, history, and biblical studies, although I read widely and have also edited some fiction and memoir.

Qualifications

  • I have a degree in journalism from the University of Richmond.
  • I was a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund copy editing intern at the Los Angeles Times.
  • I have an MDiv from Regent College, with a Christianity and Culture concentration.
  • While at Regent, I edited the student newspaper, the Et Cetera.
  • I am comfortable editing books that use biblical Greek and Hebrew.
  • I am thoroughly familiar with the Chicago Manual of Style and the Society of Biblical Literature Style Guide.
  • Over the years, I have spent countless hours reading books in theology, church history, and biblical studies. I am familiar with the major players in all these disciplines, and I know when their names and the names of their works are misspelled. 😉

If you are looking for an editor, and the above description makes you think I would be a good fit, please contact me.

Books I Compiled

  1. 300 Quotations for Preachers (Lexham Press, 2012)
  2. 400 Prayers for Preachers (Lexham Press, 2012)
  3. 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Early Church (Lexham Press, 2013)
  4. 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Medieval Church (Lexham Press, 2013)
  5. 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Modern Church (Lexham Press, 2013)
  6. 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Puritans (Lexham Press, 2013)
  7. 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Reformation (Lexham Press, 2013)
  8. 300 Quotations and Prayers for Christmas (Lexham Press, 2013)
  9. Charles Spurgeon, Galatians, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Lexham Press, 2014)
  10. Charles Spurgeon, 2 Thessalonians, 2 Timothy, Titus, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Lexham Press, 2015)
  11. Charles Spurgeon, Hebrews, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Lexham Press, 2015)
  12. Charles Spurgeon, Philippians, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Lexham Press, 2015)
  13. Jim L. Wilson, 300 Illustrations for Preachers (Lexham Press, 2016)
  14. Charles Spurgeon, 300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon (Lexham Press, 2017)
  15. Carl F. H. Henry, Architect of Evangelicalism: Essential Essays of Carl F. H. Henry, Best of Christianity Today (Lexham Press, 2019)
  16. Carl F. H. Henry,  Basics of the Faith: An Evangelical Introduction to Christian Doctrine, Best of Christianity Today (Lexham Press, 2019)
  17. John Stott, Christ the Cornerstone: Collected Essays of John Stott, Best of Christianity Today (Lexham Press, 2019)
  18. A Light Has Dawned: Meditations on Advent and Christmas, Best of Christianity Today (Lexham Press, 2020)
  19. J. I. Packer, Pointing to the Pasturelands: Reflections on Evangelicalism, Doctrine, & Culture, Best of Christianity Today (Lexham Press, 2021)
  20. Suffering & Glory: Meditations for Holy Week & Easter, Best of Christianity Today (Lexham Press, 2021)
  21. Stewards of the Earth: Christianity and Creation Care, Best of Christianity Today (Lexham Press, 2022)
  22. Charles Spurgeon, Song of Solomon and Jonah, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Lexham Press, 2026)

Books for Which I Was the Lead Editor or Developmental Editor

  1. Adam J. Johnson, The Reconciling Wisdom of God: Reframing the Doctrine of the Atonement (Lexham Press, 2016)
  2. James J. Cassidy, God’s Time For Us: Barth on the Reconciliation of Time and Eternity in Jesus Christ (Lexham Press, 2016)
  3. Grant R. Osborne, Colossians & Philemon: Verse by Verse (Lexham Press, 2016)
  4. Grant R. Osborne, Revelation: Verse by Verse (Lexham Press, 2016)
  5. H. Daniel Zacharias and Benjamin K. Forrest, Surviving and Thriving in Seminary: An Academic and Spiritual Handbook (Lexham Press, 2017)
  6. Dayton Hartman, Lies Pastors Believe: Seven Ways to Elevate Yourself, Subvert the Gospel, and Undermine the Church (Lexham Press, 2017)
  7. Grant R. Osborne, Galatians: Verse by Verse (Lexham Press, 2017)
  8. Grant R. Osborne, Ephesians: Verse by Verse (Lexham Press, 2017)
  9. Grant R. Osborne, Philippians: Verse by Verse (Lexham Press, 2017)
  10. Grant R. Osborne, Romans: Verse by Verse (Lexham Press, 2017)
  11. Andrew David Naselli, No Quick Fix: Where Higher Life Theology Came From, What It Is, and Why It’s Harmful (Lexham Press, 2017)
  12. Mark Ward, Authorized: The Use & Misuse of the King James Bible (Lexham Press, 2018)
  13. Grant R. Osborne, John: Verse by Verse (Lexham Press, 2018)
  14. Grant R. Osborne, 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Verse by Verse (Lexham Press, 2018)
  15. John M. Frame, Nature’s Case for God: A Brief Biblical Argument (Lexham Press, 2018)
  16. Grant R. Osborne, Luke: Verse by Verse (Lexham Press, 2018)
  17. David J. Ayers, Christian Marriage: A Comprehensive Introduction (Lexham Press, 2019)
  18. David deSilva, In Season and Out: Sermons for the Christian Year (Lexham Press, 2019)
  19. Ralph E. Enlow, Jr., Servant of All: Reframing Greatness and Leadership through the Teachings of Jesus (Kirkdale Press, 2019)
  20. Scott M. Gibson, ed., Training Preachers: A Guide to Teaching Homiletics (Lexham Press, 2019)
  21. David Instone-Brewer, Moral Questions of the Bible: Timeless Truth in a Changing World (Lexham Press, 2019)
  22. Lucas O’Neill, Preaching to Be Heard: Delivering Sermons that Command Attention (Lexham Press, 2019)
  23. Grant R. Osborne, Acts: Verse by Verse (Lexham Press, 2019)
  24. Grant R. Osborne, James: Verse by Verse (Lexham Press, 2019)
  25. Rick Reed, The Heart of the Preacher: Preparing Your Soul to Proclaim the Word (Lexham Press, 2019)
  26. Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Hearers and Doers: A Pastor’s Guide to Making Disciples through Scripture and Doctrine (Lexham Press, 2019)
  27. Gordon J. Wenham, Jesus, Divorce, and Remarriage: In Their Historical Setting (Lexham Press, 2019)
  28. Justin W. Bass, The Bedrock of Christianity: The Unalterable Facts of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection (Lexham Press, 2020)
  29. W. David Beck and Michael R. Licona, Raised on the Third Day: Defending the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus (Lexham Press, 2020)
  30. T. J. Betts, Nehemiah: A Pastoral and Exegetical Commentary (Lexham Press, 2020)
  31. Paul Chamberlain and Chris Price, eds., Everyday Apologetics: Answering Common Objections to the Christian Faith (Lexham Press, 2020)
  32. Ron Dart, ed., Myth and Meaning in Jordan Peterson: A Christian Perspective (Lexham Press, 2020)
  33. Scott M. Gibson and Karen Mason, Preaching Hope in Darkness: Help for Pastors in Addressing Suicide from the Pulpit (Lexham Press, 2020)
  34. David Instone-Brewer, Church Doctrine and the Bible: Theology in Ancient Context (Lexham Press, 2020)
  35. David Instone-Brewer, Science & the Bible: Modern Insights for an Ancient Text (Lexham Press, 2020)
  36. Zach Keele, The Unfolding Word: The Story of the Bible from Creation to New Creation (Lexham Press, 2020)
  37. Matthew D. Kim and Daniel L. Wong, Finding Our Voice: A Vision for Asian North American Preaching (Lexham Press, 2020)
  38. Jeffrey J. Niehaus, When Did Eve Sin? The Fall and Biblical Historiography (Lexham Press, 2020)
  39. J. Alan Branch, 50 Ethical Questions: Biblical Wisdom for Confusing Times (Lexham Press, 2021)
  40. Grant R. Osborne and George H. Guthrie, Hebrews: Verse by Verse (Lexham Press, 2021)
  41. Jonathan T. Pennington, Small Preaching: 25 Little Things You Can Do Now to Become a Better Preacher (Lexham Press, 2021)
  42. Daniel Darling, ed., Ministers of Reconciliation: Preaching on Race and the Gospel (Lexham Press, 2022)
  43. David J. Ayers, After the Revolution: Sex and the Single Evangelical (Lexham Press, 2022)
  44. Robert Elmer, ed., Fount of Heaven: Prayers of the Early Church (Lexham Press, 2022)
  45. Adam Harwood, Christian Theology: Biblical, Historical, and Systematic (Lexham Press, 2022)
  46. Matthew Heise, The Gates of Hell: An Untold Story of Faith and Perseverance in the Early Soviet Union (Lexham Press, 2022)
  47. Michael Niebauer, Virtuous Persuasion: A Theology of Christian Mission (Lexham Academic, 2022)
  48. Jim L. Wilson, Illustrating Well: Preaching Sermons that Connect (Lexham Press, 2022)
  49. W. Ross Hastings, Pastoral Ethics: Moral Formation as Life in the Trinity (Lexham Press, 2022)
  50. Aaron Armstrong, I’m a Christian—Now What?: A Guide to Your New Life with Christ (Lexham Press, 2023)
  51. Wayne Baxter, Preparing Sermons from the Page to the Pulpit: Exegesis to Exposition in Seven Steps (Lexham Press, 2023)
  52. Richard Lints, Uncommon Unity: Wisdom for the Church in an Age of Division (Lexham Press, 2022)
  53. Hans Boersma, Pierced by Love: Divine Reading with the Christian Tradition (Lexham Press, 2023)
  54. John M. Frame, On Theology: Explorations and Controversies (Lexham Press, 2023)
  55. Matthew Halsted, The End of the World as You Know It: What the Bible Really Says about the End Times (And Why It’s Good News) (Lexham Press, 2023)
  56. Simon P. Kennedy, Against Worldview: Reimagining Christian Formation as Growth in Wisdom (Lexham Press, 2024)
  57. Gerald Bray, Athens & Jerusalem: Philosophy, Theology, and the Mind of Christ (Lexham Press, 2024)
  58. Robert Elmer, Grace from Heaven: Prayers of the Reformation (Lexham Press, 2024)
  59. Ashley Lande, The Thing that Would Make Everything Okay Forever: Transcendence, Psychedelics, and Jesus Christ (Lexham Press, 2024)
  60. Benjamin B. Saunders, The Crisis of Civil Law: What the Bible Teaches about Law and What It Means Today (Lexham Press, 2024)
  61. Robert S. Smith, The Body God Gives: A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory (Lexham Academic, 2025)
  62. Andrew M. Davis, Philippians: A 40-Day Bible Study, Planted in the Word (Lexham Press, 2025)
  63. Abraham Kuyper, Days of Good News: Devotions for the Church Year (Lexham Press, 2025)
  64. Sam Storms, 2 Timothy & Titus: A 40-Day Bible Study, Planted in the Word (Lexham Press, 2025)
  65. Brian Vickers, Mark: A 40-Day Bible Study, Planted in the Word (Lexham Press, 2025)
  66. Benjamin L. Merkle, Ephesians: A 40-Day Bible Study, Planted in the Word (Lexham Press, 2025)
  67. Charles L. Quarles, Matthew: A 40-Day Bible Study, Planted in the Word (Lexham Press, 2025)
  68. Robert Elmer, ed., Joy of Heaven: Prayers of the Revivals (Lexham Press, 2026)
  69. Matthew Arbo, The Pursuit of Character: Recovering the Virtues (Lexham Press, 2026)
  70. Matthew D. Kim, Becoming a Friendlier Church: A Pathway to Genuine Community (Lexham Press, 2026)
  71. Jim L. Wilson, 300 Illustrations for Preachers, Volume 2 (Lexham Press, 2026)

Books I Have Copyedited

  1. Eugene Carpenter, Exodus: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Lexham Press, 2012)
  2. Geerhardus Vos, Reformed Dogmatics (Lexham Press, 2012–2014)
  3. Lexham English Bible, Old Testament (Lexham Press, 2013)
  4. Rick Brannan, Greek Apocryphal Gospels, Fragments, and Agrapha (Lexham Press, 2013)
  5. Wendy Widder, Augustine Versus Luther on Sin, Sexuality, and Salvation (Lexham Press, 2013)
  6. Brian Maiers, The Collision of Early Christianity and Judaism in Revelation 11 (Lexham Press, 2013)
  7. A. Boyd Luter, Song of Songs: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Lexham Press, 2013)
  8. Anthony Tomasino, Esther: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Lexham Press, 2013)
  9. Lee Martin McDonald, The Story of Jesus in History and Faith: An Introduction (Baker Academic, 2013)
  10. David P. Melvin, The Interpreting Angel Motif in Prophetic and Apocalyptic Literature (Fortress Press, 2013)
  11. Nathan Hieb, Christ Crucified in a Suffering World: The Unity of Atonement and Liberation (Fortress Press, 2013)
  12. Myk Habets, Theology in Transposition: A Constructive Appraisal of T. F. Torrance (Fortress Press, 2013)
  13. Walter Wink, Walter Wink: Collected Readings (Fortress Press, 2013)
  14. Rebecca Todd Peters, Solidarity Ethics: Transformation in a Globalized World (Fortress Press, 2014)
  15. Neil Ormerod, Re-Visioning the Church: An Experiment in Systematic-Historical Ecclesiology (Fortress Press, 2014)
  16. Abner Chou, Lamentations: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Lexham Press, 2014)
  17. John L. Drury, The Resurrected God: Karl Barth’s Trinitarian Theology of Easter (Fortress Press, 2014)
  18. Michael W. Foss, Reviving the Congregation: Pastoral Leadership in a Changing Context (Fortress Press, 2014)
  19. Sung-Sup Kim, Deus providebit: Calvin, Schleiermacher, and Barth on the Providence of God (Fortress Press, 2014)
  20. Goran Gunner and Robert O. Smith, eds., Comprehending Christian Zionism: Perspectives in Comparison (Fortress Press, 2014)
  21. Neil Ormerod, A Public God: Natural Theology Reconsidered (Fortress Press, 2015)
  22. Joshua D. Genig, Viva Vox: Rediscovering the Sacramentality of the Word Through the Annunciation (Fortress Press, 2015)
  23. Niels Henrik Gregersen, ed., Incarnation: On the Scope and Depth of Christology (Fortress Press, 2015)
  24. Karen V. Guth, Christian Ethics at the Boundary: Feminism and Theologies of Public Life (Fortress Press, 2015)
  25. Jon Diefenthaler, ed., The Paradox of Church and World: Selected Writings of H. Richard Niebuhr (Fortress Press, 2015)
  26. Aaron Sherwood, The Word of God Has Not Failed: Paul’s Use of the Old Testament in Romans 9 (Lexham Press, 2015)
  27. Harry A. Hoffner Jr., 1 & 2 Samuel: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Lexham Press, 2015)
  28. Matthew Y. Emerson, Between the Cross and the Throne: The Book of Revelation, Transformative Word (Lexham Press, 2016)
  29. Brian Han Gregg, What Does the Bible Say About Suffering? (IVP Academic, 2016)
  30. Beth Felker Jones and Jeffrey W. Barbeau, eds., The Image of God in an Image Driven Age: Explorations in Theological Anthropology (IVP Academic, 2016)
  31. Barbara M. Leung Lai, Glimpsing the Mystery: The Book of Daniel, Transformative Word (Lexham Press, 2016)
  32. Todd Wilson and Gerald L. Hiestand, eds., Becoming a Pastor Theologian: New Possibilities for Church Leadership (IVP Academic, 2016)
  33. Jeffrey Brauch, Flawed Perfection: What It Means to Be Human and Why It Matters for Culture, Politics, and Law (Lexham Press, 2017)
  34. John M. Frame, The Theological Correspondence of John Frame (Lexham Press, 2017)
  35. Mark Meynell, ed., The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott (Lexham Press, 2018)
  36. Brad Vaughn, Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes: Honor and Shame in Paul’s Message and Mission (IVP Academic, 2019)
  37. Richard Hughes Gibson and James Edward Beitler III, Charitable Writing: Cultivating Virtue through Our Words (IVP Academic, 2020)
  38. Murray J. Harris, Navigating Tough Texts: A Guide to Problem Passages in the New Testament (Lexham Press, 2020)
  39. Gavin Ortlund, Retrieving Augustine’s Doctrine of Creation: Ancient Wisdom for Current Controversy (IVP Academic, 2020)
  40. Gordon T. Smith, Wisdom from Babylon: Leadership for the Church in a Secular Age (IVP Academic, 2020)
  41. Adam Winn, Killing a Messiah: A Novel (IVP Academic, 2020)
  42. David G. Firth, Joshua, Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary (Lexham Press, 2021)
  43. Dean Flemming, Self-Giving Love: The Book of Philippians, Transformative Word (Lexham Press, 2021)
  44. Mark R. Glanville, Freed to Be God’s Family: The Book of Exodus, Transformative Word (Lexham Press, 2021)
  45. Gordon T. Smith, Welcome, Holy Spirit: A Theological and Experiential Introduction (IVP Academic, 2021)
  46. Federico Alfredo Roth et al., Reading the Bible Around the World: A Student’s Guide to Global Hermeneutics (IVP Academic, 2022)
  47. Dorothy Sayers, The Man Born to Be King: Wade Annotated Edition, ed. Kathryn Wehr (IVP Academic, 2023)
  48. Murray J. Harris, Navigating Tough Texts, Volume 2: A Guide to Problem Passages in the New Testament (Lexham Press, 2024)
  49. Aaron Perry, Lay Leadership: For the Care of Souls, Lexham Ministry Guides (Lexham Press, 2025)
  50. Jeremy Sims, The Way of the Spirit: Recognizing and Responding to God’s Subtle Movements (InterVarsity Press, 2026)
  51. Gerald Hiestand, Justification and the Churches: Pastoral Questions at the Heart of Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Theology (Baker Academic, 2026)
  52. Paul R. Copan and Robertson McQuilkin, An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking in the Way of Wisdom, 4th ed. (IVP Academic, 2026)

Books I Have Proofread

  1. Thomas Guarino, Vincent of Lérins and the Development of Christian Doctrine (Baker Academic, 2013)
  2. William S. Kurz, SJ, Acts of the Apostles (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture) (Baker Academic, 2014)
  3. J. R. Briggs, Fail: Finding Hope and Grace in the Midst of Ministry Failure (InterVarsity Press, 2014)
  4. G. K. Beale and Mitchell Kim, God Dwells Among Us: Expanding Eden to the Ends of the Earth (InterVarsity Press, 2014)
  5. John E. Stapleford, Bulls, Bears and Golden Calves, 3rd ed. (IVP Academic, 2015)
  6. Andrew Purves, Exploring Christology and Atonement: Conversations with John McLeod Campbell, H. R. Mackintosh and T. F. Torrance (IVP Academic, 2015)
  7. Peter Leithart, Delivered from the Elements of the World: Atonement, Justification, Mission (IVP Academic, 2016)
  8. Barrett W. McRay, Mark A. Yarhouse, and Richard E. Butman, Modern Psychopathologies: A Comprehensive Christian Appraisal, 2nd ed. (IVP Academic, 2016)
  9. W. David O. Taylor and Taylor Worley, eds., Contemporary Art and the Church: A Conversation Between Two Worlds (IVP Academic, 2017)
  10. Evelyne A. Reisacher, ed., Dynamics of Muslim Worlds: Regional, Theological, and Missiological Perspectives (IVP Academic, 2017)
  11. David Baggett and Marybeth Baggett, The Morals of the Story: Good News About a Good God (IVP Academic, 2018)
  12. Haley Goranson Jacob, Conformed to the Image of His Son: Reconsidering Paul’s Theology of Glory in Romans (IVP Academic, 2018)
  13. Samuel L. Bray and Drew N. Keane, eds., 1662 Book of Common Prayer: International Edition (IVP Academic, 2021)
  14. John W. Kleinig, Wonderfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body (Lexham Press, 2021)
  15. Mark R. Teasdale, Socially Awkward Evangelism: Overcoming Fears in Sharing the Gospel (InterVarsity Press, 2026)
  16. Matthew Loftus, Resisting Therapy Culture: The Dangers of Pop Psychology and How the Church Can Respond (InterVarsity Press, 2026)