Churches of the New Testament: Ephesus I. Introduction A. Acts 20:26-27 B. Asia Minor fertile ground for the Gospel 1. No less true in Ephesus, province of Asia 2. Paul spent much time there C. Church in Ephesus perhaps best attested in the Scriptures 1. Likely 40 year span 2. Paul, Timothy, John D. Let us consider the NT on Ephesus II. Geography and History A. Ephesus: gateway to Asia 1. major city of Roman province of Asia, modern-day Turkey 2. 238 miles east of Corinth 3. 500 miles WNW of Antioch of Syria 4. 615 miles northwest of Jerusalem B. Strategic location 1. In ancient times, situated at mouth of Cayster River 2. Highway led from Ephesus through Asia Minor to Mesopotamia 3. Major commercial center 4. Harbor eventually silted up; Ephesus now landlocked C. History 1. Inhabited for long time, made Athenian colony in 11th century BCE 2. Captured by Lydians, Persians, Macedonians 3. 188 BCE: captured by Rome, handed over to king of Pergamum 4. 133 BCE: returned to Rome D. Temple of Artemis 1. Ephesus famous as a commercial center, but also for temple 2. Acts 19:35: meteorite fell to earth, looked like a woman, likely first identified as fertility goddess 3. Greeks associated it with Artemis (Roman Diana) 4. Massive temple built: 360 feet long, 180 feet broad 5. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world 6. Prized by its citizens E. Ephesus, then, large commercial center 1. Religious undertone 2. Gospel spreads, however, in this pagan climate III. Paul and the Founding of the Church in Ephesus, 52-57 CE A. When Paul first in area of Ephesus, did not preach (Acts 16:6) 1. Forbidden by the Holy Spirit 2. Reason unknown to us, known to God B. When Paul leaves Corinth, heads to Ephesus (52-54) 1. Acts 18:18-23 2. Aquila and Priscilla with him 3. Preaches in synagogue, does not remain, likely on account of vow 4. Travels to Caesarea, Antioch of Syria, back through Galatia and Phrygia C. Work of Aquila and Priscilla (53-54) 1. Found Apollos of Alexandria, well-versed in the Scriptures and John the Baptist (Acts 18:24-25) 2. Aquila and Priscilla take him aside, expound the Way more accurately (v. 26) 3. Apollos converts; sent to Corinth to encourage brethren (vv. 27-28) 4. Acts 18:27: presence of brethren indicates how work of Paul, Aquila, Priscilla bore fruit, and/or Jews who converted on Pentecost had returned (cf. Acts 2:9, 41) D. Paul's return (54-57) 1. Acts 19:1-10 2. Finds disciples of John, expounds way of Jesus and Holy Spirit, they convert 3. Teaches in synagogue for three months, Jews revile Word, Paul moves on 4. Goes to school of Tyrannus, preaches 2 years there 5. "All Asia" hears the Gospel 6. 1 Corinthians written at this time (1 Corinthians 16:8, 19) 7. Likely Corinthian visit (2 Corinthians 13:1-2) 8. Word does well in Asia; Paul has Asiarchs as friends (Acts 19:31) E. Events in Ephesus 1. Diseases cured, demons cast out by God through Paul (Acts 19:11-12) 2. Sons of Sceva attempt to use name of Jesus through Paul, defeated by demon; whole city fears, magnifies Jesus (Acts 19:13-16) 3. Sorcerers burn magic books worth 50,000 pieces of silver (Acts 19:18-20) F. End of Paul's Stay in Ephesus 1. Paul intends to leave for Greece, Jerusalem, Rome (Acts 19:21) 2. Sends Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia (Acts 19:22) 3. Then Demetrius et al incite riot against Paul for Temple of Artemis (Acts 19:23-27) 4. Whole city in an uproar; "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" shouted (Acts 19:28-31) 5. Mob (ekklesia) comes together in amphitheater, tumult for two hours, calmed down finally by town clerk, establishes that any grievance should be taken to political assembly (ekklesia; Acts 19:32-41) 6. Paul leaves soon after (Acts 20:1), probably before his intended time (1 Corinthians 16:8) G. Paul's Asian Suffering 1. 2 Corinthians 1:8-10: description of Paul's suffering in Asia 2. Some correlate it to Demetrius' riot (Acts 19:23-41); evidence does not seem to correlate to severity of Paul's language 3. 1 Corinthians 15:28, Acts 20:19: Paul's trials in Ephesus, mostly from Jews 4. Acts 21:27-29: Jews of Asia incite riot that leads to Paul's Jerusalem imprisonment 5. Likely, then, that Paul suffers greatly from the hands of the Jews, either immediately before or after Demetrius' riot, almost to the point of death 6. Perhaps partly explains Paul's reticence to return to Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem and the fact that he never does return (Acts 20:25, 38) H. Church then well-established, although adversaries remain IV. Paul and the Ephesians, 58-62 A. Paul then goes to Greece, begins his return 1. Acts 20:1-4 2. Two Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus, mentioned as being with Paul B. Sails around Asia Minor 1. Acts 20:5-15 2. Goes from Macedonia to Troas, Troas around to Miletus C. Intentionally misses Ephesus 1. Paul wants to make it to Jerusalem by Pentecost (Acts 20:16) 2. Summons Ephesian elders to Miletus (Acts 20:17) D. Paul's speech to Ephesian Elders 1. Acts 20:18-38 2. Paul reminds them of his conduct and trials suffered in Ephesus 3. Informs them of what he is about to suffer 4. Reveals that they will never see his face again 5. Declares his innocence of their blood, having preached God's whole counsel 6. Advised them to pay attention to the flock 7. Warned them of the upcoming apostasy, precipitated in part by some of elders themselves 8. Again speaks of his manner of living 9. Prays with them 10. They accompany him to the boat, sorrowful that they will not see him again E. Paul departs, never to return again F. Ephesian letter 1. During Roman imprisonment (60-62), Paul writes letter to Ephesians (Ephesians 1:1, 6:20) 2. Notable for being overall bereft of personal information or anecdotes 3. Address to Ephesians, demonstration of Tychicus informing them of his condition (Ephesians 1:1, 6:21-23) 4. Otherwise, no distinguishing features 5. Perhaps an encyclical? G. Nevertheless, plenty of excellent information 1. Our election of God, redemption of all men, including Gentiles (Ephesians 1-2) 2. Exhortation to proper Christian conduct (Ephesians 3-6) 3. Some information about the nature of the church in Ephesians 4 and 5 H. Ephesians 4 1. vv. 1-3: excellent encapsulation of point of letter 2. vv. 4-5: there is but one body (=one church, Colossians 1:18) 3. vv. 11-16: establishment of roles in the church to its own building up, so that it may develop and grow properly I. Ephesians 5:19 J. Ephesians 5:23-33 1. Husband and wife, but also Christ and the church 2. Church is to submit to Christ 3. Christ as head of church, its Savior 4. Christ loved the church, gave Himself for her, sanctified her, desires to present her to Himself holy and blameless 5. Christ loves the church as His own flesh 6. Genesis 2:24 as applicable to the church: church is to leave the world of sin, join to Christ, become one with Him K. No indication that letter contains anything specifically relevant to Ephesus not true elsewhere 1. Letter gives no indication of situation in Ephesus proper 2. Any attempt, then, to extrapolate issues concerning which Paul specifically speaks to Ephesus would be pure speculation 3. Nevertheless, much to be gained in terms of understanding the relationship of Christians with one another, church with Christ V. Timothy and Ephesus, 63-67 A. While Paul may not have returned to Ephesus, Timothy is stationed there (1 Timothy 1:3) 1. 63-64 2. Paul encouraged Timothy to remain in Ephesus 3. Some were teaching false doctrines, perhaps based on myths and genealogies (1 Timothy 1:3-4) 4. Wanted to teach the Law of Christ, did not understand it (1 Timothy 1:5-10) B. 1 Timothy 2 1. 2:1-4: Petition and prayer for all, especially in authority 2. 2:8-15 Proper roles of men and women C. 1 Timothy 3 1. 3:1-13: Qualifications of elders, deacons, their wives 2. Based on 5:17-20, likely that elders remained in Ephesus 3. Timothy, then, instructed on how they should conduct themselves, the conduct of others perhaps to be appointed 4. 3:14-15: Hoped to see Timothy soon (whether Ephesus or not, or realized or not, unknown); wrote to know how to conduct self in church, pillar and ground of truth D. 1 Timothy 4 1. 4:1-6: warning of upcoming apostasy, regarding marriage and food 2. 4:7: avoidance of myth, perhaps like 1:3-4 3. 4:4-16: Timothy as proper model of conduct, living a life of godliness, exhorting brethren to do likewise E. 1 Timothy 5 1. 5:1-3: proper conduct among Christians of different stations 2. 5:3-16: instruction concerning widows 3. 5:17-20: instruction concerning elders F. 1 Timothy 6 1. 6:3-6: characterization of false teachers 2. 6:9-10, 17-19: instruction to rich, those who desire to be rich 3. 6:20-21: warning concerning false gnosis G. State of Ephesus, 63 1. Things seem overall well 2. Some need to be rebuked for false teachings based on speculation 3. Warnings for the future H. 3-4 years later, 2 Timothy written (67) I. Timothy in Asia, likely Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:19, 1:16-18) J. Paul and the Asians 1. Many deserted him (1:15) 2. Likely not all Asian Christians, just Asian Christians in Rome 3. Onesiphorus and household a wonderful exception (1:16-17) 4. Had helped in Ephesus greatly (1:18) K. Paul's Instructions in 2 Timothy 1. 2:2: Timothy to teach what he heard to others 2. 2:11-14: stay away from fables, teach pattern of Christ 3. 2:16-18: avoid foolish babbling like Hymenaeus and Philetus, teaching the resurrection is past (proto-Gnosticism?) 4. 4:1-4: Time coming when Christians will not endure sound doctrine, swerve to myths 5. 4:5: Timothy to persevere L. Paul in bad shape 1. Exhorts Timothy strongly to come to him by winter (2 Timothy 4:9, 21) 2. Sends Tychicus to Ephesus, perhaps to relieve Timothy (2 Timothy 4:12) 3. Soon after, meets the end of his earthly life M. State of Ephesus, 67 1. Relatively unchanged 2. Some need rebuking 3. Future warnings ominous N. 1 Peter 1. Written near time of 1 Timothy 2. Asia, Ephesus included (1 Peter 1:1) 3. Indication of persecution in some form (1 Peter 1:6) 4. Letter otherwise has general instruction, as spoken of with Galatia VI. John and Ephesus, 90s A. Final NT witness to the church in Ephesus is in Revelation 1. Written by John the Apostle 2. Lived later in life in Ephesus, died there (Eusebius, History of the Church 3.1.1, 3.23.1-5) B. Ephesus as the first of the seven churches of Asia, Revelation 2:1-7 C. Date of Revelation 1. 60s or 90s? 2. Consistent second century witness: 90s (Eusebius, ibid., 3.18.1-4; Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 5.30.13) 3. Hard to explain away 4. 90s also consistent with entire lack of mention of John in Paul's letters to the Ephesians, 1/2 Timothy (or why 1 Timothy was necessary) and John's not mentioning Paul or Timothy 5. Date for the study, then, ca. 90-96 CE D. Ephesus in Revelation: the Good (Revelation 2:1-3, 6) 1. Jesus knew their works 2. Patient, steadfast, not wearied 3. Cannot bear evil men, exposed false apostles 4. Rejected deeds of Nicolatians E. Nicolatians 1. Nothing revealed in NT 2. Information in Eusebius, History of the Church 3.29.1-3, Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies 3.4 3. Purported to derive from Nicolaus, one of the seven appointed men in Acts 6:5 4. Claim that Nicolaus had beautiful wife that led to jealousy 5. Nicolaus as offering wife to any brother to marry 6. Nicolatians, then, engaged in sexually deviant behavior with each other's wives 7. If true, understandable and good to hate their deeds! F. Ephesus in Revelation: the Bad (Revelation 2:4-5) 1. Despite all this, Jesus had something against them 2. "Left their first love" 3. The passion and zeal, love for things of Christ, had gone 4. Exhortation to repent and to return to those works or candlestick would be removed 5. Loss of standing-- loss of souls! G. State of Ephesus, 90s 1. While the church stood firm against error and persevered... 2. ...they had lost the fire 3. They needed to return to the faith of old H. Later evidence: Ignatius of Antioch (ca. 115) 1. Speaks of "bishop" and "presbytery" (Ignatius, Letter to the Ephesians 1-2) 2. Clear, however, that many opposed concept (3-7, 30) 3. Need to avoid Gnostic heresy, Ephesus stands firm (8-10, 17) 4. Demonstration, then, that Ephesus got caught up in the progressive apostasy beginning in second century with the leadership, just as Paul predicted (Acts 20:29-31) VII. Conclusion A. Ephesus as prominent church 1. Plenty of information about it 2. 40 year span 3. As Ephesus was important, prominent city, so the church B. Ephesus stood for truth over the years 1. Some required rebuke 2. Overall, however, firm in the Apostolic age C. In the end, however, tragic 1. By 90s, exhorted to return as in the 60s! 2. Ephesus was to remain as it had begun: committed disciples standing for truth despite Jewish and Greek opposition, zealous for Christ 3. Ephesus lost its zeal and then the truth D. Let us learn from Ephesus E. Let us strive to be as God intended for Ephesus, and not as Ephesus turned out F. Invitation/songbook