Katholisches Bibelwerk e.V.

What Katholisches Bibelwerk e.V. does

Katholisches Bibelwerk e.V. is a non-profit Catholic biblical pastoral organization founded in 1933 and headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. It operates as the official bibelpastoral office (Arbeitsstelle) of the German Bishops' Conference and serves as the Catholic voice within Germany's ecumenical Bible network. The organization maintains a network of diocesan representatives (Diözesanleiter/innen) in every German Catholic diocese, ensuring national grassroots reach across roughly 27 dioceses and approximately 15,000 individual members. Its work centers on biblical scholarship, education, and publishing, with two operational pillars: the association itself (Katholisches Bibelwerk e.V.) and its publishing arm, Verlag Katholisches Bibelwerk GmbH, which publishes the official Einheitsübersetzung der Heiligen Schrift and other biblical texts.

The organization's product portfolio is content-led rather than technology-led. Core offerings include three scholarly and pastoral journals (Bibel und Kirche, Bibel heute, and Welt und Umwelt der Bibel — the last co-published with the French magazine Le Monde de la Bible), academic publication series (SBAB, SBS), an e-commerce shop (bibelwerk.shop) selling Bibles and educational materials, and accessibility-focused publications in Easy Language (Leichte Sprache) including 'Bibel in Leichter Sprache.' Educational programs range from the three-year Bibelpastorale Qualifizierung to modular digital courses such as Biblische Bausteine and the Lectio Divina contemplative reading program. Distribution operates through direct e-commerce, the diocesan field network, religious bookstores, and biblical study trips in partnership with Biblische Reisen GmbH.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: publication sales (one-time purchases of Bibles, books, and materials), recurring membership fees from approximately 15,000 members who receive journals and benefits, and fees from courses and seminars. The organization is governed by a Vorstand chaired by Prof. Dr. Egbert Ballhorn with Dr. Katrin Brockmöller as Managing Director (Geschäftsführende Direktorin); the Bibelwerk has no parent company, no external shareholders, and no publicly disclosed financials. Recent strategic activity has focused on accessibility (Easy Language extensions), digital course expansion, ecumenical and international partnerships (ÖAB, Catholic Bible Federation, Biblische Reisen), and recognition through the Andere Zeiten Ideenpreis 2025 — all consistent with a stable, mission-driven non-profit rather than a growth-stage commercial entity.

Name

Katholisches Bibelwerk e.V.

Legal name

Katholisches Bibelwerk e.V.

Website

https://bibelwerk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Katholisches Bibelwerk e.V. is a non-profit Catholic biblical pastoral organization founded in 1933 in Stuttgart, Germany. It serves as the official biblical office of the German Bishops' Conference, publishing scholarly journals, educational materials, and Easy Language Bibles for German Catholic dioceses, parishes, and approximately 15,000 individual members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Publishing and Biblical Education

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Sacred Texts & Scripture Publishing (Bibles, Qur’ans, Vedas, Torah, Sutras) (MPAJAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC), Religious Reference & Study Tools Publishing (Commentaries, Concordances, Lexicons) (MPAJAHAL), Worship & Liturgy Publishing (Liturgical Texts, Missals, Service Books, Hymnals) (MPAJAHAE)

Keywords

• Biblical education materials
• Religious publishing
• Catholic Bible resources
• Biblical pastoral services
• Accessible scripture translations

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Publication Sales: Sale of Bibles, journals (Bibel und Kirche, Bibel heute, Welt und Umwelt der Bibel), educational materials, and books through the bibelwerk.shop e-commerce platform and retail distribution.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from approximately 15,000 members. Members receive journals and other benefits.
3. Courses and Seminars: Revenue from educational programs including the bibelpastorale Qualifizierung 'Ein Wort wie Feuer' and various digital and in-person courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Katholisches Bibelwerk e.V. is a Catholic biblical pastoral organization that produces and distributes biblical scholarship, three scholarly journals (Bibel und Kirche, Bibel heute, Welt und Umwelt der Bibel), academic publication series, Bibles and liturgical books via its publishing arm Verlag Katholisches Bibelwerk GmbH, accessible Easy Language Bible translations, Lectio Divina spiritual reading programs, and biblical pastoral qualification courses for parishes, dioceses, and individual believers across Germany.

Product overview

Katholisches Bibelwerk e.V. is a Catholic biblical pastoral organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered on biblical education and scripture engagement. The organization operates two main publishing entities: the association (Katholisches Bibelwerk e.V.) and its publishing house (Verlag Katholisches Bibelwerk GmbH). Core offerings include three scholarly journals—Bibel und Kirche (covering biblical topics for church and education), Bibel heute (practical pastoral focus), and Welt und Umwelt der Bibel (archaeology, art, and history)—along with academic publication series (SBAB, SBS, SBB). The organization maintains an e-commerce platform (Bibelwerk Shop) for Bibles, liturgical materials, and publications. Special initiatives include accessible Bible products in Easy Language (Leichte Sprache), the Lectio Divina contemplative reading program, biblical study trips (WUB Lesereisen), and the Bibelpastorale Qualifizierung training program. The portfolio also includes seasonal publications, devotional resources, and educational materials for parishes, schools, and individual Bible study.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Verlag Katholisches Bibelwerk GmbH: The publishing arm of the organization, publishing Bibles, liturgical books, and biblical study materials including the Einheitsübersetzung der Heiligen Schrift.
• Bibel und Kirche
• Bibel heute
• Welt und Umwelt der Bibel
• Lectio Divina
• Bibel in Leichter Sprache
• Onlinebibel / Bibleserver

Products and services

• Bibel und Kirche (Journal)

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Institut für Pastorale Bildung, FreiburgminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2025Co-organization of the event 'Heide, Jüdin, Christin oder was?' on early Christianity.
• Ökumenische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Bibellesen (ÖAB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2025The Bibelwerk serves as the Catholic voice in this ecumenical Bible network responsible for selecting the annual biblical 'Jahreslosung' (year's verse).
• Biblische Reisen GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2025Collaborative partnership for organizing biblical study trips. Jointly organized the Jordanien (Jordan) trip 'Durch die Wüste zur Freiheit' combining travel with biblical education.
• Akademie Caritas-Pirckheimer-Haus NürnbergcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Co-founded the 'Evangelium in Leichter Sprache' project in 2013. Partners in organizing workshops, conferences, and developing Bible translations in accessible language for people with learning difficulties.
• Franziskanerinnen von ThuinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Co-founded the 'Evangelium in Leichter Sprache' project. Sr. Paulis Mels serves as one of the three project initiators.
• BonifatiuswerkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly published the Lektorenhilfe (Lector's Aid) from the 'Bibel einfach Lesen' series.
• Catholic Bible Federation (CBF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Catholic Bible federation network. Father Asi from Pakistan represents CBF's Executive Committee. The Bibelwerk participates in this worldwide Catholic Bible network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Bible Gateway: Major free online Bible platform hosting dozens of translations including the Einheitsübersetzung; an emerging digital peer that commoditizes Scripture access and competes with paid study content.
• YouVersion (Life.Church): The dominant free digital Bible app with hundreds of millions of users; an emerging competitor in Bible engagement, study plans, and devotional content that competes with Katholisches Bibelwerk's digital products.

Direct peers

• Echter Verlag: Catholic publisher based in Würzburg specializing in theology, biblical studies, and pastoral materials; a niche-direct peer with overlapping author and topic coverage.
• Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft: The German Protestant Bible Society is the closest direct peer: it publishes the Luther Bible and equivalent Bible-based educational, scholarly, and pastoral materials for the German Protestant Church, mirroring Katholisches Bibelwerk's role on the Catholic side.
• Paulinus Verlag: Catholic publisher based in Trier producing biblical, theological, and pastoral content; a niche Catholic peer with similar customer base of dioceses, parishes, and individuals.
• Bonifatiuswerk: Catholic publishing and mission-support organization in Germany; already a publishing partner (Lektorenhilfe) and a directly comparable peer in Catholic biblical and pastoral resources.

Broad incumbents

• Evangelische Verlagsanstalt: Major German Protestant publisher of theological, biblical, and pastoral works; comparable as a confessional publisher serving the parallel Protestant audience in Germany.
• Gütersloher Verlagshaus: German Protestant publisher (part of Random House) with extensive biblical, theological, and devotional catalogs; comparable as a large religious publisher operating in adjacent confessional territory.
• Verlag Herder: Germany's largest Catholic publisher, operating across theology, education, reference, and devotional content; a broad incumbent whose biblical and pastoral publishing directly overlaps with Katholisches Bibelwerk's portfolio.

Others

• Catholic Bible Federation (CBF): Worldwide Catholic federation of Bible societies in which Katholisches Bibelwerk holds Executive Committee representation; an ecosystem peer and direct comparator at the association-of-organizations level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/katholisches-bibelwerk-e.v.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Katholisches Bibelwerk e.V.