tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post6804631853546993558..comments2024-03-27T17:15:37.606-04:00Comments on Triablogue: How Ephesus Causes Problems For SkepticismRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809283662428917799noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-70331756092590913162022-07-07T10:01:17.393-04:002022-07-07T10:01:17.393-04:00P. Chester Beatty II (P46) is one of the earliest ...P. Chester Beatty II (P46) is one of the earliest (175-225 CE) manuscripts we have as a witness to Ephesians. It omits "to Ephesus" in verse one. My Greek N.T. has the address in brackets. <br />If, according to Paul's instruction, both the Colossian and Laodicean letters were to be copied and circulated, where is the Laodicean letter? It seems very unlikely that such a circular letter, presumably copied many times would be lost to history. Christians started copying and disseminating Paul's letters in the first century and seen by 2Pet. 3.16. Since the letter to Laodicea was intended to be circular, it makes sense that a copyist would drop the address when making his local copy.Alex Krausehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14906958553755021247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-34055179620189829362022-06-15T09:37:35.156-04:002022-06-15T09:37:35.156-04:00This is a good post that I wanted to return and re...This is a good post that I wanted to return and read thoroughly. I will reblog it. By the way, Paul's epistle which we call "Ephesus" really has to be "to Laodicea." Many writers, good and bad, have recognized this fact. The "to Ephesus" is probably a later addition from a scribe who found the copy in this city. Paul (and the Spirit) wanted the Christians to compare different perspectives, both true, in the letters of Colossians and Laodicea. This is the only way for Col. 4.16 to be fulfilled. Paul instructed both of these letters to become circular, and therefore, copies were commissioned to accomplish this command. The city of Ephesus, scarcely 100 miles to the west by way of a prominent trade route, would have been a natural repository for one of these copies years later, and, would have served subsequent generations who didn't know Paul personally like those among whom he ministered. Because Paul spent nearly three years in Ephesus, that church didn't need a correspondence the way that Laodicea and Colossians did. Paul only "heard about their faith" (Col. 1.4, Eph. 1.15). The absence of any personal greeting in Ephesians, is too out of character for Paul who spent the bulk of his ministry in this city. Alex Krausehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14906958553755021247noreply@blogger.com