Ephesus wk.2

Ephesus was a city of major significance in the 1st century.

Politically it was the capital of Asia and known as the “Supreme Metropolis of Asia.”

Commercially, the great highways converged there and a major seaport was still in place.

Some have referred to Ephesus as the “Vanity Fair of the ancient World”

Religiously the city was the center for the worship of the fertility goddess Diana (Roman) or Artemis (Greek). The temple dedicated to Diana came to be known as one of the “Seven wonders of the Ancient world,” where thousands of priestesses served in the temple, many as religious prostitutes.

 

Historically Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla evangelized and founded the church at Ephesus. Timothy and John both did ministry at Ephesus. Paul believed the city to be so central as a gospel outpost that he labored there for at least 2 years. Paul’s ministry was not uneventful though and included a riot related to the temple of Diana. Later Paul would write one of his prison letters to them in the early 60’s.

 

Here is a second-generation Church that apparently was living off the prestige and momentum of the past. The past was great, but their present condition was spiritually dead.