Once, somebody wrote a whole novel using one long sentence. Since it’s written in Czechoslovakian I can’t confirm. However, that book inspired English author Jonathan Coe to pen a novel composed of one 13,955-word sentence spanning 416 pages. Impressive, right? Maybe not. My sixth grade English teacher would have been all over that with a red pen.

In my opinion, the best run-on sentence ever is found in Ephesians chapter one, where Paul expounds—in Greek—for twelve verses without a period. The English translation, thankfully, divvies up the passage into eight sentences.

Bible scholar E. Nordon called it “the most monstrous sentence conglomeration I have ever met in the Greek language.”

Eugene Peterson said, “Who can resist this marvelous, tumbling cataract of poetry?”

Monstrous or marvelous? That depends on if you’re an English teacher or if you are a friend who enjoys listening to a loved one who is so excited about a topic that they just can’t stop talking and you can’t get a word in edgewise but it’s ok because you don’t really have anything to add so you simply nod your head and smile the whole time. <Gasp>

The Apostle Paul wasn’t writing a term paper to the Ephesians.
He was communicating such astounding truth
that he couldn’t stop to come up for air.

I’m taking a little bit at a time
so I don’t hyperventilate.

“It is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:5

My Bible Reading Plan has me on a slow stroll through Ephesians during February and March. You’re invited to walk with me!