The Church in Ephesus

Revelation 2:1–7 ESV

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

The Church/City: Ephesus

a city in Asia minor - near the southern coast of what is now Turkey

Paul spent a couple of years here and commissioned Timothy to remain there to establish the church.

1 Timothy 1:3–6 ESV

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion,

Apparently John (or someone else by that name) also ministered in and around Ephesus.

The Commendation(2-3)

Jesus gives John a few words to describe the Ephesian Christians - it almost seems to be a sort of chiastic structure

A: toil/work - that intentional labor for the Lord - proactive

B: patient endurance - referring to a sort of constancy or steadfastness - apparently in the face of difficulties or challenges - responsive

C: refuse to tolerate the false prophets/evil doers - by testing them and finding them to be false — protective

B’: Perseverance - similar to endurance

A’: Not grown weary - not given up

Secondary Commendation

They “hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans”

It’s difficult to know much about this group. While they are referenced a few times here in these early parts of Revelation, their deeds are not delineated.

According to the New Bible Dictionary:

The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition Nicolaus, Nicolaitans

Nicolaus of Antioch (Acts 6:5) is supposed to have given his name to a group in the early church who sought to work out a compromise with paganism, to enable Christians to take part without embarrassment in some of the social and religious activities of the close-knit society in which they found themselves. It is possible that the term Nicolaitan is a Graecized form of Heb. Balaam, and therefore allegorical, the policy of the sect being likened to that of the OT corrupter of Israel (Nu. 22). In that case the Nicolaitans are to be identified with groups attacked by Peter (2 Pet. 2:15), Jude (11) and John (Rev. 2:6, 15 and possibly 2:20–23), for their advocacy within the church of pagan sexual laxity. References in Irenaeus, Clement and Tertullian suggest that the group hardened into a Gnostic sect.

The Rebuke

“You have forsaken your first love”

The BKC notes: though they had retained purity of doctrine and life and had maintained a high level of service, they were lacking in deep devotion to Christ

How is this a risk for us as well? Would this rebuke refer to us?

The Exhortation

Remember

Repent

Return - to the “deeds you did at first” - what might those be? What deeds would represent our “first love”?

The Potential Punishment and Promise

Punishment if they continue in disobedience:

removal of lampstand or witness

Promise:

overcomers will be granted eternal life.

Contemporary Application:

Can we be commended for the same work/endurance, etc. as the Ephesians?

How do we find the balance between a vigorous defense of doctrine and a devoted love for Christ?

Sources:

Blaiklock, E. M. “Nicolaus, Nicolaitans.” Edited by D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, and D. J. Wiseman. New Bible Dictionary. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.

Walvoord, John F. “Revelation.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996.