“ἐν ἐφέσω” is “in Ephesus” in English (pronounced, “en e-FEH-soh,”). Ephesus is a ancient city in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and the city to which the Letter to the Ephesians is attributed to have gone. Some manuscripts do not contain the phrase. This is one of the harder textual problems in the New Testament because it goes beyond the text and into the question of authorship, recipients, and location. Whether it is original or not, I have not come to a definite conclusion about it and I’m not sure if I will ever be able to.
I chose the name because anyone who has studied the New Testament in Greek is going to at least be aware of the issue and those who have studied Ephesians in particular will recognize it especially (besides, its catchy).
I also think its a good name because it does well to express what my focus is in having this blog: writing about Ephesians (though I admit other topics will come up).
Just to make it clear, I do think that Paul wrote the letter as well. While fully aware of the debates regarding authorship, I think that Peter O’Brien and Harold Hoehner have presented very strong and convincing arguments for Paul’s authorship. And as Hoehner has clearly shown in his commentary, it is a myth that those who do hold to Pauline authorship are in a minority. I adhere myself to the words of Markus Barth, “The burden of proof lies with those who question the tradition” (Ephesians 1-3, 41).
So I suppose the last question needing an answer is: “Who are you?”
Well, I’m Mike.
I have a BA in Greek and am doing master’s work in linguistics.
I’m trying to teach myself Hebrew on the side and I hope to study Latin within the next year.
Presently, with my wife, I am attending the Graduate Insitute of Applied Linguistics preparing to serve as missionaries doing Bible translation. My wife studied English and Latin in college (most of my posts come out of deep theological and philosophical discussions with her).
My wife and I have decided to go up north to Canada for our MA’s. We’re still getting our certificates at GIAL, but after that we’ll be heading to Trinity Western University and CANIL (i.e. SIL of Canada) for more school and then some where in the world.
I have a serious interest in Hermeneutics, Languages & Linguistics, NT Studies (especially Ephesians), and OT Wisdom Literature & Psalms.
I’m also utterly addicted to books (something I inherited from my father, whose has stamped Psalm 37:21a in the KJV [the verse sounds best in the KJV for his purposes, we're not KJV only types] in all of his books). Between my wife and I, we have about 2500 books and journals. How are we going to get them to the missions field? No clue…
On the side, I work as a librarian and formerly as a climbing instructor at Wells Street Athletic Club. I climb a 5.10.
1 April, 2007 at 10:22 pm
you should check out the MA in Linguistics and Biblical languages at Biola. It’s probably similar to what is at DTS I suppose but it sounds awesome.
1 April, 2007 at 11:18 pm
I’ve considered Biola. It is still a possibility. Gordon is my first choice, Dallas second, and Biola my third. Trinity Western is another right along side Biola. Thanks for the suggestion.
21 April, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Mike, I, too, am a Moody grad (1970) and have been a Bible translator with Wycliffe since 1973. We dedicated the tribal translation this January. Feel free to email me to get info on other contacts for you to help further your journey as you work toward a career in Bible translation. Each of the SIL programs you have considered are good. Oh, I also have a longtime strong interest in hermeneutics. It meshes well with Bible translation work. I also blog at the Better Bibles Blog:
http://englishbibles.blogspot.com
29 May, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Nice site.
I went to Trinity Western and it was a great experience. Might I also add that the climbing there is sweet. Squamish is close and so are many crags around Trinity. Lots of granite.
If you want any info on Trinity you can e-mail me.They have some great things happening there.
30 May, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Mike,
So have you decided to go to Trinity? If you do I offer whatever help I can. If you want the lay of the land regarding the profs and who to study under, or just practical advice about the city and where to live and not to live let me know. I spent three years there and was a TA for an NT prof even though I did more HB for the thesis. I also have a article on the TWU website outlining my experience there.
You can e-mail me at *****
Please do not post my e-mail address on your site.
Shawn
3 June, 2007 at 9:34 am
Just found your site. Always glad to have another Bible student working on the Pauline epistles… So few of us left anymore… Let me know when you get to Eph. 2:11 and cf. I have some thoughts I’d like to share and get your thoughts in return.
Cheers,
Denis
http://drcallahan.bravemusings.com
5 June, 2007 at 8:43 am
Always glad to find another young book addict. I document my addiction here: http://rdtwot.wordpress.com/2007/06/04/addictive-personalities/ …you’ll notice we have similar tastes in blog templates as well =)
I look forward to reading your thoughts and meditations.
3 August, 2007 at 1:21 pm
This looks exciting, Mike. I’m thinking about an MA at Trinity as well but don’t know when to fit it in.
Keep blogging. By the way I solved the question of author and location for Ephesus on a post on my blog.
4 August, 2007 at 11:22 pm
I stumbled on this site. You really should consider the Masters program at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, ON. The group gathered around Stanley Porter are THE most serious anywhere about Greek, grammar, and discourse analysis. Check out the LIABG (Linguistics Institute of Ancient and Biblical Greek) which is holding its second symposium there August 16-18. my feeling is that SIL has taken discourse analysis about as far as they can. The future of this discipline is with this group of scholars. The Opentext.org project, included in Logos 3, is indicative of where they are heading.
8 October, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Mike, do you have an RSS feed for your blog? I’d like to add your blog to my RSS reader so I don’t miss your posts.
11 November, 2007 at 10:52 pm
William, I disagree about SIL. There’s still life in there. SIL has been working in lingiustics and scripture before Porter was born.
Besides when it comes to theories, we need more than just Systemics.
The future of the discipline is not with any one group of scholars.
4 December, 2007 at 3:10 am
Hello Mike,
I was wondering where you and your wife would like to serve as missionaries.
Blessings,
Lou
4 December, 2007 at 4:02 am
Presently, we are undecided. Right now we’re working to pay for our training in preparation for translation work. We’re also conversing with Wycliffe Bible Translators and Pioneers Bible Translators trying to determine which is best place for us to be.
My guess is that when we officially join an organization, we’ll basically ask them to place us where we are most needed.
8 December, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Hello Mike. Thanks for your gracious comment on my “mea culpa” post. So, you’re a librarian and a biblioblogger. Cool! Looks like we’ve got a bit in common! See ya around the web. It would be great to chat.
18 December, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Is there an email address one can contact you on Mike?
11 January, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Mike,
I appreciate your attitude about being willing to be placed wherever you are most needed. However, in my experience (and for others I know), the people in these missions who are responsible for helping you get to the field really want you to give them some ideas about where you sense that God is leading you to go, or where you would like to go, etc. We have friends that said “send us anywhere” and they were told, “Sorry, think and pray about it some more and come back to us with some ideas.” In my own experience, we were asked to give the assignment committee three fields, rated 1st - 3rd choices, and the committee did their best to match us with our first choice (as long as there really was a need in the field of our first choice). Blessings to you on your journey.
12 January, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Thanks for the advice, bzephyr. Rachel (my wife) and I do plan on narrowing down our options soon. Though at this point, we’re hoping that we can do more school first. Right now, we’re both thinking about South East Asia/Pacific area. Yes, I know that is still a large area, but it does cut out a large portion of the world.
13 January, 2008 at 2:34 am
[...] Mike’s blog title is Greek, using a Greek font. Mike explains the choice of his blog title here and I explain mine in my About ΑΓΑΠΗΣΕΙΣ page. Actually, Mike and I have much more in [...]
9 March, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Re: akolouthew - please delete this comment if it shows
I didn’t even think about the fact that it would be a contract verb. Something I was thinking of today is, would it take a direct object other than the accusitive? I don’t have a lexicon on hand to check, and thayer’s at BLB doesn’t state.
9 March, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Nevermind, found it on thayer’s that it usually does. Change forthcoming
17 March, 2008 at 11:28 am
Hi Mike, I havent’ visited your blog but ran into it again. Keep up the good work on Greek and your goal of becoming a translator. We need more servants for the Lord on the mission field to do this type of work. Why did you choose to go to TWU?
I blog at http://www.newepistles.com
17 March, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Hi Kevin, Thank you for the encouragement. TWU has a very good linguistics program and they do well in their integration of Biblical languages as well - and its a beautiful area with great snowboarding & rock climbing.
9 April, 2008 at 10:28 am
Hi Mike. Thanks for your comment on my blog. I’ll be sure to keep my eye on yours also.
4 June, 2008 at 9:44 am
Just found your website while tracing some quotes of John Chrysostom. I am falling a similar “career”? path. Hoping to work on the border of Venezuela and Brazil. Thanks for putting this forum out on the web. I didn’t know there were many people with similar vision, interests, goals, etc.
God Bless you!
By His Grace,
Josh
20 June, 2008 at 10:36 am
Interesting blog! I’m interested in biblical archaeology, and I have traveled to Ephesus twice. Do you have interesting links to websites about ancient Ephesus?
22 June, 2008 at 10:38 pm
My Google Alerts pointed to your recent review of “How biblical languages work.” Thanks for your thoughtful and helpful review.
I look forward to browsing your many other pages. Your background is similar to mine. BA in Greek (Concordia Lutheran Senior College), PhD in Linguistics. I worked with SIL from 1972 - 2005. From 1992-2005 I headed the SIL at Biola program mentioned by Brian above. It was during that time I developed relationships with the Greek and Hebrew teachers at Talbot School of Theology and eventually teamed up with Dr. Finley on the book.
Blessing on your studies. I hope to hear more about you in the future.
25 June, 2008 at 4:18 pm
arneberge: no, sorry, I don’t have any links about ancient Ephesus…though I do believe that a book was recently published on the history of the church at Ephesus, its name escapes me though.
Dr. Silzer, Its always exciting when authors find my reviews. My wife and I are looking forward to being with SIL in the relatively near future. We’re on our way to Trinity Western in the fall.
I greatly enjoyed yours and Dr. Finley’s book. Thank you for being one of those who is seeking such integration.