Volume 4, Issue 1 – June 2025
Peer Review vs. Editorial Review in Theological Journals: Understanding Legitimate Models
Date: 5 May 2025
In academic publishing, the review process significantly shapes a journal’s credibility. Peer-reviewed journals rely on external experts to assess submissions based on research or critique quality, originality, and scholarly contribution—often using anonymous review methods to ensure objectivity (COPE, 2017; Ware, 2008). This model is standard in many academic fields and contributes to institutional recognition and research validation.
Editorial-reviewed journals, especially common in theology and the humanities, follow a different yet legitimate path. Here, an internal editorial board—composed of qualified theologians, theological thinkers, scholars, or qualified ordained pastors——reviews submissions for relevance, theological soundness, and alignment with the journal’s mission (Atla, 2022). While they may not offer external validation, editorial-reviewed journals can reflect deep contextual and ecclesial insight, often serving church communities and regional theological discourse (Walls, 2002). Ultimately, both models are valid. Legitimacy depends on editorial transparency, consistency, and scholarly integrity.
The Journal of Thai Protestant Theology follows an editorial-reviewed model, providing space for Thai Protestant scholars, theologians, ordained pastors, and leaders to reflect theologically within their cultural and missional context. As Andrew Walls (1996) noted that not every theological voice must pass through a university faculty to be legitimate. The Church also can be a place of scholarship.
References
Atla. (2022). Guidelines for evaluating theological journals.
Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). (2017). Principles of transparency and best practice in scholarly publishing. https://publicationethics.org
ConferenceAlert.com. (2025, February 27). Peer reviewed vs non-peer reviewed journals. ConferenceAlert.com. https://conferencealert.com/blog/peer-reviewed-journals-vs-non-peer-reviewed-journals/
Knilans, G. (2023, July 17). Understanding the difference between peer-reviewed and editor-reviewed publications. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/understanding-difference-between-peer-reviewed-gerri-knilans/
Walls, A. F. (1996). The missionary movement in Christian history: Studies in the transmission of faith. Orbis Books.
Ware, M. (2008). Peer review: Benefits, perceptions and alternatives. Publishing Research Consortium. https://publishingresearchconsortium.com
About the Author
Dr. Chansamone Saiyasak (Professor of Religious Studies and Missiology) is a Thai theologian and missiologist based in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, where he pastors Mekong Church Nonprasert. He serves on the Theological Commission and Religious Liberty Commission of the Asia Evangelical Alliance and the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand, contributing to theological development and religious freedom initiatives in Southeast Asia. He also serves as an Asian theologian for the World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly 2025's Theological Project. With over 40 years of ministry and leadership experience, he has led Christian educational and theological institutions, community development projects, and church planting movements across Thailand and Laos. He holds a Ph.D. in Theology and Religious Studies from Evangelische Theologische Faculteit (Belgium) and Doctor of Ministry and Master of Divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary (USA), and has completed advanced leadership programs at Harvard University, Yale School of Management, and Oxford University. He completed Bachelor of Science in Religion from Liberty University (USA) Through his work with organizations such as the SEANET Missiological Forum and the Lausanne Movement, and World Evangelical Alliance, Dr. Saiyasak is committed to advancing Gospel-centered leadership, contextual theology, and mission engagement in Buddhist-majority societies.
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Saiyasak, Chansamone. (2025, June 5). Peer Review vs. Editorial Review in Theological Journals: Understanding Legitimate Models.Thai Protestant Theology - Theological Reflections 4(1). Retrieved from http://www.thaiprotestanttheology.mf.or.th/reflections/reflection-20.html