Before You Read…

Introduction

Easton’s Bible Dictionary Ephesus

EPHESUS—the capital of proconsular Asia, which was the western part of Asia Minor. It was colonized principally from Athens. In the time of the Romans it bore the title of “the first and greatest metropolis of Asia.”

Ephesus as a complex city; (Build this out)

Opening Text

Ephesians 1:1–2 NKJV

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, there is no small book in the bible, but the book of Ephesians is quite an interesting book to walk through, since in it, Paul didn’t deal with any direct issues, neither did he greet anyone personally in it.

This in itself, gives a background that we want to explore regarding the book;

Now there is a phase there in verse 1, “who are in Ephesus”… which many of the earliest manuscripts do not have that phrase, signifying that a later editor has added them.

The book itself was a circular latter, written not to one particular church but to many churches that arose throughout what is now western Turkey (this is the region Rome and in the bible called “Asia Minor”), through Paul’s ministry there.

So, it was more or less a letter written so that all the churches in different cities around the region would be addressed concerning thesame things, therefore, we have a generic letter.

We can see the progression of Paul’s Ministry, which I believe would help us understand all that was going on at that time, and the background of the book of Ephesians.

Acts 13:1–4 NKJV

1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

This I would like to show you on the map, it helps to solidify and give some picture to the events.

Now, when they got to Cyprus, something happened there,

verse 5-12

Acts 13:5–12 NKJV

5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. 6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

So, we can see Salamis right on the map, then they proceeded to island of Paphos, there, they came across a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus.

So, what characterized the ministry from early on was opposition, and we could even say Spiritual powers, we see Paul overcoming his evil by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now, time will fail me to go through all of Paul’s journey, let us focus on him getting to Asia Minor, the region to which the book we call Ephesians was written to.

Acts 16:1 NKJV

1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.

This was after his ministarial issue with Barnabas, and they both went their separate ways, then He came to Derbe and Lystra. Verse 6 becomes quite interesting;

Acts 16:6 NKJV

6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

This is interesting to see that there was a time, Paul wasn’t permitted by God to preach the word in Asia, same area he latter wrote a letter to, that we want to explore; But much latter, he went from Corinth and was able to get to Ephesus. Which is actually across the water.

Acts 18:18–21 NKJV

18 So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 21 but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.

He got to Ephesus, but only shortly, he wasn’t there for long, and he left also.

Now, when we get to Acts 19, we find Paul back in Ephesus (His third Missionary Jounrney), this time, he spent about two years there, and certain things surrounded Asia minor, the main city there being Ephesus.

When he got there, this is where we want to focus on abit now;

Paul in Ephesus

Acts 19:1–2 NKJV

1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

Now, he met some folks, whom he asked Did you receive the Holy Spirit since you believed? Where he then proceeded to explain to them and when he laid hands on them, the holy spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Acts 19:8–10 NKJV

8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

You see, so whilst he stayed in Ephesus for two years, the word of the Lord spread to all Asia, they all heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Now, Luke therefore, began to explain to us, Paul’s ministry in Ephesus and Asia, which let’s us see and shape our minds to see both their world and our world.

Acts 19:11–16 NKJV

11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

So, we see something here, God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, even handkerchiefs or aprons from him were brought to the sick and the diseases left them, and evil spirits went out of them. (You will see the significance shortly as we continue this series)

Some even tried to do it like Paul and was dealt with.

Acts 19:17–19 NKJV

17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Now, again, Just like at the beginning of Paul’s ministry, we are met with magic, and also all, and significantly, they all burned them. JESUS NAME WAS MAGNIFIED.

Hence, so Paul was surrounded in Asia, with idol worship, magic, supernatural resistence to the gospel and much more, and as we read on, we will find context even more.

Acts 19:23–27 NKJV

23 And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. 25 He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. 26 Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. 27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

What was prevalent in Asia and Ephesus was the worship of Diana (or Arthemis) who had on of the wonders of the ancient world as her temple, right there in Ephesus, and all of Asia worshipped her. The life around Ephesus and Asia Minor, was a temple-shaped world.

She is the one spoken well of, exaulted, her power and strength spoken of mightily, and Paul in Ephesus became a threat to Diana, and also the trade surrounding her.

Two things the effect of Paul was doing then in Ephesus;

Diana’s temple would become despised.

Diana’s magnificence destroyed.

“Magnificence Destroyed” — Another translation would render it as;

Acts 19:27 LEB

27 So not only is there a danger this line of business of ours will come into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing—and she is about to be brought down even from her grandeur, she whom the whole of Asia and the entire world worship!”

The word “Destroyed” — καθαιρέω (kathaireō); to remove from a position or an office, it can also men to overthrow.

That means therefore;

By Paul’s message, which wasn’t only in words but like we read earlier (in verse 17), in demonstration of Christ victory over all other gods by healing the sick, casting out of demons etc, that Paul was dethroning these gods, and magnifying Jesus in their place.

Hence, the world that surrounded Asia Minor was;

A temple-shaped world—its economy, identity, power, and security all flowed from the worship of Diana. And into that world, Paul proclaimed a gospel that did not merely invite belief, but announced the dethroning of the gods and the establishment of a new dwelling place of God in Christ.

Supernatural

Notice, Ephesus itself was a wealthy area; Extraordinarily prosperous as a commercial center, it had numerous monuments, theaters, and temples, it was so profitable that its leaders opened the first world bank, Yet, Paul’s message there, wasn’t to challenge the economic powers, it was supernatural and the dethroning of the powers behind that economy.

Hence, we will go back into Ephesians, with the lens of those it was written to (Those in Asia Minor), those whose world was temple-shaped, i.e the worship of idols, etc.

How does this influence you and I?

The truth is, our world today is still “temple-shaped” i.e. it’s still in the worship of another; We still have a world plagued by sickness and Spiritual dryness, Our message is still thesame then, Christ is the true God, and not other gods, whose praise and magnificence is to be spoken of.

Also, just like in Ephesus and Asia, where the world there (its economy, daily life etc) have been shaped by the temple; we see thesame effect in pursuits and false identity and security;

Money, Markets, Nations and Powers, Self and Identity are shaped around this in our world today also.

Hence, Whilst Paul wrote to people whose mind was filled with a context of Temples, gods, idols, etc. seen in a world plagued by sicknesses, dryness, empty pursuits, Our world today is no different today. We can therefore then join the first-hearers, and hear what they heard, as we get into our mission in this world “exhaulting Christ, above all else”.