Revision as of 21:57, 19 October 2021

William "Bill" MacDonald was an itinerant (OB) preacher, and an author of over 84 books, including Believers Bible Commentary which has been translated into many languages. He also served as President of Emmaus Bible College.

Birth

Bill was born on Jan. 7, 1917 on Blossom St., in Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, a son of William MacDonald and his wife Jessie Morrison MacDonald. The family emigrated from Scotland in 1907. When Bill was three, his father was employed at a piano factory. By 1930, the family was living on Raymond Ave., in Somerville, Middlesex, MA, and William, Sr. was self-employed as a furniture finisher, where he continued the same line of work in 1940, according to censuses.

Bill had an older brother Ian Morrison MacDonald (b. Dec. 25, 1914 Boston, MA - d. Nov. 17, 2003). Ian served with the U.S. Army from Oct. 14, 1952 until May 31, 1972.

Father

Bill's father, William, was born on June 18, 1884 at Lewis Ross, North Dell, Barvas, Ross and Cromarty, otherwise known as Ness, Scotland, to Murdo MacDonald (b. 1843 Lewis Ross, Knockaird) and Mary Gunn MacDonald (b. 1851 Lewis Ross, North Dell). Murdo labored as a tenant farmer, known as a crofter.

Mother

Bill's mother, Jessie, was born about 1875 at Habosh Barvas, Ross Shire, in Scotland, a daughter of John Morrison (b. 1843 Habosh Barvas, Ross Shire) and Jessie (b. 1843 Galson Barvas, Ross Shire). John was employed as a crofter, also.

Death

Bill died at 9:20 pm (PST) on Christmas, Dec. 25, 2007 in San Leandro, California and was buried with a military gravestone in Hayward, Alameda, CA. His memorial and graveside service are available at PlymouthBrethren.org, courtesy of Kevin Engle, along with many of his articles.

Publishing

Refusing to accept royalties for his books, he established a fund for translating the commentary into foreign languages. Many of his books are also available as eBooks.

Books

• 4 Men With a Message, Everyday.
  • Spanish: Cuatro Hombres con un Mensaje
• 16 Men With a Message: The Old Testament Prophets, Everyday.
  • Spanish: Cuatro Hombres con un Mensaje
• Alone in Majesty: The Attributes of a Holy God, 1994.
  • Bengali: Alone in Majesty. GS Media.
  • English: Alone in Majesty: The Attributes of a Holy God, Gospel Folio Press, 2004.
  • Gujarati: OM
  • Hindi: EKMATRAPRATAPIPARMESHWAR. 2016.
  • Hungarian: Egyedüi Fenség. 2016. Edited by Péter Vohmann and Róbert Lemperger.
  • Mandarin: Alone in Majesty. Second Edition. Living Stone Bookshop, 2009.
  • Russian: So is God. CLV: 2011.
  • Spanish: Unico En Majestad. Clie, 1998.
• Armageddon Soon?
  • Bulgarian: Armageddon Soon?. Bepeh, 2005.
• Be Holy: The Forgotten Command, 1988.
  • English: Be Holy: The Forgotten Command, John Ritchie Ltd.
  • Bulgarian: Be Holy. CLV, 1993.
  • German: Der vergessene Befehl: Seid heilig!. CLV: 1988, 1995, 2001. Translated by Gudrun Emde & Dieter Otten.
  • Hungarian: AZ ELFELEJTETT ISTENI PARANCS: LEGYETEK SZENTEK!
  • Mizo: Chungnungber Hnenah Chauh. GS Media.
  • Portuguese: O Mandamento Esquecido: "Sejam Santos". 1st Edition, Chamada, 2015.
  • Russian: Будьте святы - Повеление с обетованием. CLV: 1988, 1995, 2013. Translated by Elfriede Siemens & Arie Pellegrom.
  • Spanish: Mandamiento olvidado: Sed santos. Editorial Portavoz, 1998.
• Break Me, Lord!, Everyday.
  • Spanish: ¡Quebrántame, Señor!
• Christ Loved the Church
  • Albanian: Krishti e deshi Kishen
  • English: Christ Loved the Church: An Outline of New Testament Church Principles, Gospel Folio Press, 2008.
  • Congo Swahili: Kristo Alipenda Kanisa
  • German: Christus und die Gemeinde: Leben und Lehre nach biblischen Vorbild. CVD.
• Come Back to your Father
  • French: Reviens à ton père. Joie de L'Eternel.
• Enjoy Your Bible!, 1999. Co-authored by Art Farstad.
  • Albanian: Le t'ju prezantoj me Biblën!. Asambleja Biblike, Pogradec: 2003.
  • Bengali: Enjoy Your Bible. First Edition. Authentic Media, 2012.
  • English: Enjoy Your Bible! Gospel Folio Press, 1999.
  • German: Fragen Forschen Finden. CLV: 2002, 2015. Translated by Hermann Grabe.
  • Telugu: Telugu EYB, OM Books, 2018.
• Exaggeration in wrong explanations
  • Albanian: Teprimi ne shpjegime te gabuara
• God Still Speaks, Gospel Folio Press, 2002.
• Heaven: Home Sweet Home. 1995.
  • English: Heaven: Home, Sweet Home, Everyday Publications, 2015.
  • German: Wie wird es im Himmel sein?. Heaven, Home, Himself, Happiness, Hallelujah! CLV: 1996, 1997, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2020. Translated by Marita Lindner.
• Here's the Difference: Bringing Important Biblical Distinctions Into Focus, 1997.
  • Albanian: Ja Dallimi. Asambleja Biblike, 2000.
  • English: Revised & Expanded Edition, Gospel Folio Press.
• Is Jesus God? Everyday Publications. Co-authored by James Naismith & John Smart; Condensed from God the Son: A Symposium
  • English: Is Jesus God?
  • French: Jésus est-il Dieu?. Everyday.
• How to Begin Your New Life
• In The World But Not Of The World
  • Portuguese: No Mundo, Mas Não Do Mundo. 1st Edition, Editora Chamada, 2015.
• I Want To Be Baptized
  • German: Ich möchte mich taufen lassen. CVD.
• Joseph Makes Me Think Of Jesus, 2000.
  • English: Joseph Makes Me Think of Jesus, Gospel Folio Press.
  • German: Josef erinnert mich an Jesus. CLV: 2001. Translated by Hermann Grabe.
• Let Me Introduce You to the Bible, Walterick Publishers, 1980.
• Lessons for the Christian Life
  • Albanian: Mesime per jeten e krishtere
• Living Above the Average, 2001.
  • English: Living Above the Average, Gospel Folio Press.
  • German: Leben uber dem Durchschnitt. CLV: 2003. Translated by Marita Lindner & Hermann Grabe.
• Lord, Break Me! 1986.
  • German: Zerbrich mich, Herr!. CLV: 1986, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2001, 2012. Translated by Sylvia Gaß.
  • Hungarian: See The Problem of Lust
• Maximum Price Paid: The Church from God's perspective
  • German 1st edition: Höchstpreis gezahlt. CLV.
  • German 2nd edition: ...und er ging hin und verkaufte alles. CLV: 2003.

 * My Heart, My Life, My All. Gospel Folio Press, 1997. A companion book to True Discipleship.

• • English: New Edition
  • German: Nimm mein leben. Take My Life. CLV: 2003, 2014. Translated by Marita Lindner & Hermann Grabe.
  • Russian: Russian "Take My Life". CLV: 2018.
  • Spanish: Mi Corazon, Mi Vida, Mi Todo Llamada De Medianoche
• My Money at His Service
  • French: Mon argent à Son service. La Joie de l'Éternel, 2021. Co-authored by Harold Mackay: Principes financiers bibliques.
• Now That Is Amazing Grace
  • Assamese: Eshwaror Aachorit Doya. First Edition. Authentic Media, 2015.
  • English: Now That Is Amazing Grace, Gospel Folio Press.
• Once in Christ, In Christ Forever, 1999.
  • Albanian: Nje here ne Krishtin
  • English: Once in Christ, In Christ Forever, Gospel Folio Press
  • German: Sicher in Gottes Hand. Safe in God's Hands. CLV: 2000. Translated by Gitti Niederseer.
• Nothing For Weak Nerves: A Look Into The Future
  • German: Nichts für schwache Nerven: Ein Blick in die Zukunft. CLV, 2003. Translated by Linda Feil. Forward by Andreas Lindner.
• One Day At A Time aka Light for the Path / Way, Everyday, 1985.
  • English: One Day at a Time: 365 Soul-Stirring Daily Meditations, Gospel Folio Press.
  • French: Un Jour a la Fois Meditations Pour Chaque Jour. Fifth Edition. Service d'Orientation Biblique, 2006.
  • German: Licht für den Weg. CLV: 1987, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2006, 2013. Translated by Alois Wagner & Erika Atzbach, Gedichte von Hermann Grabe.
  • Portuguese: Luz Para o Caminho - Meditações Diárias. 2nd edition, Chamada, 2016.
  • Russian: Russian Light for the Way. CLV: 1998.
  • Spanish: Devocionales: de dia en Dia: 365 verdades por las cuales vivir
• Only One Time Around, 1982.
  • English: Only One Time Around, Everyday.
  • German: Man lebt nur einmal. You Only Live Once. Fifth edition. CLV: 1990 (2), 1991, 1994, 1999.
• Our God is Wonderful, Gospel Folio Press, 2001. Companion book to The Wonders of God.
• Return to God, Everyday.
  • Congo Swahili: Rudi Kwa Mungu
• Seek Ye First
  • Czech: Seek Ye First. CLV: 1995.
  • German: Trachtet Zuerst. CLV: 1991, 1993, 1999, 2003.
• Singleness: A Male Perspective, 1991.
  • English: Singleness: A Male Perspective, Everyday.
  • German: Im Zweifelsfall ein Einzelfall: Als Mann bewusst als Single leben. CLV: 1993, 2015. Translated by Andreas Lindner.
• The Day Jesus Came to My House, Everyday.
• The Doctrine of the New Testament, Everyday.
  • Congo Swahili: Mafundisho ya Agano Jipya
• The Good News
  • English: The Good News. Moody Press.
  • Spanish: Las buenas nuevas. Editorial Portavoz, 1972.
• The Grace of God, 1960.
  • German: Die Gnade Gottes. Christliche Literatur-Verbreitung, 2021.
  • Russian: Russian TGOG. CLV: 1994, 2013. Translated by Konstantin Oserkov.
  • Spanish: La Gracia de Dios. Iglesia Evangélica Betel, 2010.
• The Grand Finale
  • German: Das große Finale. CLV, 2000.
• The Grandeur of God's Grace, 1994.
  • German: Das tat Gott. CLV 1995, 1997, 2005, 2013.
• The Messiah. An Interpretation of the Oratorio, Unpublished
• The Problem of Lust, Everyday.
  • Hungarian: A TESTI VÁGY PROBLÉMÁJA. Evangeliumi, 2016.
    • Contains: True Discipleship, Lord, Break Me! and The Problem of Lust.
  • Spanish: El problema de la lujuria
• There's A Way Back To God, 1985.
  • French: Reviens a Ton Pere. 4th Printing. La Joie de l’Eternel, 2005.
  • German: Es gibt einen Weg zurück. CLV: 1985, 1988, 1999, 2015.
• Does It Pay to Pray? Co-authored by Carl T. Knott, Jr. 1989.
  • Albanian: A ja vlen te lutesh?
  • English: Does it Pay to Pray? Co-authored by Carl T. Knott, Jr. Everyday, 1989.
  • German: Nur bis zur Zimmerdecke? Gedanken zum Gebet. CLV: 1992, 1997, 2010. Translated by Sylvia Gaß.
• The Wonders of God, 1996. Companion to Our God is Wonderful
  • English: The Wonders of God, Gospel Folio Press, 2001.
  • German: Ein Gott der Wunder tut. CLV, 1997.
• Think of Your Future, 1956.
  • Assamese: Aapunar Bhobishwator Kotha Bhabok. First Edition. Authentic Media, 2015.
  • German: Denk an deine Zukunft. CLV: 1985, 1990, 2001, 2009.
  • Punjabi: Aapnne Bhavikh Baare Socho. First Edition. Authentic Media, 2015.
  • Spanish: Piensa en tu Futuro. Translated by Carl Knott, 2001. Also contains material from Grasping for Shadows (1972).
• This Is How The Lord Led Me: William MacDonald tells stories from his life
  • German: Wie der Herr mich führte: William MacDonald erzählt aus seinem reichen Leben. CLV: 2018.
  • Hungarian: Így vezetett engem az Úr - William MacDonald történeteket mesél életéből. Evangéliumi Kiadó és Iratmisszió, 2021.
• What Christians Believe, Moody Press
• Truths We Love
  • German: Wahrheiten, denen wir vervunden sind!?. Veren, 1987.
• What Is the Difference?
  • German: Achte auf den Unterschied? Christliche Verlagsges, 2008.
  • Spanish: Cual es la diferencia?. Editorial Portavoz, 1981.
• William Barclay - Are His Writings Dependable?, op
• Winning Souls the Bible Way
  • German: ...and led him to Jesus: A Guide to Personal Evangelism; ... und führte ihn zu Jesus. Eine Anleitung zur persönlichen Evangelisation. 1st Edition: 1998. 2nd Edition: 2015.
• Worlds Apart, 1993.
  • English: Worlds Apart, Gospel Folio Press, 2002.
  • German: In der Welt, nicht von der Welt. CLV: 1995, 1999, 2015. Translated by Marita Lindner.

Discipleship

• The Disciple's ABC's
  • French: ABC du disciple. La Maison de la Bible, 2006.
• The Disciple's Manual. 2004, 2007.
  • English: The Disciple's Manual, Gospel Folio Press, 2004
  • German: Seiner Spur folgen: Anleitung zur Jüngerschaft. CLV: 2008. Translated by Andreas Lindner.
  • Russian: Follow His Trail: Discipleship Guide. CLV: 2016.
• True Discipleship. Companion book to My Heart, My Life, My All. Send the Light (Operation Mobilisation), 1962.
  • Albanian: Dishepullimi i Vertete
  • Bengali: Prokrito Shishyatho. First Impression. Gospel for Asia, 2000.
  • English: Study Guide Version (GFP, 2016)
  • French: Le vrai disciple
  • German: Wahre Jüngerschaft. True Discipleship & Where Is Your Treasure?. CLV: 2003, 2008, 2014, 2018, 2021.
  • Hungarian: See The Problem of Lust
  • Russian: True Discipleship. CLV: 1991, 1995, 2000, 2008.
  • Telugu: Telugu: GS Media, 2019.

Bible Commentaries

• 1 Peter: Faith Tested, Future Triumphant Harold Shaw Publishers, 1972. Amazon
• 2 Peter and Jude, ECS
• Books of the Prophets Book 1 - Doctrines on Isaiah, Everyday.
  • Congo Swahili: Vitabu Vya Manabii Kitabu 1 - Mafundisho juu ya Isaya
• Books of the Prophets Book 2 - Doctrines on Jeremiah and Lamentations, Everyday.
  • Congo Swahili: Vitabu Vya Manabii Kitabu 2 - Mafundisho juu ya Yeremia na Maombolezo
• Books of the Prophets Book 3 - Doctrines on Ezekiel & Daniel, Everyday.
  • Congo Swahili: Ezekieli na Danieli - Vitabu Vya Manabii Kitabu 3
• Doctrines on the Bible: Matthew - Acts, Everyday.
  • Kiswahili: Mafundisho juu ya Biblia AGANO JIPYA: Matayo - Matendo, Everyday.
• Doctrines on the Bible: Romans - Colossians, Everyday.
  • Congo Swahili: Mafundisho juu ya Biblia AGANO JIPYA: Waroma - Wakolosayi
• Enjoying Ecclesiastes, ECS
• Enjoying the Book of Acts, ECS.
• Enjoying the Minor Prophets, ECS.
• Enjoying the Psalms, Vols. 1 and 2, ECS
• Ephesians: The Mystery of the Church, ECS
• Hebrews
  • Hebrews: From Ritual to Reality, ECS
  • Hebrews: From Shadow to Substance. Moody Correspondence School, 1962.
• Kingdom Divided: Kings to Esther, Everyday Publications
  • Spanish: Reino dividido
• Letters to the Thessalonians, Walterick, 1982.
• Old Testament Digest 1-3. Walterick, 1980. Co-Authored by Mike Hamel.
• Proverbs
  • English: Listen, My Son: Living Messages From Proverbs. Walterick, 1965.
  • English: Enjoying the Proverbs
  • English: Proverbs: A Devotional Commentary, Gospel Folio Press, 2009.
  • Portuguese: Provérbios. 1st Edition, Chamada, 2021. Translated by Giuliana Niedhardt.
• Romans: Justification by Faith, ECS
• Sixteen Men with a Message: Isaiah to Malachi, Everyday
• The Bible survey. Co-authored by Peter Gühler.
  • German: Die Bibel. Rigatio.
• The Acts, Dynamic Christianity, ECS
• The Gospel of Matthew (Behold Your King), ECS
• The Pocket New Testament Commentary, Everyday.
• Titus, ECS

Believers Bible Commentary

Believers Bible Commentary, Thomas Nelson Publishers. Edited by Arthur L. Farstad.

Whole Bible

• Albanian: Komentari i Bibles per Besimtaret online.
• Chinese (Simplifed): 活石 - 圣经注释. Living Stone, 2013.
• English: 1st ed. 1995 BBC or 2nd ed. 2016 BBC & Kindle BBC
• French: Le Commentaire Du Disciple De Toute La Bible. La Joie de l’Eternel, 2014.
• Spanish: Comentario Biblico: Obra Completa (Antiguo Testamento / Nuevo Testamento). CLIE, 2009. Also a Kindle version.

Old Testament (1992)

• Bulgarian: Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and Vol. 3. Veren, 2007. Translation by Monchil Petrov.
• Chinese (Simplified): 舊約聖經注釋 / 旧约圣经注释: 简体字合订本. Second Revised Edition. Living Stone Publishers Ltd., 2011.
• French: Le commentaire biblique du disciple - Ancien Testament. Joie de L'Eternel
• German: Kommentar zum Alten Testament. CLV: 2005, 2010. Translated by Christiane Eichler & Hermann Grabe.
• Italian: Il commentario biblico del discepolo. CLV: 2013. Translated by Giuseppe De Chirico.
• Romanian: Comentariul biblic al credinciosului. CLV: 2002. Translated by Doru Motz.
• Russian: Russian OT BBC. Veren: 2009.

• Albanian, Chinese (two editions – Simple and Classic), Korean, and Spanish, Turkish and Urdu: see PlymouthBrethren.org. Kannada & Malayalam editions available from Roy T. Daniel. See The Brethren News.

New Testament (1989)

• Arabic: NT BBC
• Bulgarian: Vol. 1 (1993), Vol. 2 (1994), and [https://dir.sermon-online.com/bulgarian/WilliamMacDonald/Bulgarian-Believers_Bible_Commentary_New_Testament_Part_3_1997.pdf Vol. 3 (1997). CLV.
• Croatian: Komentar Novoga Zavjeta (Book 1: 1997) & Komentar Novoga Zavjeta (Book 2: 1998) & [https://clv.de/Kommentar-zum-NT-Bd.-III-kroatisch/255626 Komentar Novoga Zavjeta (Book 3: 2001). Translated by Ivan Vrtaric.
• English: English New Testament BBC, 1990.
• French: Le commentaire biblique du disciple de toute la Bible : Ancien et Nouveau Testament
• German: Kommentar zum Neuen Testament: Gesamtausgabe. CLV: 1992, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2018. Translated by Christiane Eichler.
• Italian: Il commentario biblico del discepolo. CLV: 2009. Translated by Giuseppe De Chirico.
• Kannada: Kannada BBC, GS Media, 2016.
• Marathi: NT BBC. GS Media.
• Portuguese: Comentário Básico do Novo Testamento. 1st Edition, Chamada, 2015.
• Punjabi: Punjabi BBC, GS Media, 2016.
• Romanian: Comentar La Noul Testament. CLV: 1998. Translated by Dora Motz.
• Russian: Russian NT BBC. CLV: 2000, 2013.
• Telugu: Part One.

• Albanian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Burmese, Chinese (both Simple and Classic available), Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Malayalam, Polish, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese: See PlymouthBrethren.org. Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi and Punjabi (all Indian languages) available also thru Roy T. Daniel. See The Brethren News.

Booklets

• Final Destiny, 2002.
• English: Final Destiny, Dime Publishers.
• Tagalog: Ang Huling Hantungan. BSA Correspondence School c/o Liza Egalla.

• Fundamental, Important, and Non-Essential Issues: A Suggested Method for Resolving Differences in the Assembly. Walterick Publishers

• God's Answers to Man's Questions
  • English: God's Answers to Man's Questions
  • French: Réponses de Dieu aux questions de l'homme. Service d'Orientation Biblique.
  • Hungarian: Isten válasza az ember kérdéseire - Az üdvösség útja. Evangéliumi kiadó, 1996.

• That's a Good Question!
  • English: That's a Good Question!. 1995.
  • German: Das ist eine gute Frage. CLV, 1999.
  • Spanish: Buena Pregunta. CLV. 1st Edition: 2007. 2nd Edition: 2011. 3rd Edition: 2016. Translated by Carl Tomas Knott.

• The Grace of God in Salvation
• The Invasion of Psychology Into The Church. Co-authored by Randy Amos.
  • French: L'Invasion de la psychologie dans l'Église. Service d'Orientation Biblique.
• There's a Way Back to God
• True Brokenness

• Grasping for Shadows
  • English: Grasping for Shadows
  • Spanish: see Think of Your Future booklet.

• To What Should We Be Loyal?
  • English: To What Should We Be Loyal? Walterick Pub.; ECS Ministries, 2016.
  • German: Wahrheiten, denen wir verbunden sind!?. CLV: 1987, 2000. Translated by Monika Boddenberg.
  • Spanish: ¿Qué debemos ser leales? Editorial Discípulo, 1996. Translated by Neria Díez Sánchez.

Tracts

• Are You Going To Heaven?. Waltericks, 2012.
• It's Time...
  • German: Es ist Zeit.... CLV.
• Would a Loving God Send People to Hell? Gospel Folio Press.

Video

• "Around September 11, 2001, the well-known American Bible teacher W. MacDonald spoke at a youth convention (subject of “total devotion”) and a conference in Salzburg. His sermons (with translation by Andreas Lindner) are recorded on this video DVD (running time approx. 6.5 hours)." Totale Hingabe.

Emmaus Worldwide Bible Courses

Emmaus Worldwide is a correspondence school and publishing house formerly known as ECS Ministries, and is headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa on the campus of Emmaus Bible College. The following courses were written primarily by Bill MacDonald (with others credited).

Bible Studies

• Ecclesiastes: Is There Meaning to Life?
• Revelation
• The First Letter to the Corinthians
• The Gospel of John
• The Gospel of Luke
• The Gospel of Mark
• The Gospel of Matthew, 2010.
  • The Gospel of Matthew: Behold Your King, Walterick Pub., 1974.
• The Letter of James
• The Letters of John, 2021.
• The Letter to the Galatians
• The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon
• The Letter to the Romans
  • Two-Part Version: Romans 1-8 & Romans 9-16
  • Good News for All: The Letter to the Romans
• The Second Letter to the Corinthians
• Letters to Timothy and Titus
  • co-authored by V. Paul Flint)

Doctrinal

• Buried by Baptism
• Christ Loved the Church
• God's Word Is Truth
• Guide to Christian Growth
  • co-authored by Cyril Brooks
• Lessons for Christian Living
• Summary of the Bible
• The Bible Tells Me So
  • co-authored by Kevin Dyer
• The Lord's Supper and Baptism (Doctrinal Series)
  • co-authored by Neil M. Fraser
• What The Bible Teaches (Foundation Series)
• Winning Souls the Bible Way

Prison Ministry

• Born to Win
• Doing Time with Jesus

Articles

• Accountability - to Whom?, published in Missions on July 1998 & Dec. 1990.

Also See

Tributes

• Tribute courtesy Kevin Engle of Dallas, TX
• Tribute courtesy Andreas Lindner of Piding, Germany
• Facebook Tribute

Audio Ministry

• Voices for Christ
  • over 481 messages 1962-2003
• SoundCloud
  • over 709 messages
• Bill's testimony

Other

• German ministry site with many of MacDonald's books downloadable in various languages

Sources

• Ancestry.com
• William-MacDonald.org
• WilliamMacDonald.blogspot.com