A vibrant church

This month (June 2019) we are reading Ephesians. I came to it rather ignorant of everything about Ephesus, so I looked to the Internet for some information.

The first thing I found was a YouTube video which walked us through the site of the unearthed Ephesus (Greek: Efes, as the Greek guide and narrator, Vic Stefanu, explains): Exploring the historic city of Ephesus (Efes) – a complete tour(Turkey) The tour begins at the mighty theatre which held up to 25,000. Here, Paul preached Christianity and was violently spoken against for that preaching.

Mr Stefanu explains that the buildings are mostly white marble. (I haven't been able to find a nearby source for the marble, but it must have been huge.) Marble pillars and blocks are littered around the site; the street, the Arcadian Way, was paved with marble. It is quite amazing that the city had disappeared under silt. Excavation work began in 1895 and continues today by the Austrian Archaeological Institute. Only 10% of the city has been uncovered so far.

Our guide points out the many Greek inscriptions on the marble blocks, but also tells us that the Turks do not recognise the Greek part of the city's history. The Turkish guides never say the word Greek.

The temple of Artemis, which was prominent in the city-scape, was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. All that remains are some columns and foundation ruins. We may be more familiar with this temple by the name temple of Diana (same goddess, different language – Greek Artemis, Roman Diana.)

Mary Baker Eddy mentions the temple of Diana on page 12 of her Message for 1900, where she speaks at length about Ephesus: interesting indeed.

The apostle John established the first Christian community at this "illustrious city" (ibid, line 8). It is said that John wrote his gospel there, died there and was buried there. It is also said that he brought Mary, Jesus' mother, there. Luke apparently developed the Christianity established by John, and he was the head of the churches in Asia Minor. The establishment of Christianity in Ephesus was bad news for the silversmiths and others selling statues of the goddess Artemis. The silversmith Demetrius led a riot about it.

"St. Paul's life", Mrs Eddy notes, "furnished items concerning this city" (ibid), lines 10-11). Paul lived at Ephesus for some 2 to 3 years. He wrote some of his epistles here. I went on a search of Bible citations regarding Paul and Ephesus. Here is what I found:

1.  Acts 18:18, 29. And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
2. Acts 18:21. And he sailed from Ephesus.
3. Acts 18:24-28. And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquilla and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
4. Acts 19:1. And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost... (Here we find many of John the Baptist's disciples. They were baptised by Paul in the name of Jesus Christ. Then followed the to-do (riot) about the temple of Diana and the silversmiths who made a living from selling images of Diana. It is an exciting read in chapter 19.)
5. Acts 19:26. 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.
6. Acts 19:34, 35. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? (Hurrah for the townclerk!)
7. Acts 20:16, 17. For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. (He goes on to tell the Ephesians that he will not be coming to them again, and tells them it is up to them to keep the church alive.)
8. I Cor. 15:32. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dear rise not: let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die.
9. I Cor 16:8. But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
10. I Tim. 1:3. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine...
11. II Tim. 1:18. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto to me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
12. II Tim. 4:2. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
13. Rev. 1:11. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Loadicea.
14. Rev. 2:1-7. Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. 

When John was exiled on Patmos, he wrote to the seven churches in Asia Minor. The first letter was directed to the church at Ephesus. It is a no-nonsense letter, giving praise up to the point where he tells them they have lost their "first love". The church repented and survived for several hundred years. It is of interest that Asia Minor is now Turkish and we are told that it is 99% Muslim and is devoid of Bible-based Christianity to-day.

We are inclined to wonder about John's reference to the Ephesians' lack of “first love.” What does it mean? [We may ask ourselves: are we suffering from the same state of thought to-day?] Well, Mary Trammell, a Christian Scientist with impressive Biblical scholarship, wrote an article about it, called "First-Love Christianity", published in the April 2009 issue of The Christian Science Journal.  

The article begins: "IT HAD ONCE BEEN SO VIBRANT, that church the Apostle Paul started at Ephesus. He'd lit the fire in their hearts..."

I have the background, now to get to the actual book.

Joyce Voysey