After a lifetime of faithful ministry, Bryce Craig, a leader in the evangelical world of publishing, has entered into fullness of heavenly glory and into the joy of his Lord.

It is a great gift of providence to be raised in a home where the word of God is warmly embraced, taught, and read (2 Timothy 1:5). Bryce was raised in such a home. He descended from a strong line of God-fearing Christians who saw the importance of gospel work through book publishing—work carried out through the Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company. Founded in 1930 by Samuel G. Craig (1874–1960), Bryce’s paternal grandfather, and J. Gresham Machen (1881–1937), the founder of Westminster Theological Seminary, the company became a beacon in the Reformed and evangelical publishing world, building up faith and leading many to Christ.

The company was the publisher of the original journal, now titled Christianity Today, and, beginning in 1943, it published theological books by the great Princeton theologians, the early Westminster faculty, and many pastors and counselors who wrote edifying pastoral and devotional books for the church. Bryce was raised within this heritage and soon found that he, too, loved such rich theological and pastoral books, and, above all, the Lord Jesus Christ to whom they pointed.

Seeking formal theological training, Bryce enrolled at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, where he earned a master of divinity degree in 1974. His early love for the Lord flourished there, and he soon distinguished himself as an eager student of Scripture. Stories remain of memorable sermons he preached in the chapel—Edmund Clowney himself spoke highly of one of them. This interest in gospel ministry led Bryce to share the gospel with teenagers. While at Westminster, Bryce led a Young Life club with three fellow students, including John and Claire Hughes and Steve Voorwinde. After graduation, he committed to two years of service as a Young Life staff member.

After finishing his studies at Westminster, Bryce returned to the family company, and, in 1982, became the third generation to oversee its work. His four decades of service testify to a steadfast commitment to Christ and an earnest longing to see the gospel reach the ends of the earth. Carrying on the family legacy and experience, Bryce’s wife, Melissa Craig, and their four children, Charles, Cherith, Julia, and Sam, have all been integral to this good work throughout Bryce’s tenure. Theirs is a mission-driven family. Indeed, P&R became one of the most influential publishers of Reformed books and literature in the 20th century. 

Under Bryce’s leadership, P&R published hundreds of biblical, theological, and pastoral titles from some of the most influential and respected theologians and pastors of our time. Pastors, congregants, students, and professors — P&R’s books have profoundly impacted countless Christians across the globe. As the Psalmist (78:4, 7) says, “tell the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord…that the next generation might know them.”

One of Bryce’s last initiatives was the P&R for China Project, which, by 2026, will provide almost 100 titles to Chinese pastors, teachers, and lay leaders, representing nearly 10,000 mainland churches. While his role as president of P&R is perhaps his best-known contribution, Bryce’s efforts extended further into the life of the church, especially through his support for studying of the Westminster Standards and fostering of the next generation of gospel ministers and teachers.

In 2002, Bryce established The Samuel G. & Charles H. Craig Center for the Study of the Westminster Standards at Westminster Theological Seminary. Bryce loved the Westminster Standards because he believed they offer a rich, faithful articulation of truth for the church. As Bryce once said, “The Standards are not some arid theological system, but a vital source for faith and practice.” The Craig Center became one of the ways he nurtured that conviction in others. 

Bryce’s support reached far beyond institutional initiatives. He quietly provided full tuition scholarships to many seminary students. As a young man discerning a call to the ministry, I was among them. He gave me theological books and commentaries, unprompted and at no cost, and later fully funded my tuition when I had prayerfully determined that seminary was the proper path. This unforgettable generosity was a profound encouragement and blessing at a time when it mattered most. There are many other students who have been blessed by Bryce’s kindness and generosity. He was, faithful, kind, and generous, a man of great wisdom, knowledge, and devotion to the Lord.

Dying and Living in the Lord

In 2024, Bryce was diagnosed with ALS, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It was a difficult season for him and for his family, yet his faith remained steadfast. Faith brings peace under the weight of crosses, and though his body weakened, his spirit did not. Not long after his diagnosis, he told me—after first pointing to God’s grace—that he hoped to “labor a few more years.”

Bryce’s words embodied what Paul said: “always abound in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). In the Lord’s good providence, he was given one more year. The eternal God, who has given us life and has determined all our days, in grace draws near even in our final, fleeting moments. Bryce’s was a life well lived before a God who makes all well.

We grieve, but not without hope. We have a divine and confident assurance that in life and in death, we are the Lord’s (Romans 14:8). To die in the Lord, who has borne our sin and wept as with our sorrow, is to rise in the dawn of his heavenly day. For those in Christ, death is simply that moment when the veil of tears is lifted by grace. For us who await that glory, it is sometimes through tears that we better see the manifold glories of heaven.

Given Bryce’s convictions, he would want us to know that the former things will pass away, and our heavenly Father will wipe away all tears. We will behold—not merely see from afar—the glories of heaven, for “we shall ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The Christian’s life begins and ends in him, for we are loved from all eternity: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15). 

Thanks be to God for the life and example of Bryce Craig — a Christian man, husband, father, dear friend, and faithful mentor. Bryce’s legacy will long thrive in the hearts and minds of all those for whom he cared and supported, wherever the Lord may lead them. And in this, Bryce’s work to see the gospel go forth in all the world will carry on. Indeed, the Craig legacy will continue in Bryce’s eldest son, Charles Craig, who has become the fourth-generation president and CEO of P&R.

Nathan Nocchi is the assistant director of the Samuel G. & Charles H. Craig Center for the Study of the Westminster Standards at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pennsylvania.