Strong
Church/Weak Church 9
An Ephesian theater |
One of the most important churches in
the Bible is the Ephesian church. I am, perhaps, speaking territorially for
just last year I finished preaching a lengthy series from Ephesians. At any rate, whether my preaching series gives me an
undue fondness for this church or not the fact remains it is discussed in
detail in the Word of God.
Historically, the city of Ephesus was
one of the largest in the world during the New Testament era, hosting within
its borders some half a million souls. Architecturally, it was a combination of
Grecian and Roman influences with its multiplicity of aqueducts, temples,
baths, and theatres, including one of the latter that sat 25,000 people. Most
known for the Temple of Diana, this wonder of the ancient world was longer than
a football field and composed entirely of marble. The momentum Ephesus had built up outlived the
Roman Empire period but the same factors that doomed Antioch – silt in the harbor and pirates harrying the shipping – doomed Ephesus.
We first come across it in Scripture during
Paul’s travels in the latter half of Acts.
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed
through the upper coasts came to Ephesus (Acts 19.1). Here, Paul found certain disciples. These were believing
Jews who been baptized either directly by John the Baptist or by one of John’s
disciples. This is not a theological blog series, let alone one on
dispensationalism, so let it suffice for the moment to say that John’s baptism
was one that looked forward to a still coming Messiah. It was a baptism of
faith in the soon coming promise of God, but not a baptism of faith in specific
relation to Jesus Christ. Paul explains that John’s preaching was about a man named
Jesus, and directs them to put their faith specifically in Him as their Christ.
They readily accede, and these dozen men became the seed kernel of the Ephesian
church. Paul would stay in that city for years, teaching and preaching the Word
of God, and building this church into a mighty work. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt
in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 19.10)
While there, Paul ordained Timothy to the pastorate, and Timothy succeeded him
when Paul left for the next stop on his never-ending travels.
Paul chose Ephesus, much like he chose
the other cities where he started churches, for its potential regional influence.
Acts 19:17–20
17 And this was
known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on
them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 And many that
believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19 Many of them
also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them
before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand
pieces of silver.
20 So mightily
grew the word of God and prevailed.
As you can imagine, this monumental
Christian influence did
not go unnoticed by the religious powers that then
existed in Ephesus. These, headquartered naturally in the great Temple of
Diana, included a substantial number of people who made their living selling
pagan/demonic charms to the pilgrims and worshippers that thronged its massive
colonnades. This Ephesian church under the direct leadership of Paul siphoned
off so many of these Diana worshippers that the pagan craftsman became alarmed.
The resulting riot was both an evidence of and an attack on the power of the
growing Ephesian church.
St. Paul Preaching Before the Temple of Diana at Ephesus by Adolf Pirsch, 1885 |
Acts 19:23–28
23 And the same
time there arose no small stir about that way.
24 For a certain
man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana,
brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
25 Whom he called
together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by
this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye see
and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul
hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which
are made with hands:
27 So that not
only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple
of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be
destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28 And when they
heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is
Diana of the Ephesians.
We see, then, that the Ephesian church
began with an unhesitating commitment to Jesus Christ, and continued under the
direct leadership of Paul for quite some time as a thriving institution. But it
is not only Acts 19 that informs our
understanding of the Ephesian church. There is also an extended passage in Revelation 2 that reveals some very
pertinent information about it. We will, in fact, spend much time in the rest
of this blog series in Revelation 2 and
3 as these chapters discuss a number
of New Testament era churches in some detail. I realize there are some that hold
the seven churches discussed here to be representative of seven church ages in
history, but I find no warrant for such a position. There is no indication in Scripture that they are to be taken as such, nor are there any guidelines for so doing. The result of those who hold this position is an absolute mish-mash of spiritualization, chronology, and faulty application. I intend to take these two chapters as I
believe they were meant to be understood, plain messages to seven actual local
churches.
When we continue next week, we will be
looking primarily at the passage in Revelation
2 that discusses the Ephesian church. We will probe it for what it may reveal to us of the their church’s
strengths and weaknesses. Hopefully, along the way, we will learn a thing
or two that may benefit us in our own churches today.
See you next week.
See you next week.
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