An Open-Access Research Paper Series in Theology, Biblical Studies, Preaching, and Christian Thought
Perkamen Research is an academic publishing initiative dedicated to making serious scholarly research accessible to a wider audience.
Through Perkamen Research Papers, we provide a platform for scholars, lecturers, pastors, researchers, postgraduate students, undergraduate students, and independent scholars to publish carefully researched and clearly argued academic work.
Our particular interests include theology, biblical studies, preaching and homiletics, rhetoric and argumentation, church history, philosophy, Christian thought, and related interdisciplinary fields.
Our aim is simple:
To make serious research more accessible while maintaining clear academic and editorial standards.
Perkamen Research Papers
Perkamen Research Papers is an open-access, editorially reviewed research paper series published by Perkamen Research.
Each paper is published individually rather than as part of a conventional journal issue.
The series operates on a rolling publication model. Papers are published when they have successfully completed the editorial process and are ready for publication.
There is no requirement to publish a particular number of papers each month.
One month may contain several publications, while another month may contain none.
This allows Perkamen Research to prioritize quality and editorial readiness rather than publication quotas.
Research Papers
No. 1 (2026)
Earning Certainty: The Intensifying Qualifier and the Accountability of Preaching
Johannis Trisfant
This article examines the modal qualifier in Stephen Toulmin’s model of argument through the expository preaching of Martyn Lloyd-Jones. It argues that in an authority-based field, qualifiers may intensify rather than limit a claim, and proposes criteria for determining when such certainty remains accountable to its hearers.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.22844129
Numbering System
Each published research paper receives its own number within the calendar year.
The format is:
Perkamen Research Papers, No. [Number] [Year]
For example:
Perkamen Research Papers No. 1 (2026)
Perkamen Research Papers No. 2 (2026)
Perkamen Research Papers No. 3 (2026)
At the beginning of each new calendar year, numbering begins again:
Perkamen Research Papers No. 1 (2027)
Perkamen Research Papers No. 2 (2027)
Numbers are assigned sequentially according to publication order.
The month is not part of the series number. The actual publication date may appear on the individual publication page and in the publication metadata.
Areas of Interest
Perkamen Research welcomes research papers in areas including:
- Systematic Theology
- Historical Theology
- Reformed Theology
- Biblical Theology
- Old Testament Studies
- New Testament Studies
- Biblical Exegesis
- Church History
- Historical Christianity
- Homiletics
- Preaching and Sermon Studies
- Biblical Preaching
- Theology of Preaching
- Rhetoric and Argumentation in Preaching
- Preaching and Persuasion
- History of Preaching
- Pastoral Preaching
- Contemporary Homiletical Studies
- Practical Theology
- Pastoral Theology
- Christian Ministry
- Christian Philosophy
- Philosophy of Religion
- Apologetics
- Theological Epistemology
- Christian Ethics
- Ecclesiology
- Missiology
- Christian Education
- Christianity and Culture
- Theology and Philosophy
- Theology and Science
- Theology and Contemporary Culture
- Interdisciplinary studies related to theology, preaching, rhetoric, philosophy, religion, and Christian thought
Research outside these areas may also be considered when it contributes meaningfully to the broader aims of Perkamen Research.
Who May Submit?
Perkamen Research welcomes submissions from:
- University faculty
- Seminary faculty
- Researchers
- Doctoral students
- Master’s students
- Undergraduate students in theology and related disciplines
- Seminary students
- Pastors engaged in serious academic research
- Independent scholars
- Researchers working outside formal academic institutions
Formal academic qualifications or institutional affiliation are not required.
We believe that scholarly work should be evaluated primarily according to the quality of the research rather than solely according to the author’s academic title, degree, institution, or professional position.
Undergraduate Authors Are Welcome
Perkamen Research particularly welcomes strong submissions from undergraduate students.
Undergraduate papers may arise from:
- University or seminary coursework
- Research seminars
- Independent research projects
- Undergraduate theses
- Final-year projects
- Faculty-supervised research
A paper originally written for a course may be submitted if it has been sufficiently revised into a serious research paper suitable for publication.
Undergraduate status does not result in lower standards of academic integrity, documentation, research, or argumentation.
What We Publish
Perkamen Research Papers publishes substantial academic research demonstrating:
- A clear research question or thesis
- A sustained and coherent argument
- Appropriate engagement with relevant scholarship
- Responsible use of primary and secondary sources
- Accurate academic documentation
- Meaningful scholarly contribution
- Clear academic writing
Research papers may arise from:
- Independent scholarly research
- University or seminary research
- Conference papers
- Doctoral research
- Master’s research
- Undergraduate research
- Thesis or dissertation chapters
- Academic coursework
- Research conducted outside formal academic institutions
A manuscript originally prepared for another academic setting may be considered if it has been appropriately revised for publication.
Editorial Review
Perkamen Research Papers is an editorially reviewed research paper series.
All manuscripts are assessed before publication for:
- Academic quality
- Clarity of thesis
- Strength of argument
- Appropriate use of evidence
- Engagement with relevant scholarship
- Accuracy of documentation
- Organization and academic writing
- Scholarly integrity
Submission does not guarantee publication.
Perkamen Research Papers is not presented as a conventional peer-reviewed academic journal.
Our emphasis is on responsible editorial assessment, transparent publishing practices, and making serious scholarly research publicly accessible.
What Authors Receive
Authors whose papers are accepted for publication receive the following.
1. A Numbered Scholarly Publication
Each paper receives a clear bibliographic identity within the series.
For example:
Perkamen Research Papers, No.1, 2026
This identity can be used in academic citations, CVs, research profiles, ORCID records, and scholarly biographies.
2. Open-Access Publication
Published papers are made freely available online.
Readers do not need a subscription or payment to access them.
This allows research to reach readers beyond the author’s own institution, university, seminary, church, or professional network.
3. Professionally Formatted Publication
Accepted manuscripts are prepared according to the publication format of Perkamen Research Papers.
The published version may include:
- Series title and publication number
- Paper title
- Author name
- Institutional affiliation where applicable
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Main text
- Footnotes
- Bibliography
- Publication information
Authors receive a professionally prepared digital version of their published paper.
4. Dedicated Publication Page
Each research paper will have its own publication page on the Perkamen website.
The page may include:
- Paper title
- Author name
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Publication number
- Publication date
- Author information
- Recommended citation
- DOI or persistent identifier where available
- Access to the full paper
Authors may share this page through academic profiles, institutional profiles, personal websites, ORCID, CVs, research networks, and social media.
5. DOI or Persistent Identifier Where Available
Where available and appropriate, Perkamen Research publications may receive a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or another persistent identifier.
Persistent identifiers provide a stable way to identify and cite scholarly publications.
6. Scholarly Metadata
Perkamen Research will prepare appropriate scholarly metadata for published papers.
This may include:
- Author name
- Paper title
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Publication year
- Research Paper number
- ORCID where supplied
- Bibliographic information
- DOI or persistent identifier where available
- References
Accurate metadata helps improve the discoverability and scholarly usability of each publication.
7. Google Scholar Discoverability
Perkamen Research will make reasonable efforts to structure and maintain its publications in ways that support discovery and potential indexing by Google Scholar.
These efforts may include:
- Dedicated publication pages
- Openly accessible full-text papers
- Appropriate scholarly metadata
- Clear author and title information
- Individual publication files
- Accurate bibliographic references
- Persistent identifiers where available
Perkamen Research will actively work to improve the discoverability of its publications in scholarly search environments.
However, indexing decisions are made independently by Google Scholar, and Perkamen Research cannot guarantee that every published paper will be indexed.
ISSN and Series Identification
Perkamen Research intends to maintain Perkamen Research Papers as a continuing scholarly research paper series.
Where appropriate and when the series meets the applicable requirements, Perkamen Research may obtain an ISSN for the series.
An ISSN identifies the publication series as a whole. It does not represent academic ranking, peer-review status, or indexing in a particular scholarly database.
If assigned, the ISSN will be displayed consistently on future publications and series information.
Recommended Citation
Each published research paper will include a recommended citation.
For example:
Johannis Trisfant, “Earning Certainty: The Intensifying Qualifier and the Accountability of Preaching,” Perkamen Research Papers No. 1 (2026), https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22844129.
This helps readers cite the publication consistently.
Submission and Publication Fees
Currently Free
At its present stage of development, Perkamen Research charges:
No submission fee.
No publication fee.
Authors may submit manuscripts for editorial consideration without payment.
Authors whose manuscripts are submitted and accepted under the current free-publication policy will not subsequently be charged for those publications.
The purpose of this initial free-publication period is to encourage scholars, students, pastors, and emerging researchers to participate in the development of Perkamen Research Papers.
Future Publication Fees
As Perkamen Research develops, a modest editorial or publication processing fee may be introduced in the future.
Such a fee may help support:
- Editorial administration
- Copyediting
- Formatting and typesetting
- Publication infrastructure
- Website maintenance
- Metadata preparation
- DOI registration where applicable
- Digital preservation
- Long-term publication management
Any future publication fee will be announced clearly before submission.
Publication fees will never determine editorial decisions.
A manuscript will not be accepted merely because an author is willing to pay a publication fee.
Manuscripts submitted under the current free-publication policy will remain subject to that policy even if fees are introduced later.
Founding Contributors
During its initial development, Perkamen Research especially welcomes scholars and emerging researchers who wish to become part of the first generation of contributors to the series.
These Founding Contributors will help establish the scholarly identity, range, and standards of Perkamen Research Papers.
Our long-term aim is to develop a research series representing contributions from multiple scholars, institutions, universities, seminaries, churches, and academic backgrounds.
Perkamen Research particularly welcomes early contributions from:
- Theology lecturers
- Seminary faculty
- Biblical scholars
- Scholars of preaching and homiletics
- Researchers in rhetoric and argumentation
- Researchers in theology and philosophy
- Doctoral students
- Master’s students
- Undergraduate theology students
- Pastors engaged in scholarly research
- Independent scholars
Academic Integrity
Perkamen Research expects all authors to maintain high standards of academic integrity.
Published work must demonstrate:
- Responsible use of sources
- Accurate citation
- Intellectual honesty
- Appropriate acknowledgement of previous publication
- Accurate representation of quotations and evidence
- Author responsibility for all claims made in the paper
Plagiarism, fabricated references, invented quotations, false page numbers, falsified evidence, fraudulent citations, and other forms of serious academic misconduct are unacceptable.
Authors remain responsible for the accuracy and integrity of their published work.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, reasoning, citations, and scholarly integrity of their submissions.
Artificial intelligence tools may assist with tasks such as language editing, translation, brainstorming, or research organization.
However, authors must ensure that:
- All factual claims are independently verified
- All cited sources actually exist
- Sources used in the argument have been properly consulted
- Quotations are checked against original sources
- Page numbers are accurate
- Bibliographic information is correct
- The final argument represents the author’s own scholarly judgment
AI-generated references, fabricated quotations, invented page numbers, and unverifiable sources are unacceptable.
Authors remain responsible for the final manuscript regardless of the tools used during its preparation.
Copyright and Permissions
Authors are responsible for ensuring that they possess the rights necessary to submit their work for publication.
Previously published material may only be reproduced when:
- The author retains the necessary rights;
- Permission has been granted by the copyright holder; or
- The applicable licence permits reuse.
All previously published material must be appropriately acknowledged.
Authors are also responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted images, figures, tables, extensive quotations, or other protected material where permission is required.
Specific copyright and licensing terms will be stated as part of the publication process.
What Perkamen Research Does Not Guarantee
Perkamen Research seeks to improve the visibility, accessibility, and scholarly discoverability of published research.
However, publication does not automatically guarantee:
- Google Scholar indexing
- Inclusion in any external scholarly database
- Recognition by a particular university or seminary
- Recognition by an accreditation authority
- Academic promotion credit
- Citation by other scholars
Such decisions are made independently by external institutions and services.
Perkamen Research focuses on what it can directly provide:
open access, professional publication, clear bibliographic identity, scholarly metadata, responsible editorial assessment, discoverability support, and long-term accessibility.
Our Vision
Perkamen Research seeks to contribute to a culture of serious theological and interdisciplinary scholarship.
We believe that worthwhile scholarship can emerge from established scholars, lecturers, pastors, independent researchers, postgraduate students, and promising undergraduate students alike.
Academic publishing should therefore combine:
Openness with standards.
Our goal is not simply to increase the number of publications.
We seek to develop a body of scholarship marked by:
- Careful research
- Clear reasoning
- Responsible argumentation
- Serious engagement with sources
- Accurate documentation
- Intellectual honesty
- Constructive scholarly dialogue
- Accessibility to a wider readership
Perkamen Research has a particular interest in strengthening scholarship in:
Theology. Biblical Studies. Preaching and Homiletics. Rhetoric and Argumentation. Church History. Philosophy. Christian Thought.
We welcome established voices and emerging scholars who share that commitment.
Submit Your Research Paper
Scholars, lecturers, pastors, researchers, postgraduate students, undergraduate students, and independent scholars are invited to submit research papers for editorial consideration.
Submission is currently free.
Publication is currently free.
Before submitting your manuscript, please read the Author Guidelines.
[SUBMIT YOUR RESEARCH PAPER]
PERKAMEN RESEARCH
Research. Argument. Scholarship. Accessible.