Biography
Reverend Eschelbach was a parish pastor for 15 years before teaching at Concordia University Chicago (14 years) and now Concordia University Irvine. The care of souls and love of truth are evident in his eagerness to help others find the answers they seek, especially answers to the most difficult questions. Professor Eschelbach invests himself in his students as he shows them how to search for the truth among the various witnesses God has provided, especially in the Bible but also in nature, reason, and common human experience. You may find evidence of Dr. Eschelbach’s work in his publications, public speaking, and recognition for exemplary teaching. Besides teaching and studies, Michael Eschelbach enjoys sailing, biking along Newport beach, and visiting the redwoods.
Experience
Administrative
- Provide leadership and inspiration to various committees in the university setting, including faculty search committees, faculty seminar, faculty growth and development, student life policies, liberal arts culture, and student retention task force. Within each setting, provide exploration and development of responsive, innovative, and effective programming.
Writing (see also “publications” below)
- In the process of writing essays on; the philosophy of religion, the nature of human responsibility in society, and the problem of evil.
- Produced strategic curriculum and integrated, multi-media study guides including,
- 1 year series for preschool & kindergarten age children.
- 4 year series taking grades 1-4.
- 3 year catechetical instruction (grades 5-7) which includes liturgical studies, Luther’s Small Catechism, and a Bible study guide that promotes age-appropriate, in depth discussion.
- Developed a 5 year study series for high school youth which fosters the sense of community among students, promotes informed interaction of students with their peers in school, and enhances the student’s own cognitive abilities.
Classroom Instruction
- Professor of New Testament Studies, Greek, the Philosophy of Religion, World Religions, Gender, and related religious studies including ethics and social issues.
- On-line graduate courses for MAR students on the Parables of Jesus and General Epistles.
- Recruited by directors of Honors Program to provide honors level instruction in New Testament Studies and the History of Christian Biography.
- Provide instruction and mentoring for graduate (MAR), directed, and correspondence studies.
- Lecture and facilitate enthusiastic exploration of theological topics in Youth Encounter/Conference settings.
- Lecture and direct discussion on biblical books, theology, and related current events to adults each Sunday morning.
- Provide stimulating and highly interactive study sessions for juniors and seniors in High School.
Courses Taught
- THL 529 Lutheran Hermeneutics and Theology of Scripture
- THL 590 Guided Readings
- THL 595 & 596 Thesis I & II
Study Tours
- 2014 – London and Edinburgh. Preparing for this fourth study tour in June.
- 2012 – France. Assisted with Choir/study tour of France, providing general historical and theological background.
- 2010 – Egypt. Taught a course on Egyptology and the significance of Egypt in the Bible while touring Egypt and the lower Sinai peninsula over 12 days
- 2008 – Italy. Taught a course on the Council of Trent in comparison with orthodox biblical theology as presented by Martin Chemnitz in his examination of the same. This course on campus was followed by 14 days touring in Italy.
- 2006 – Turkey/Greece. Taught a course on the travels and places where the apostle Paul taught while touring those locations with students over 16 days.
Campus Activities
- 2000 – present. Provide several extra-curricular opportunities for students to interact with theological issues, current events and each other. “Cinema Sophia” offers a movie each week for viewing. The film is followed by analysis and discussion, focused on the relationship between the intent of the film and philosophical/theological principles. “Great Books Conversation” is a lunch time group that considers excerpts from the world’s greatest literature. “Concordians for Concord among Concordians” meets each week over lunch to allow students to pursue questions they have of any nature, but particularly those which generate tension between various church workers and between those who claim a Christian belief system. “Apologetics Exercise” is a once a semester meeting of two student teams who oppose each other on a high profile issue. Practice in research, public speaking, but most of all, evangelical apologetic method is provided. The whole campus is invited to participate and attend.
- 1985 – 1987 Offered highly interactive biblical studies and lead discussions of the same for college students at Eastern Montana University and Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana.
- 1983 – 1984 Generated commentary, illustrations, and lead an interactive workshop on the book of Revelation for faculty and students of Gallaudette University.
Professional Employment
- 2014 – present Professor of New Testament, Concordia University Irvine, California.
- 2000 – 2014. Professor of New Testaments Studies, Greek, Philosophy of Religion, and World Religions
Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, Illinois - 1988 – 2000, Pastor, Peace Lutheran Church, Sandusky, MI
- 1985 – 1988, Pastor, Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Billings, Montana
- 1973 – 1981, Vice President of Production, Ann Arbor Craftsmen, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan
Education
- 1979 B.S. – Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan
- 1985 M.Div. – Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana
- 1999 Ph.D. – Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Awards
- Concordia University Arts and Sciences Effective Teaching/Learning Award, 2002.
- Concordia University Student Association Professor of the Year, 2000-2001, 2001-2002, 2004-2005
- American Bible Society Scholarly “Studies in Greek Achievement Award” conferred by Concordia Theological Seminary, 1985
Professional Activities – Public Speaking, Seminars, Lectures
- “Marriage Matters” Seminar at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Normal Illinois, September 20, 2014.
- Key note speaker for the 2013 Beautiful Feet Conference, “How to Fill Big Shoes With the Feet You Have,” November 13, 2013.
- “Gender Issues in Our Culture and Congregations,” Indiana District Pastor’s Conference, Merrillville, Indiana, October, 2013.
- “Islam and Apologetics,” Seminar at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Belvidere, Illinois, September, 2013.
- “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as paradigm of Christianity,” KFUO interview based on Cinema Sophia Study, September, 2013.
- “You Got to Move it Move it: the Significance of Acts for Contemporary Christians,” Seminar at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Belvedere, Illinois, May 18, 2013.
- “Apocalypse How? Understanding Revelation as the original readers would have” Seminar at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Virginia, April 6, 2013.
- “Lazarus and the Rich Man,” radio interview, “Studio A with Roland Lettner,” KFUO radio, June 10, 2011.
- “Accent on Apologetics: Paul’s Letter to the Galatians as Foundation and Springboard for Effectively Engaging Modern Society through Lutheran Schools.” LEA Convocation, Cincinnati, Ohio, April 2011.
- “The Twilight of Education: Does Lutheranism Have a Stake in the Heart?” Association of Lutheran College Faculties annual conference, Irvine, California, October 1-3, 2010.
- “Give Unto Caesar the Things that Are Caesar,” radio interview, “Studio A with Roland Lettner,” KFUO radio, September 1, 2010.
- “Adoption” radio interview, “Studio A with Roland Lettner” KFUO radio, June 12, 2010.
- “Baptism and the Holy Spirit” radio interview, “Studio A with Roland Lettner” KFUO radio, June 1, 2010.
- “’Virtue’ in 2 Peter 1:5” radio interview, “Studio A with Roland Lettner” KFUO radio, February 10, 2010.
- “Swimming Upstream: How to Advocate for the Adversarial” Apologetics Seminar. Bethel Lutheran Church, Clearwater Florida. March 2009.
- “Marriage Matters: Weddings, Wars, and Winning Ways.” Imperial Nebraska annual conference, October, 2008.
- “Mystery in the Water and Identity in the Body and Blood.” LCMS National Youth Gathering, Orlando Florida, August 2007.
- “Sexual Brokenness: ‘Ships Passing in the Night? Biblical Means of Navigating Divorce and Re-marriage’” The Cranach Institute, Fort Wayne, Indiana, September 2006.
- “Marriage Matters: From Bride of Christ to Bride of Frankenstein?” Central Illinois District Pastor’s Conference, Springfield, Illinois, October 2005.
- “Media as Motivation” Lutheran Education Association Convocation, Indianapolis, Indiana, April 5, 2005.
- “The Gospel as ‘Counter Intelligence’” Concordia University System Theologians Conference, Dallas, Texas, March 5, 2005.
- “The Matrix: How to use media and art to make theology live in the hearts and minds of young people” Northern Illinois District, LCMS Youth Conference, Lyle, Illinois, November 7-9, 2004.
- “Wine, Women and Song” a radical explanation for the conflict and a simple way forward in issues of fellowship, gender issues, and worship, to be presented at Lutheran Student Fellowship Seminar, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, October 25, 2003.
- “The Matrix: Media as the Pulse of Religious Thinking and Invitation to Dialog” In His Face national youth gathering, Dallas, Texas, July 29-31, 2003.
- “An Inspired Approach to Catechism and Confirmation,” presented at the SELC District pastor’s conference, Alsip, Illinois, February 4, 2003.
- “Wine, Women, Song; a Study of 1 Corinthians 10,11,” presented at the Concordia Deaconess Conference, April 16, 2002.
- “Not On My Watch! An Inspired Approach to Catechism/Confirmation Instruction,” Lutheran Education Association national convocation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 18-20, 2002.
- “Predestination, Who does the Choosing?” presented at three sections of the National Youth Congress gathering, St. Charles Illinois, March 16, 2002.
- “Marriage Matters; Biblical Perspectives that Make All the Difference in Marriage Relationships,” presented at Northern Illinois District Pastor’s Conference, October 2001.
- “I Can’t Hear Myself Preach for the Snoring,” a study of hermeneutics which yields captivating engagement through public speaking, including preaching, presented at the Institute for Church Studies, Northern Illinois District, LCMS, September 2001.
- “Has David Foiled Joab? A Literary Study of the Importance of Joab’s Character in Relation to David,” presented in the Arts & Sciences Research and Faculty Development Series, Concordia University, River Forest, March 15, 2001.
- “Linguistic Approaches to Understanding the Controlling Ideas in 1 Peter,” presented at the Concordia Theological Seminary Symposium, January 2000.
- “Biblical Catechesis: How to Convey God’s Word in a Meaningful and Reasonable Way,” presented at several workshops to clergy and educators in Taiwan and provided as a one week intensive course for credit at China Lutheran Seminary, Hsinchu, Taiwan, 1993.
- “An Interpreter’s Approach to Research and Meaningful Translation of Biblical Words & Concepts,” presented during five days at the Interpreter’s Training Institute, Concordia Theological Seminary, 1985.
Publications
- Forth coming (May 2015) New Testament Questions and Answers (CPH).
- April 2015, “Is the Bible True?” Lutheran Hour Ministries Apologetics Web-resource.
- Fall 2013, Proof Edition, Apocalypse – How? Understanding the Revelation to St. John by comparison of the Greek text, extreme literal translation, dynamic equivalent translation, and notes. Amazon; CreateSpace (April 2015).
- Fall 2012, And the Storms Came. Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2012.
- Summer 2010, notes on Malachi and Philippians, The Lutheran Study Bible, St. Louis: Concordia, 2009.
- Summer 2009, LEA eMonograph Series, “Why Apologize? Engaging challenges to the faith for educators in Lutheran ministries.”
- Spring 2009, Testamentum Imperium (2009): Eternal Security/Perseverance of the Saints, Vol. 2. “Election in Ephesians 1: Individual or Corporate?” and “Hagios in Pauline Letters: The Extrinsic Source of Christian Holiness.”
- Fall 2008 Concordia Pulpit Resources. Mark 10:32-45 “A Case of Mistaken Identity” and Philippians 2:5-11 “How Could You Stoop So Low?” St. Louis: Concordia.
- Study Notes for New Testament Introduction. Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2007.
- Marriage and the Counsel of God. Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2007.
- Called to be God’s People: An Introduction to the Old Testament. Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2006.
- January 2006, Concordia Theological Quarterly, “Walk This Way: a Theme from Proverbs Reflected and Extended in Paul’s Letters.” Vol. 70:1, 43-62.
- Has Joab Foiled David? A Literary Study of the Importance of Joab’s Character in Relation to David. Peter Lang publishers, 2005.
- Fall 2004, Andrews University Seminary Studies, “Song of Songs: Increasing Appreciation of and Restraint in Matters of Love” Vol. 42, No.2, 305-324.
- Fall 2004, Teachers Interaction, “Classroom Environment – A Winnable War” (Concordia Publishing House).
- Fall 2003, LifeLight, “James & Jude,” Enrichment Magazine/Study Guide, (Concordia Publishing House).
- Summer 2001, Lutheran Education, “The Proper Care and Feeding of Catechumens, p261-269.
- 1996, The Everyday Study Bible, one page essays,
- “Alcohol, ”
- “Capital Punishment,”
- “Celibacy,”
- “Sabbath”
Book Reviews
- Song of Songs by Cheryl Exum in JETS vol. 50, No. 2, June 2007.
- Inspiration and Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament by Peter Enns in JETS vol. 48, No. 4, December 2005.
Reports
- Provided a critical analysis of the New Testaments meaning and use of “nomos” and offered comprehensive recommendations for its translation in the God’s Word to the Nations Bible translation.