The Book of Ephesians
The City of Ephesus

Article I

This series of articles will be concentrated on the Book of Ephesians.  This most fantastic book is one of the exciting books of the Bible.  It is a book of not only hope, but excitement of who we are in Christ and what God has given us.  It is a book of blessings, showing us what we have in Christ.  In addition, it is a book that is packed full of instructions to Christians - what we need to know - not only Christians back then, but fo rus even now today.

Key verse or the Book of Ephesians

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: KJV

As believers in Christ, we need to find ou what our spiitul blessings in heavenly places are.  We need to be asking the quetions - what has God given us in Christ, and ho ca we activate thm in our lives.

The first three chapters are chocked full of the listing of our blessings

· Chapters 4, 5, and 6 are filled with instruction for Christians

· How do the blessings and the instructions work together?

· That what we are going to talk about over the next several weeks.

Before we do any book study, we should always do a background check on the book – the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions.

Who was the book written to?

What was the city of Ephesus like?

What was going on in that city - why did the Apostle Paul feel he had to write this letter to them years later?

When did Paul write this letter to the church at Ephesus

Why did the Apostle Paul write this most amazing book to the Church at Ephesus?

Why did he choose to go Ephesus in the first place to set up a church?

Who were the people there? What were their beliefs/was sit a good evangelical place for spreading the Gospel?

o We will look at that tonight.

We must understand the times, the culture of the people, and their social, economic and governmental structure.

We must always ask ourselves… What was the author saying?

o What you read must mean the same to us today as the original author intended for his audience 2000-3500 years ago.

o There is no room for making up our own meanings to Scripture based on our limited knowledge or personal desires.

Let’s look at the people of Ephesus – their culture - their ways – how did they think?

· They were ordinary people like you and me – living in another time, another continent that carried different belief systems, under another kind of political governmental structure and was faced with different situations than you and I live in.

Continent of Asia Minor Between Black and Mediterranean Seas. Now called Turkey. Several Provinces of Asia Minor – West end - separated by high mountains – Province of Asia or Phyrgia. Asia Minor : Considered where East meets the West, linking continents of Europe with the Near East. Interior: Consisting of steep mountain ranges, narrow passes connecting the interior. Deep ravines formed rivers, in which cities were build along wherever there were plateaus. Cities: Became vitals for trade and commerce to the people in the mountains and valleys.

Look at map….

Within Province of Asia/Phyrgia – Broken up into cities Come down mountain – Cayster (Meander) River – All along the coastline was the Lycus Valley. (Like Rio Grande) Lush greenery. Rivers meandered all the way to the coast. With the main River Cayster ending at the port city of Ephesus – then out into the Aegean Sea (Part of the Mediterranean Sea) Romans designated Ephesus as the Capital of Asia Minor. In Valley – several cities - 7 churches (Revelation) – One-Ephesus

The seaport of Ephesus as was a popular trade center for ships traveling from Italy, Greece and other parts of the world.

· Part of reason - protected harbor · It was a good stopover on route to many parts of the world. · The ships also brought goods to supply the local cities throughout the province of Phyrgia · They also collected goods to bring to other parts of the world · Trading of all kinds went on in Ephesus.

Backtracking even further (O.T. history)

722 B.C . Northern Kingdom of Israel conquered by the brutal Assyrians – taken into captivity – Assyrians-world conquers. (Around Mediterranean Sea)

583 B.C. Southern kingdom of Judah captured by Babylonians who had conquered the Assyrians · Babylonians now world power. · Survivors were taken to Babylonia as captives. · Jews allowed to live in their own Jewish communities throughout Babylonia · Like the Assyrians, the Babylonians were Polytheistic in their religious beliefs.

· The concept of “one God” was foreign to the Assyrians. They were pantheons - believing in many gods. · Another word - Polytheistic – meaning many gods.

538 B.C. Persians conquered the Babylonians.

· The Persians were also polytheistic, but their beliefs were tolerant of other religious beliefs.

· As a result, the Jewish exile ended. Jews allowed to go home – in groups.

· They could go home and worship as they desired; however, their control would still be Persian.
Most, however, did not go back to Israel.

· Many either stayed in Babylon or Assyria or migrated over the centuries to other known parts of the world.

o Always looking for a new start on life – better living conditions, religious freedom, and a place to call home.

· A royal road had been built by the Persians to run from Ephesus to Susa (Persia’s capital), so it became a gateway to and from the interior of Asia Minor. [1]

· Small pockets of Jewish immigrants traveled across Asia Minor and either over the mountains on the royal road through the passes, which was also the trade route which ended at the sea port of Ephesus or around the seacoast of the Black Sea to the Aegean coastline and then down looking for better opportunities for living.

Around 350 B.C. Alexander the Great conquered the known world (which was primarily the countries that surrounded the Mediterranean Sea) away from the Persians.

· Alexander did something other world conquerors had not done.

· He was not tolerant of any other culture or religion.

· To unite his empire, he forced the Greek culture on all of his conquered – the whole known world.

· The word for changing to the Greek culture was called hellenization.

· Extreme polytheistic – hundreds of gods

· The people learned to speak Greek

· The people worshipped the Greek gods

· The philosophy of the Greeks became a world-wide accepted philosophy

· This culture spread wherever Alexander the Great conquered.

· The coastal area across from Greece known as Asia Minor was definitely caught up in this cultural change.

In 67 B.C. the Romans conquered over the Greeks.

· The known world by that time was so saturated in hellenization

· Rome was no different.

· While the known world remained Greek in its culture, language, and philosophy, its seat of power now came from Rome.

· Their hundred/thousands of gods were the same – they just with Roman names instead of Greek

So here we are in 53 A.D. (about 100 years later) in Asia Minor, along the seacoast port of Ephesus.

· The local population of Ephesus was around 250,000 people when Paul came on his 2nd and 3rd missionary journeys. · The culture was a conglomerate of ethnic people; however, most were Gentiles of various cultures having a Greek heritage, ruled under Roman power. · Ephesus was a rich, pampered city rooted in Greek culture. · Mystic worship of the gods, especially women goddesses and magic infiltrated the valley. · Each city had its patron deity. ·

Ephesus had two main marketplaces which were called the Agora.

· The smaller one was in lower Ephesus down near the harbor mouth.

· The larger one, about the size of 4 football fields and similar to a town square, was in upper Ephesus at the end of Harbor Street through the gates into the city.

o In Paul's day, this area was the center of civic life with government offices and imperial shrines surrounding the town square.

o This is where the Apostle Paul often preached at.

o Here small shops inside and out and goods were sold,

o And political and social issues were discussed.

Ephesus was also the world capital for slave labor.

· Slave owners came from across Asia Minor to buy and sell slaves.

· So, slave labor was common place throughout Asia Minor – but especially in Ephesus. [i]

o That becomes important when we learn how the Apostle Paul addressed slaves and their masters in his letters.

o The Island of Patmos, where the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation, was only about 60 miles west of Ephesus, in the Aegean Sea.

o It was a desolate rock island of Patmos filled with rock quarries meant for rebellious slaves or political rebellers, to be exiled to and often abandoned.

o It was also a place for punishment of Christians who refused to bow down to the emperor, acknowledging him as a god.

§ That’s how John ended up for one year around the year 90 A.D. for not bowing down to the emperor as a god.

· On the side of Mt. Pion, was the Great Theater . · Built in 50 A.D. as an amphitheater just 2 years before Paul’s first visit to Ephesus, it housed 25,000 spectators. · The acoustics were so good that one in the top row could easily the speaking that went on down in the arena.

All along both sides of Harbor Street were statues of the various Greek and Roman gods, as well as statues of the Roman emperors who considered themselves gods.

At the Harbor Gate were large Roman public baths and pools. · Roman baths were public baths, and part of every Roman city to provide places for not only bathing, but for socializing.

Ephesus was filled with public bathroom – and I mean public. · Under the public latrines flowed a river that went out to the sea. · The latrines were communal – no designation between male and female. · For ventilation there was the open air.

· As you entered into the gates of the city, the footprints directed you to the left and right to the various brothels in the city.

Which brings why this was such a good place for the Apostle Paul to evangelize the Gospel of Christ.

Religion was a large part of Ephesus.

· As I said, each city throughout Asia Minor had a patron god (or goddess)

· The main goddess in Ephesus was the goddess of fertility.

· She was identified with the Greek goddess Artemis, the virgin huntress - The Romans called her Diana – the fertility goddess.

· Religion centered on the worship of Diana, of which was funded (and profited) by the state, meaning the Roman Empire.

· It was thought that sacrifices to this goddess Diana would bring fertility and what they considered “good sex.”

Grecian and Roman legend has it that Artemis was the daughter of Zeus (the #1 Greek god) and his mistress Leto.

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As the daughter of Zeus, Artemis was considered the mother of all gods and considered a goddess. She was a very popular in Greece, and at Ephesus, she took the Roman name of Diana. · Archaeologists have discovered statues depicting her with many breasts. Other legends state that it was not breasts but bulls testicles that were given to her for worship.

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The temple of Artemis was made of marble -regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. A statue of Diana was supposed to have stood in the center of the temple. · It was destroyed at least seven times and rebuilt just as many times. · It stood outside the city of Ephesus and attracted visitors from all over the world . · Male eunich priests took care of the needs and practical things of the temple. · The ritual of the temple services consisted of sacrifices and ceremonial prostitution – a practice which was common to many religions of ancient Asia.

· Ceremonial prostitution was common in the temple as young maidens were required to sell their virginity and give the profits to the temple.

· In addition, temple prostitutes were seen throughout the temple who supplied sex to whomever paid the money to give to the temple.

· Travelers from all over came – across land and from the sea.

· As a result, prostitution was rampant throughout the city.

· It was believed that the gods required their sacrifices of sex and other observances; otherwise, they would be angry and take their wrath out on the people as a whole.

Along with temple worship through sex, the temple also served as a marketplace and bank. People came from all over to purchase portable idols and shrines of Diana to take with them wherever they went.

· Archeological excavations have even reveals earrings, bracelets, and necklaces of little statues of the goddess.

· The temple priests (or eunuchs) served as bankers to issue receipts for the travelers purchases.

· Gold and silver were also deposited at the temple as a bank from merchants and tourists.

Ephesus’ main industry was silversmithing.

· And their main product was the casting of the goddess Diana and other gods or goddesses.

· The locals had large statues of Diana displayed in their gardens and in their homes.

· An image of her was also worn as jewelry.

· Travelers purchased little statuettes to carry in their travel bag.

So it was apparent that Ephesus was a hotbed for sexual immorality.

· Adultery was common

· Homosexuality was openly accepted

· Prostitution was commonplace in the temple and at the brothels down at the harbor of the city.

Amongst all of this kind of immorality at Ephesus resided a few small pockets of Jewish communities throughout the valley.

· Judaism, having a belief in one god and behavior of Godly moral and values certainly different from the Gentiles.

· As protection, and a feeling of belongedness, the Jews found themselves sticking closely to one another.

Christianity first entered Ephesus through the ministry of Apollos.

· The Apostle Paul met him on his second missionary journey around 52-53 A.D. - according to the Book of Acts (18:19-21).

· It was, however, just a stopover on his way to Antioch, Syria to visit churches he had established in Galatia and Phrygia.

· On Paul’s 3^rd missionary journey he stopped at Ephesus and there they settled down for the next 2 ½ years to conduct ministry. (Acts 18)

The first place Paul always went to in every city that he and his co-workers who traveled with him was at the Jewish synagogues.

· With Christianity having its roots in Judaism, it was only natural that he would find a place of commonality at the synagogues.

· There, at least, the people believed in one god – not hundreds or thousands of gods like the Gentiles.

· He met up again with Apollos who had been faithfully witnessing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jewish community and the pagan Gentiles of Ephesus.

· Here Paul also met a native of Ephesus by the name of Timothy who became a believer and close companion to Paul throughout the rest of his life.

Paul preached in the synagogues for 3 months until he and his co-workers were thrown out of the synagogue by the Jewish leaders.

· Paul then established a Christian school called “The Way” at the hall of Tyrannus.

· The school of Tyrannus always closed its doors at 11:00 A.M. because of the heat. The people throughout the city generally slept away the heat until the evening hours.

· It was during the heat of the day (from 11:00 – 4:00 P.M.) that Paul was able to rent the hall to teach the Word of God to those who would come to listen and receive.

· In spite of the heat, he still drew crowds of people while he preached the Word of God.

· After 4:00 in the afternoon, Paul went from house to house to minister to the believers of Ephesus or witness in the marketplace.

· In the evenings and up to 11:00 P.M. Paul went about his business as a tentmaker and leather worker to earn support for himself and his companions and get money to pay the rent for the hall while the city went about its business and religious practices to the goddess Diana.

The Apostle Paul established several house churches in Ephesus that often congregated as one church together in a larger building for worship and celebration together .

With Ephesus as their base of operation, Paul and his associates spread the Christian Gospel into the adjacent cities and regions throughout the valley.

· When he left the valley, he put Timothy in charge over the Church (house churches).

· It wasn’t until 67 A.D. that the Apostle John joined him, bringing Mary, the mother of Jesus with him.

· I’ll discuss more on that later.

· There they continued their ministry in Ephesus.

On Paul’s 4^th missionary journey he stopped briefly in Ephesus to say goodbye. Scripture shows that the Apostle left Ephesus and was later sent to Rome to where he eventually was martyred.

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Now to why Paul wrote the Epistle of Ephesians – goes like this:

As Christianity grew, a form of cultic beliefs came out of it – the first beings Docetism, which was the early Gnosticism, having its Greek meaning of Knowledge.

· Whenever you put two or more cultures together, the blending of religious beliefs almost always happens.

· Christianity in Ephesus was no different.

· Christianity became distorted with the blending of the teachings of the Apostle Paul (who taught the Gospel of Christ) and the Gentile religion of Ephesus, which was the belief that Diana was the mother goddess. Combined with all of the other thousands of gods, Christianity started to become real distorted…and it was spreading throughout the valley in Asia Minor.

At the time of Paul’s writing to the churches at Ephesus, Timothy, Paul’s partner in the ministry was given charge – pastor over the churches.

· We must keep in mind that the people, including Timothy, didn’t have a Bible in hand like you and I have to keep us on track.

· These people had (to a small degree) the Hebrew Old Testament as a basis – but those were primarily in the hands of the Jews at their synagogues.

· And the more time grew, the greater the distance between the Jews and Christians.

· We must also remember, that while some of the Gospels were written at this time, they were written to Jewish Christians, and were probably not floating around the valley, way over in Asia Minor.

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What these people had were the memories of the teachings that the Apostle Paul taught them those 2 ½ years while he ministered there at the school of The Way.

· We have no record of any of those teachings in written form.

· Paul left those teachings in the hands of Timothy who had become the pastor of the Church(es) of Ephesus who from their memory kept trying to instill deeper within them what that truth was.

We also know that Paul also wrote Timothy with warnings as a pastor what to do…In 1 Tim. 1:4 the Apostle Paul told Timothy that we are not to talk about the endless genealogies that the cults were famous for making up.

· Paul stated in 1 Tim 6:20 that we are to counter the falsely beliefs of this so called knowledge (Gnosis in Greek).

· Throughout the Book of Ephesus the Apostle Paul counteracted many of the beliefs of the Greek Gnostics.

· Cultism was beginning to overtake the valley, and the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to help the people get back on track.

We now have the basis of what brought the Apostle Paul to write to the Church at Ephesus.

· We can see that it was this letter written to the Church at Ephesus, in about 62 A.D., that Paul wrote while in prison that became so critical to them to hold onto truth.

· Along with that epistle, Paul wrote other epistles to other churches in the valley…those churches that are listed in Revelation, chapter 2.

· These letters became circulation letters that the churches exchanged with one another to keep them in truth.

· Those letters were critical to the Church.

Sometime later, the Apostle John to the valley to continue on with the ministry and give Timothy a hand in keeping truth.

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We must never forget that all cults eventually end up tragically. Ephesus was no different.

· At the end of this series of teachings, I will tell you what happened to that large metropolitan city of Ephesus.

· You see, Jesus warned the Church at Ephesus in the book of Revelation, chapter 2 that they would be destroyed IF they did not leave their wickedness. He said – “remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent” and do the things you did at first” – meaning following the true Gospel of Jesus Christ as was preached by the Apostle Paul. If not, Jesus stated, they would be destroyed.

· Sadly, the whole metropolis of Ephesus was destroyed – but I will reserve telling you about that till later.

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Holding onto truth is critical to our foundation of Christianity.

Truth can never counteracted by a lie – even to the smallest degree. Whenever lies, even slight, enter into Christianity, eventually those lies build to create false doctrines.

· False doctrines have become prevalent in the Church throughout history.

· That’s why we have the Word of God – to give us truth.

Truth is not something you learn once or twice and them it stays within you the rest of your life.

Truth is something that should be taught over and over and over again throughout your lifetime.

The first three chapters of Ephesians is doctrinal – given to set us straight on what is truth. The last three chapters are written to know how to conduct one’s life on a daily basis.

· It should be taught to the children as a way of life

· It should be taught to adults over and over to learn what is truth and what is a lie.

· It should be taught to change bad habits into godly ones

The Book of Ephesians is a letter to the Church – then and now.

· It is a book that we should almost put to memory because of its significant importance.

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Did you know that in Bible times the Jews educated their children in the ways of the Lord and the Hebrew Scriptures from memory?

· From birth to the age of 5 the child was taught the ways of the Lord at home.

· From the ages of 5-10 the child had to memorize all of the Torah, meaning the Books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. – Yes from memory.

· From the ages of 10-14 the child had to memorize, or know backwards and forwards, the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures which meant from the Book of Joshua through the Book of Malachi.

So a Hebrew child by the age of 14 knew ALL of the Hebrew Scriptures…

And we as Christians have trouble memorizing even a few scripture verses.

We need to know our Bible

· It tells us truth

· It gives us instruction on how to live

And the Book of Ephesians gives us both.

Next week we will begin at chapter 1 and start to see what are our blessings that we have in Christ.

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: KJV

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